Disney & Oz Part II: How Return To Oz became an on and off-screen nightmare

As a child of the ’80s, I remember the day when “Return to Oz” graced our television screens like a dark, twisted fairy tale that had wandered off from its bright and cheerful sister, “The Wizard of Oz.” Being an avid fan of all things Oz, I was initially excited about this sequel, but the experience left me feeling rather disoriented, much like Dorothy herself in the eerie Land of Oz.

Disney’s Return to Oz has become an infamous production, but the story behind it is even wilder!

Back in the day, Disney had been sitting on the rights to the magical world of Oz for quite some time, but never brought anything significant to life with them. Once they entered the public domain, there were a few attempts at expanding the storyline, one of which was the 1979 animated film “Journey Back to Oz” that featured Liza Minnelli, daughter of the enchanting Judy Garland, as Dorothy. Unfortunately, it fell flat due to some production missteps and didn’t make much of an impact at the box office.

Each year, the airing of the 1939 film on TV kept the property popular and consistently attracted high viewership ratings. By 1980, with Disney Productions facing financial difficulties following a series of costly failures, it was deemed wise to revisit the Oz books as a potential project.

And so the road to Return to Oz began but no one dreamed of the nightmare it would become. 

Why Return to Oz is so dark

The film is remarkably bleak in its depiction, with the story revolving around Dorothy (Fairuza Balk) being perceived as mentally unstable by her relatives due to her tales of visiting a magical realm. Consequently, they commit her to an asylum where she undergoes near-lobotomy and electric shock treatments at the hands of a malevolent doctor and nurse (Nicol Williamson and Jean Marsh). Eventually, during a storm, Dorothy is returned to Oz accompanied by a talking pet chicken, Billiana.

In a dilapidated version of the Yellow Brick Path, Dorothy stumbles upon it and follows its course to an Emerald Metropolis. Here, she encounters the Lion and Tin Man, both petrified alongside the city’s other inhabitants. The area teems with the Wheelers, fearsome beings that skate on all fours, and they are controlled by Madame Mombi (Marsh), a woman who keeps female heads in glass containers as ornamental hats.

In due course, Dorothy assembles an unusual group consisting of Tik-Tok, Jack Pumpkinhead, and the Gump, with the aim of rescuing the captive Scarecrow from the malevolent Nome King (as portrayed in Williamson’s interpretation of Oz, where characters from the real world occasionally appear).

The movie’s imagery has become the subject of scores of videos that all share that this was simply pure nightmare fuel for a generation. There’s the Wheelers with their screeching and masks. The scene of Mombi’s heads all screaming out while the headless Mombi chases Dorothy puts most horror movies to shame. There’s the way the Nome King shifts from human to a stop-motion creep, and the “watery” effects for how his minions talk in walls are off-putting while the stop-motion animation is far more gripping than CGI could be. 

Leaving aside the Terrifying Desert that transforms people into sand, and the rather unsettling demeanor of Jack. Also, absent is the joyful music or merriment characteristic of Oz, as its magic has largely faded. The sequence where the Nome King manipulates Dorothy’s companions into objects, testing their loyalty, can be distressing to those who have faced tough academic challenges. Moreover, the opening scene depicts Dorothy in a hospital setting, facing ridicule for her insanity and on the brink of undergoing harsh treatments intended to “cure” her.

Essentially, this film deviates significantly from the lighter tone of the 1939 “Oz” movie, reflecting instead the darker and more complex themes found in L. Frank Baum’s original novels. While the 1939 film was a more family-friendly adaptation, the books themselves were quite troubling and nightmarish in places, as they often reflected Baum’s political and cultural views. Recognizing that replicating the 1939 movie would not be effective (given that musical films had declined in popularity by 1980), the creators opted to capture the darker, more complex spirit of the books instead.

However, getting that story was the easy part of the entire process. 

The chaos of Return to Oz was mind-blowing

As a die-hard cinema enthusiast, I’ve always admired the legendary Walter Murch – a maestro in film editing and sound design. Known for his remarkable work on “THX 1138,” “American Graffiti,” both “Godfather” films, and having recently won an Oscar for his editing on “Apocalypse Now,” I found myself captivated by the idea that it was him who first conceived the idea of directing a film as his grand directorial debut.

