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The Wizard of Oz: The Official 75th Anniversary Companion Kindle Edition

by Jay Scarfone (Author), William Stillman (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

575 ratings

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The Wizard of Oz: The Official 75th Anniversary Companion celebrates the timeless classic musical film starring Judy Garland.

“Jump over the rainbow with inside stories from the classic film.” —Entertainment Weekly

Delivering an interactive experience, this essential volume detailing the making of the film that has captured the imagination of generations transports readers over the rainbow and into the Land of Oz with its host of unpublished artwork, behind-the-scenes stories from the stars, and removable special features.

Open the door to the Land of Oz and travel down the Yellow Brick Road with Dorothy and her companions on the journey of a lifetime. Learn the filmmaking tricks and techniques behind the film's realistic tornado, why Dorothy's shoes were ruby-colored, and how the filmmakers got a fleet of Winged Monkeys to fly.

Authors Jay Scarfone and William Stillman reveal filmmaking secrets and information on everything from the film's pre- and postproduction to early reviews and publicity to never-before-published stories from the cast and crew, making it the definitive book on the subject. Beautifully designed with an array of film stills, Technicolor™ test frames, rare artwork and photography, and costume and set illustrations, this collectible edition provides an unrivaled glimpse at the land where dreams come true.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Essential to any Ozophile’s collection…Scarfone and Stillman have brought as many new finds and hitherto unseen treats as possible to the pages of this retrospective.” — Book Reviews by David Marshall James

“The coffee table book offers a treasure trove of images, including startling photos of Judy Garland testing multiple wigs in various styles and colors-including cascading blonde locks.” — Variety

“The rare photos and new information in the book are worth the price of the book alone. Well done to Stillman and Scarfone!” — The Royal Blog of OZ

“Dedicated millions will find much to tickle them in The Official 75th Anniversary Companion, which compliments Scarfone and Stillman’s storytelling with artifacts from Turner Entertainment’s Oz archives.” — Psychobabble

“It’s a gorgeous tome that celebrates a gorgeous film.” — The Examiner

“Take a trip down Memory Lane as Dorothy...and the entire cast and crew of the film join you on your journey complete with interesting insights, little known facts and fascinating text.” — Collector's Corner

“The wealth of knowledge and historical significance this volume contains is unprecedented.” — Lez Get Real

“Wonderful. Fantastic. Brilliant. Gorgeous… this is by far the book to get this year or any year. It’s the perfect holiday gift, birthday gift, or gift for any occasion. Oz fans, Garland fans, MGM fans, musicals fans, and so on, will enjoy this book for years to come.” — Judy Garland News

“Filled with behind-the-scenes facts and photos (Judy Garland in a soon-to-be-nixed blonde wig!), the film’s 75th-anniversary compendium is a must-have for fans.” — People magazine

“Jump over the rainbow with inside stories from the classic film.” — Entertainment Weekly

“Sure to satisfy diehard fans as well as newbies….as it stands today, this book is the best tangible access to Oz goodies on print.” — PopMatters

“Honoring the film’s 75th anniversary, William Stillman and Jay Scarfone pull out all the stops for this expansive and well-made official tome.” — Parade.com

“Beautifully designed with an array of film stills, Technicolor test frames, rare artwork and photography...this collectible edition provides an unrivaled glimpse at the land where dreams come true.” — Turner Classic Movies

“The most exciting discoveries in this anniversary companion are the visual elements...Their Anniversary Companion is reverent yet fun, and the determination to scrounge up some new material for die-hard Oz fans is admirable.” — The Baum Bugle

From the Back Cover

Commemorating the seventy-fifth anniversary of The Wizard of Oz, this collectible edition delivers an interactive experience, transporting readers over the rainbow and into the Land of Oz with its host of unpublished artwork, behind-the-scenes stories from the stars, and removable special features.

