Disney & Oz Part I: Why Walt’s dreams of an Oz movie never came to be

As a long-time gamer and history enthusiast, I find the tale of Disney’s relationship with the Oz books to be nothing short of captivating. It’s fascinating to see how close Disney came to bringing the magical world of Oz into our living rooms through animated films and TV shows, but alas, it was not meant to be.

It’s fascinating to note how deeply Disney has delved into the world of Oz, as “Wicked” graces the screens, given its extensive history with the Oz books!

As a gaming enthusiast, I can’t help but feel a thrill coursing through me as I anticipate the resurgence of the enchanting world of Oz. For nearly two decades, the mesmerizing musical “Wicked” has held the spotlight among global hits. Now, it’s set to captivate us once more, with the release of part one in a thrilling two-part cinematic adventure. This retelling takes us on an extraordinary journey that challenges our preconceived notions about Elphaba, the so-called Wicked Witch of the West, who, it seems, may not have been as wickedly evil as we thought. Her friendship with Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, adds a fresh perspective to these beloved characters, making us question everything we thought we knew about Oz’s most iconic duo.

As a game enthusiast, I’m eagerly awaiting the release of this movie, hailing from Universal Studios. It’s shaping up to be a blockbuster, but there was a moment when it seemed like Disney might snatch a piece of it. The idea of Disney and Oz intertwining is just captivating!

The early Oz foray

The initial phase of filmmaking was challenging, but there was always an inclination towards adapting cherished novels from the get-go. One such book was “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” as Frank L. Baum had penned 17 books prior to his demise and even contributed in creating a set of silent films based on his works.

Among the numerous admirers of the book, there was Walt Disney, who saw potential for animating its characters. However, he was preoccupied with the creation of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.” Initially, some considered this first full-length animated film a foolish venture by Walt. Yet, Walt had the final laugh as it turned out to be a commercial success and received critical acclaim. This success ignited enthusiasm for similar fantasy family movies.

Walt harbored the expectation that the Oz books might follow suit with an animated adaptation, considering the Wizard character fit the bill perfectly. Regrettably, his timing was off, as MGM had already acquired the rights for a substantial sum of $60,000. The behind-the-scenes tales of how The Wizard of Oz was produced amidst chaotic circumstances are so captivating that they could fill numerous books and documentaries; it remains a classic to this day.

Despite the film’s acclaimed reputation, what often goes unnoticed is that during production, it ran excessively over budget, taking a full decade and multiple re-releases for MGM to recoup any profits. It wasn’t until the movie started airing on television that it finally reached its enormous audience.

Consequently, an authorized follow-up to “The Wizard” was never produced. In 1954, the film rights for 11 of the Baum books were up for grabs, and Walt snapped them up promptly. Now, all he required was a way to utilize them.

The Mousketeers go to Oz?

In much the same way as many innovations, Walt Disney was slightly ahead of his era with his unique concept for utilizing the Oz property. Instead of the Oz books serving as standalone stories, he envisioned them as episodes for his future television program, which eventually became known as “The Wonderful World of Disney.” He selected a writer named Dorothy Cooper to craft a two-part teleplay featuring a classic “Dorothy returns to Oz” narrative. This story would also include characters from other books, with a loose adaptation inspired by “The Patchwork Girl of Oz.

Following the reading of the script, Walt determined that television wasn’t expansive enough for his vision. Instead, he aimed to transform “The Rainbow Road to Oz” into a complete-length cinematic production. He planned to incorporate the Mousketeers in various roles, with Annette Funicello portraying Princess Ozma and Disney sensation Tommy Kirk as the vengeful offspring of the Wicked Witch. The project evolved significantly, featuring concept sketches that focused more on the original book’s illustrations rather than the MGM film’s interpretation.

By the end of 1957, progress was made as Walt acquired the rights to “Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz,” said to be worth just as much as he had paid for the previous eleven books. A performance by the Mousketeers in one episode of “The Mickey Mouse Club” opened with an extended dance routine, hinting at its potential success.

And it didn’t.

According to accounts, as Walt watched that number, he came to the conclusion that the film wasn’t succeeding. Aware of the budget constraints, given the lingering tales from the 1939 production and Disney’s ongoing expenses for Disneyland, there were issues with the script not quite fitting together and Tom Adair & Buddy Baker’s musical score failing to measure up to the beloved MGM film’s songs.

As a passionate gamer, I realized that if I couldn’t nail the design of Rainbow Road just right, it wouldn’t do the game justice. So, with minimal pomp, I made the tough call to scrap the project.

The Oz fill-in we got

Walt Disney was not one to abandon an idea completely; he had a vision for a fantasy musical, so he turned to a secondary project – Victor Herbert’s comic operetta titled “Babes in Toyland.” The production seemed to be Disney’s response to Oz, with its grand musical numbers and whimsical settings. In the cast, Annette took on the role of Mary Contrary, Ray Bolger (previously known as the Scarecrow) portrayed the villain Barnaby, while Ed Wynn, who regretted turning down the part of the Wizard, played a toymaker. Furthermore, “Babes” came into existence as Herbert’s counterpart to a stage show similar to “The Wizard.

Although the film didn’t achieve massive popularity, Walt continued brainstorming ideas for the franchise. He even envisioned incorporating settings from The Wizard of Oz, such as the Emerald City and a Rocky Candy Mountain ride, into the Storybook Canal Boats at Disneyland. In 1965, he invited Judy Garland to create the first of four successful LP albums featuring music and stories inspired by the Oz books, including some tunes initially planned for “Rainbow Road.

Regrettably, with Walt’s passing in 1966, all other ideas for the property were temporarily halted. Despite the main Wizard story entering the public domain, Disney retained control over the Oz books, allowing them to be utilized by other studios in diverse ways post-1966.

As a dedicated Disney fan, I can tell you that it wasn’t until 1980 when Disney Productions found themselves drawn back into the magical world of Oz. The fruits of their labor, let me assure you, are a tale worth telling and one that has left an enduring legacy all its own.

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2024-11-21 19:27