Release Date: October 25, 2005
On October 25, 2005, Warner Home Video released The Wizard of Oz in a 3-disc deluxe collector’s set and a 2-disc regular set. The film had recently been restored and remastered in the label’s new “Ultra Resolution” process. This was the first time the film had been remastered since late 1990s and the first time in true HD.
From the WHV press release:
Disc 1:
- New 2005 “Ultra Resolution” digital master from restored film elements
- New commentary by historian John Fricke with selected archival audio comments by Barbara Freed-Saltzman (daughter of Arthur Freed), Margaret Hamilton, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, Ken Darby (orchestral and vocal arranger), John Lahr (son of Bert Lahr), Jane Lahr (daughter of Bert Lahr), Hamilton Meserve (son of Margaret Hamilton), William Tuttle (make-up artist), Buddy Ebsen, Mervyn LeRoy, John Lee Mahin and Jerry Maren
- Prettier Than Ever: The Restoration of Oz
- We Haven’t Really Met Properly… supporting cast profile gallery, narrated by Angela Lansbury
- The Wonderful Wizard of Oz storybook, read by Angela Lansbury
- Theatrical trailer gallery
- 5.1 Dolby Digital soundtrack
- Original mono and music-and-effects-only audio tracks
- Languages: English (Both Dolby 5.1 & original mono) & French
- Subtitles: English, French and Spanish (feature film only)
Disc 2:
Documentaries on the movie’s creation and impact:
- The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: The Making of a Movie Classic hosted by Angela Lansbury and Memories of Oz — two original TV specials
- All-New: The Art of Imagination: A Tribute to Oz
- Because of the Wonderful Things it Does: The Legacy of Oz
- Harold Arlen’s onset home videos
- Outtakes and deleted scenes
- It’s a Twister! It’s a Twister! The tornado special effects tests
- Vintage vault featurettes
- Extensive stills gallery
- More than six hours of audio-only treasures, including an “Oz jukebox” of recording session materials, radio shows and promos
Disc 3:
- Four hours devoted to Oz creator L. Frank Baum, who published his first Oz book in 1900.
- New documentary L. Frank Baum: The Man Behind the Curtain
Pre-1939 versions of Oz on screen:
- The Wizard of Oz (1910)
- The Magic Cloak of Oz (1914)
- His Majesty, The Scarecrow of Oz (1914)
- The Wizard of Oz (1925): restored silent version featuring Oliver Hardy and Larry Semon, with a new, fully orchestrated score by Robert Israel
- The Wizard of Oz (1933 Cartoon)
Print Reproductions Include:
- The Wizard of Oz Comes to Life – Eight-page Grauman’s Chinese Theatre Souvenir Premiere Program from August 15, 1939
- Studio’s Invitation to The Grauman’s Premiere and the envelope that included tickets to the original Opening Night — with a newly designed commemorative ticket
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studio News
- Sixteen-page edition of the studio’s internal “house organ” newspaper, celebrating the release of The Wizard of Oz for the week of August 14, 1939
- Photoplay Studies
- Rare secondary-education study guide to the film — Volume V, Number 12 (circa August 1939) – completely devoted to The Wizard of Oz, with articles revealing surprising insights from its producer, director, cameraman and scenarists.
- Deluxe Collectors’ Portfolio
- Reproductions of original 1939 Kodachrome publicity stills, including nine portraits and on set photographs
Disc 1:
- New 2005 “Ultra Resolution” digital master from restored film elements
- New commentary by historian John Fricke with selected archival audio comments by Barbara Freed- Saltzman (daughter of Arthur Freed), Margaret Hamilton, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, Ken Darby (orchestral and vocal arranger), John Lahr (son of Bert Lahr), Jane Lahr (daughter of Bert Lahr), Hamilton Meserve (son of Margaret Hamilton), William Tuttle (make-up artist), Buddy Ebsen, Mervyn LeRoy, John Lee Mahin and Jerry Maren
- Prettier Than Ever: The Restoration of Oz
- We Haven’t Really Met Properly… supporting cast profile gallery, narrated by Angela Lansbury
- The Wonderful Wizard of Oz storybook, read by Angela Lansbury
- Theatrical trailer gallery
- 5.1 Dolby Digital soundtrack
- Original mono and music-and-effects-only audio tracks
- Languages: English (Both Dolby 5.1 & original mono) & French
- Subtitles: English, French and Spanish (feature film only)
Disc 2:
Documentaries on the movie’s creation and impact:
- The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: The Making of a Movie Classic hosted by Angela Lansbury and Memories of Oz — two original TV specials
- All-New: The Art of Imagination: A Tribute to Oz
- Because of the Wonderful Things it Does: The Legacy of Oz
- Harold Arlen’s on set home videos
- Outtakes and deleted scenes
- It’s a Twister! It’s a Twister! The tornado special effects tests
- Vintage vault featurettes
- Extensive stills gallery
- More than six hours of audio-only treasures, including an “Oz jukebox” of recording session materials, radio shows and promos
The first “Collector’s Treasury” was titled “1939 Promotional Portfolio” and included reproductions of:
Premiere Program
The Wizard of Oz Comes to Life
Grauman’s Chinese Theatre Souvenir Program, August 15, 1939
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studio News
IntraCorporate Newspaper, Volume VI, Number 22, Specifically Celebrating the Release of The Wizard of Oz, Monday, August 14, 1939
Photoplay Studies
Rare Secondary Education Scholastic Guide, Volume V, Number 12 in Honor of The Wizard of Oz, Series of 1939
Campaign Book
A Page Showing 1939 Studio-Designed Posters Available to Exhibitors
FACSIMILES OF
Premiere Invitation and Ticket
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studio Invitation and a Newly Designed Commemorating Theatre Ticket to the Premiere of The Wizard of Oz at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, August 15, 1939