Open the door to the Land of Oz and travel down the Yellow Brick Road with Dorothy and her companions on the journey of a lifetime. Learn the filmmaking tricks and techniques behind the film's realistic tornado, why Dorothy's shoes were ruby-colored, and how the filmmakers got a fleet of Winged Monkeys to fly. Authors Jay Scarfone and William Stillman reveal filmmaking secrets and information on everything from the film's pre- and postproduction to early reviews and publicity to never-before-published stories from the cast and crew, making it the definitive book on the subject. Beautifully designed with an array of film stills, Technicolor™ test frames, rare artwork and photography, and costume and set illustrations, this collectible edition provides an unrivaled glimpse at the land where dreams come true.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00FDRWK3A
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Harper; Nov edition (October 29, 2013)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 29, 2013
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 16.7 MB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Print length ‏ : ‎ 176 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #140,311 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #9 in Science Fiction & Fantasy Movies & Video
- #48 in Movie & Video History & Criticism
- #66 in Popular Culture

Customer Reviews:
575 ratings

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Jay Scarfone
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Jay Scarfone and William Stillman are the authors of several books on the creation of the motion picture The Wizard of Oz. Historians and collectors since the 1970s, they have amassed one of the world’s largest and most comprehensive archives of memorabilia from The Wizard of Oz, the holdings of which include rare photographic images and authentic costumes and props from the film’s production. Additionally, they have been contributors and advisors to countless other books, periodicals, and documentaries on Hollywood history, memorabilia, and collectibles. They have appraised rare Wizard of Oz material for auction houses and have lectured audiences about the classic film in numerous venues.
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William Stillman
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William Stillman is the internationally known, award-winning author of the Autism and the God Connection book trilogy that explores aspects of spiritual giftedness in many people with autism. These books encompass Autism and the God Connection (2007 Benjamin Franklin Award Finalist), The Soul of Autism (winner of the 2009 Nautilus Silver Book Award), and The Autism Prophecies. His other books include Under Spiritual Siege: How Ghosts and Demons Affect Us and How to Combat Them; Conversations with Dogs: A Psychic Reveals What Our Canine Companions Have to Say (And How You Can Talk to Them Too!); The Secret Language of Spirit: Understanding Spirit Communication in Our Everyday Lives (2018 National Indie Excellence Book Award Finalist); and his latest book, The Practicing Psychic: An Essential Guide for Staying Grounded, Navigating Skeptics, and Honoring Your Gift.
Since 2004, Stillman has worked professionally as a psychic medium and spiritual counselor. His accuracy in discerning the truth and making predictions that come to fruition has been acclaimed by his clients as truly extraordinary. He is regularly consulted on missing person and unsolved homicide cases. He also volunteers his time as an investigative resource to the Pennsylvania Paranormal Association.
Stillman has been interviewed on numerous radio shows of a paranormal nature including Coast to Coast AM, the most listened to overnight radio program in North America. He has twice been interviewed on the Web series CharVision by internationally renowned psychic medium Char Margolis, who called Stillman “really fascinating,” and he has been a guest on the popular YouTube series Swedenborg and Life. Stillman has been a repeated guest speaker for Lily Dale Assembly near Jamestown, NY, the country's oldest spiritualist community.
Stillman’s Web site is www.williamstillman.com; his Facebook page is William Stillman Psychic Medium; and his YouTube channel is William Stillman.
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Customer reviews

575 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers praise this beautifully illustrated book for its vivid movie scene pictures and fascinating information about the movie. Moreover, the book offers a treasure trove of background stories and wonderful history, making it a perfect addition for Wizard of Oz collectors and fans. Additionally, customers appreciate its readability and well-written content, with one customer noting the meticulous detail in the text.

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Pictures Information content Value for money Fan love Storyline Readability Cast information

81 customers mention "Pictures"79 positive2 negative

Customers praise the book's vivid color pictures of movie scenes, describing it as an incredibly designed collectible.

"...The books layout is so beautifully done and designed with the utmost care for the detail...." Read more

"...It is chock-a-block full of photos (many never before seen) in both color and b&w and chapters which cover the entire cast, including Toto and the..." Read more

"...the back of the book filled with extras like movie posters, miniature publicity photos, certificates, & other WOZ Memorabilia...." Read more

"...The illustrations and stories are wonderful! I also love being able to see pics that were never shown before and stories of the stars, too...." Read more

69 customers mention "Information content"65 positive4 negative

Customers find the book's content fascinating, with a great balance of inside information and trivia that makes for an engaging read.