Murch proposed his concept to the then-Disney executive in charge of production, Tom Wilhite, who was looking for a fresh success for the company and approved it. Murch developed the script, blending aspects from several Oz novels for the storyline, and with an initial budget of $20 million, the project started rolling.

The project started quickly with the creation of some substantial concepts for using animatronics throughout the characters. However, a minor setback occurred when Wilhite was replaced by Richard Berger who had concerns about the movie being $7 million over budget at such an early stage in production. He also expressed disapproval towards plans to film abroad in Spain and Algiers. In response, he ordered cost reductions, resulting in the film being shot exclusively in England. More significantly, this decision led to a reduction in special effects, which is why Jack’s face appears as a pumpkin in the final product, among other issues.

As a gamer, I’ve faced my fair share of challenges during the production of this game. From the get-go, it was no walk in the park bringing our main character, Jack, to life. It took an entire team of puppeteers working tirelessly, and even then, there were setbacks – like Balk, who could only work a few hours a day due to labor laws and had some close calls under those sweltering lights. He nearly fainted and had a near-drowning incident during a stunt in the river.

Murch’s almost firing and surprising friends 

The whole situation was wearing heavily on Murch, made worse by his lack of prior directing skills. This issue, combined with the numerous other problems, resulted in Disney expressing dissatisfaction with the early film clips. With the movie continuing to exceed its budget, Berger concluded that it would be more prudent to minimize their losses and let go of Murch, with plans to possibly scrap the entire project altogether.

It’s fortunate that Murch’s extensive background allowed him to have influential connections. As soon as it was announced that Murch was resigning due to health issues, Berger’s phone started buzzing with calls from Francis Ford Coppola, Steven Spielberg, and George Lucas, all expressing their support for Murch. Lucas even suggested he might visit the set and potentially take over if necessary. This nearly resulted in a Disney version of Oz being directed by George Lucas.

Despite Berger’s strong-willed nature, he recognized the wisdom in yielding when three prominent and accomplished Hollywood directors were backing someone. Consequently, Murch returned, and following an arduous eight-month filming period, the project was completed. However, more hurdles arose during post-production, further complicating matters.

How Disney ruined Return’s opening

As the movie wrapped up production, Disney experienced significant changes in leadership as Michael Eisner and Jeffrey Katzenberg took charge. They found themselves inheriting a film that was not only overburdened but also presented as a marketing challenge. Given its inability to be a direct sequel to the 1939 movie and the reservations of Oz book fans, it seemed too extreme, especially considering its ominous undertones. Although dark fantasy films like The Neverending Story were popular at the time, it’s no surprise Disney felt apprehensive about promoting this film due to its unique nature.

Instead of focusing on the film as a priority, Disney launched an extensive marketing campaign involving tie-in novels, toys, children’s materials, and other merchandise. They also held a grand opening at Radio City Music Hall and even featured an Oz float in the Main Street Electrical Parade. However, their apparent lack of attention towards the film sparked speculation that they were trying to downplay or bury it.

An interesting tidbit is that this film marked the debut of Disney’s well-known “rainbow castle” logo, a symbol now universally recognized. However, critical reception was split, with some appreciating Balk and the overall production, but many found it too grim for viewers. Regrettably, these concerns proved accurate as the movie opened at the seventh spot and earned $11 million, falling short of its estimated budget ranging from $35 million. In essence, this production resulted in one of the most significant box office flops of 1985.

Return’s fun legacy

The entire ordeal was a sign to Murch that directing was not his forte. He went back to sound and editing for a good career that included winning two more Oscars. Balk has kept acting, including a starring role in the cult classicThe Craft. 

Regarding “Return”, initially it was overlooked, but eventually found a following on home video. Over time, it has been recognized as a bold attempt that fell short. Some viewers still find its scary scenes traumatizing, while others admire its exploration of Dorothy’s journey into adulthood and the vintage special effects. Interestingly, devotees of the original Baum books often favor this version over the 1939 movie as a more faithful representation of the novels’ essence.

Considering the movie’s initial response, it’s not unexpected that Disney delayed further projects related to Oz. However, an exception was made for the highly popular Great Movie Ride at the Disney-MGM Studios, which incorporated a climax featuring the Wicked Witch, one of the most advanced animatronics ever created.

But it was inevitable Disney and Oz would mingle again and in some rather surprising ways…

Return to Oz streaming on Disney+. 

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2024-11-24 18:57