Review by Booklist Review
Because 1989 marks the year of the fiftieth anniversary of the release of the MGM film, The Wizard of Oz, more attention than ever is being paid to the famous film created from the children's story by L. Frank Baum. Cox has researched the casting and performance of the 120-plus midgets who acted as the Munchkins in a 10-minute scene in the classic film. His is an advocate's approach. Cox describes pay inequities (Toto, the dog, was paid more than twice as much as each of the little people), working conditions, and the many myths that have sprung up about the on- and off-stage activities. Following up on the lives of the midgets, Cox provides portraits of 45 Munchkins and where they are today. Includes nearly 100 photographs. The final screenplay of the movie produced by MGM was the consolidated effort of at least seven screenwriters, primarily Noel Langley, Florence Ryerson, and Edgar Allan Woolf. In his introduction, editor Hearn tells a brief history of the dramatization of Baum's book, beginning with Baum's own attempts at creating a Broadway musical at the turn of the century. Certainly this published screenplay will find interest among the legion of Oz fans. --Denise Perry Donavin
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Booklist Review