"...This book has everything!!..." Read more

"...The Official 75th Anniversary Companion still manages to bring new material to readers...." Read more

"...publicity stills, well known classic pix of the cast & behind the scenes production shots, & a wonderful bonus envelope in the back of the book..." Read more

"...It’s filled with tons of interesting facts and info. Lots of cool pictures too...." Read more

64 customers mention "Value for money"64 positive0 negative

Customers find the book to be a valuable addition to their collections, particularly for Oz enthusiasts, with one customer noting it includes a special collectible pouch with rare memorabilia.

"...and are constantly in demand for magazine articles, appraisals of rare Oz merchandise and guest lecturers at Oz events...." Read more

"...The rare photos and new information in the book are worth the price of the book alone. Well done to Stillman and Scarfone!" Read more

"This book was even nicer than I expected at a great value. I gifted it to my aunt and she was absolutely in love with it as she is a Wizard Of Oz fan." Read more

"...AND, the Special Collectible Pouch full of rare memorabilia that's included, alone, is worth the price of admission: an Oz bookmark, minature copies..." Read more

21 customers mention "Fan love"21 positive0 negative

Customers love this book, particularly as a resource for Wizard of Oz enthusiasts.

"This book is a must for Wizard of Oz lovers...." Read more

"...The trivia is fun and fascinating for a true Oz fan. I found the test head shots of the characters a lot of fun to see...." Read more

"...This book is a must have for all Oz fans and would make a great gift!" Read more

"...gold mine of information here, and a plethora of pictures, to win the heart of Oz fans...." Read more

14 customers mention "Storyline"14 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the storyline of this book, which serves as a treasure trove of background stories and fascinating memorabilia about the movie's production.

"...This massive book by creditable authors is the ideal 75th Anniversary Companion for the film and well worth your investment. David Moyer" Read more

"...love being able to see pics that were never shown before and stories of the stars, too...." Read more

"...Oh some of the the old information is there but the history is more in depth and it gives more information about it's original stars...." Read more

"...this book is full of beautiful pictures and is simply a treasure trove of background stories to delight Oz lovers like me...." Read more

10 customers mention "Readability"10 positive0 negative

Customers find the book well written, with one customer noting its meticulous detail and beautiful typography.

"...The copy accompanying the photos is also well written making for a good read...." Read more

"...The text is presented with meticulous detail and flows smoothly from one subject to the next...." Read more

"...I am a graphic designer and the design of the book and the typography is beautiful, I can really appreciate what went into this book...." Read more

"...Great writing. Super cool pictures and never heard before information. I recommend this fun coffee table book to everyone, no matter the age...." Read more

5 customers mention "Cast information"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the cast information in the book, with reviews mentioning well-known classic photos, character introductions, and stories about cast members.

"...of the East's Death Certificate, color copies of lobby cards, individual cast photos and again, much, much more...." Read more

"...Loaded with great photos of publicity stills, well known classic pix of the cast & behind the scenes production shots, & a wonderful bonus envelope..." Read more

"...the book is just gorgeous -- I love the chapter spreads and character introduction pages -- the book has a real Art Deco feel to it...." Read more

"...This is a great book...lot of photos, stories about cast members, the making of the film AND a very special section that contains memorabilia from..." Read more

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Walter G. Krueger Jr.
BEST OZ BOOK IN YEARS!!! IDEAL GIFT!
Reviewed in the United States on December 16, 2013
Verified Purchase

Where does one begin when venturing in to the realm that is Oz?
MGM's The Wizard Of Oz (1939) has been loved by generations and for decades since its release. But what most of its loving fans don't know are the great triumphs and near tragedies behind the scenes that were endured to bring the L. Frank Baum's classic to life. "The Wizard of Oz: The Official 75th Anniversary Companion" Is just the book to illustrate and show just that! This book has everything!! Including mini pull outs that have been masterfully recreated from original press material from the movies initial release. The books layout is so beautifully done and designed with the utmost care for the detail. A treasure trove of never before released material and photos, all from the filming of Oz in 1938. among the photos are costume and makeup concepts that have never before been released, giving readers an extremely rare look into hollywoods golden era. Written by two of the most knowledgeable Oz historians/authors around! This book will become an instant fav. and will find a place of prominence in your home library! Not only Oz fans are sure to enjoy but Movie buffs and history fans alike will cherish this wonderful book as well. This is the gift of the year for Oz fans this holiday season! SO DONT MISS OUT!!! ABSOLUTELY THE BEST MOVIE / ENTERTAINMENT BOOK TO COME ALONG IN AGES!!!! Hope to see more from these two authors veeeeery soon!

