Wizard of Oz DVD

I've been thinking of adding Wizard of Oz to my DVD collection, primarily for my kids but also for me. I've seen very affordably priced copies from the version put out in 1999 (about $8.99 used), and know there was also a gift set put out that included the same DVD and a bunch of extras. I think there was an earlier DVD that didn't include many of the extras on the 1999 version, with the DVD cover of the earlier version featuring primarily Dorothy, and the most recent version featuring the cast walking arm in arm.

I'm assuming there has not yet been any multi-disc versions of this DVD on the market, and no one knows of any plans to issue such anytime in the near future? I'd hate to pick up a copy due to become immediately obsolete... Any Wizard of Oz experts here?

 

The kids won't care about the extras that much, you might as well go with the current edition. It has problems, but nothing that really gets in the way of enjoying this classic.

A shame Miss Gulch is still gonna be sure Toto is destroyed--the dark side of the ending, unspoken, seems obvious enough--but really holds up well. Good for what ails you, really.


ED

 

You haven't noticed all the color shift/fluctuation, Ken? It's really apparent on my copy, and distracts from the movie. Maybe I have a defective DVD?

 

Didn't the movie suffer badly in storage?

 

I noticed that in the theater when this version was released. It happened two or three times.

 

Glad I didn't get rid of mine....

 

That seems to be fairly common on some reissue prints; I always just chocked it up to the age of the print, since celluloid is an unpredictable creature prone to all manner of trouble.

As Steve points out, the LD versions are the best, not least for the flat mono soundtrack. It's not that the faux 5.1 DVD track is awful, but it can be distracting at times, often boxy sounding and distant(or just plain weird).

Visually, I don't think I've ever seen two versions that were identical. Like GWTW, I really don't know what the 'perfect' print would look like, colorwise, or in terms of contrast and sharpness. Each time these two get remastered, something is changed, and you can't help but wonder if it's in the ballpark of what it should look like, or just the latest stab in the dark by those doing the remastering. With Oz, the yellow brick road seems to be what video enthusiasts focus on, since its hue is apparently different with each edition released(this, and the sepia tone of the B&W sequences). I've heard the Criterion LD comes closest to what the original print would look like, but even that's open to question, since you would have to go back to 1939 and the film's premiere to have a reference point you might be able to trust. At least that is what I would guess.


ED

 

I always liked the specials tacked onto the DVD too. Judy trying to get her takes down on tape....

 

I agree. They made it "fun", but that removes discovery from a passing user. You have to cruise the DVD for a long time.

Easter eggs used to be a big deal. Now, no one wants to go egging for hours.

 

The WB version that I have has plenty of outakes from the original recording sessions. No video, just audio outakes from the recording studio, not the sound stage. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to these.

 

For now, go with the DVD...Your Kids will love ya for it If they come out with a soupier souped up version, you know you'll get that anyway...In the interim your Kids are happy and when the Kids are happy so are we!