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D. Carr
A crowning achievent
Reviewed in the United States on November 11, 2013
Verified Purchase
What a beautiful book! These two authors have done it again beginning with their Official 50th Anniversary edition of The Wizard of Oz (1989) followed in succeeding years by The Wizard of Oz Collector's Treasury (a comprehensive collection of memorabilia from the early 1900s to 1992); an elaborate Wizard of Oz pop-up, which even included a CD (2000); and The Wizardry of Oz also on the MGM film (1999) with a revised and expanded edition a few years later. With all of this, who better to produce this present opus, The Wizard of Oz, The Official 75th Anniversary Companion (2013). It is chock-a-block full of photos (many never before seen) in both color and b&w and chapters which cover the entire cast, including Toto and the Winged Monkeys! There are also chapters on post-production, publicity and reviews. some of the merchandise produced as tie-ins with the movie, the various re-releases, the first TV airing and much, much more. A very big plus is a removable envelope at the back of the book containing some wonderful "goodies," including a copy of the Wicked Witch of the East's Death Certificate, color copies of lobby cards, individual cast photos and again, much, much more. The authors have spent much of their lives on Oz research and are constantly in demand for magazine articles, appraisals of rare Oz merchandise and guest lecturers at Oz events. One can only wonder what book the reviewers with their negative comments (far outweighed by all the laudable reviews) were looking at? This massive book by creditable authors is the ideal 75th Anniversary Companion for the film and well worth your investment.
David Moyer

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J. Davis
Book 3 in the Scarfone/Stilman Oz trilogy
Reviewed in the United States on November 17, 2013
Verified Purchase
And the celebration of the 75th anniversary of MGM's The Wizard of Oz has brought another book from Jay Scarfone and William Stillman. And covering the production of the movie in The Official 50th Anniversary Pictorial History and the production design in The Wizardry of Oz, what's left to cover?

Surprisingly, The Official 75th Anniversary Companion still manages to bring new material to readers. The three books form a rather comprehensive trilogy about the making of the film, and there are still other aspects that Stillman and Scarfone haven't touched on. (Aljean Harmetz's The Making of the Wizard of Oz—yet to be covered on the blog—covered a lot of the studio head's work, and John Fricke's book for the Rhino soundtrack album covered the music. Both of these aspects are not highly covered in the Scarfone/Stillman books.)

The book endeavors to bring a number of previously unseen or rarely seen images from the production of the film. There are several that I haven't seen before, while there are still some pictures that will be familiar to those who have read up on the film.

The book is broken into several segments. First and foremost is Baum, then Samuel Goldwyn's attempts to bring Oz to screen before he sold the property to MGM. Stillman and Scarfone tell of a rarely known friendship between Walt Disney and Mervyn LeRoy. (Including that during the many rewrites of the script, Disney loaned MGM a print of Snow White for them to get a better idea of what kind of a story they were going for.)

Sections cover each of the main cast, then the peculiar peoples of Oz, using rarely seen photos to show some of the development of the character's look. Then a summary of the production of the film, how Thorpe began (including the only color photo of Judy Garland in her blonde "Lolita Gale" wig) and Fleming took over after Cukor did some revisions. What exactly the cast did in between shots is also covered, turning up new material.

Then special effects and the design of the film are covered, including some revisions to what we'd thought we'd known about how they created the cyclone and the Horse of A Different Color. Then, the release of the film and its re-releases, and debut on television and legacy. On each topic, the authors dig up some new information.

In the back of the book, there's a silver-colored envelope containing a number of paper memorabilia, some newly designed, some recreated from 1939 items. There's a bookmark, a lobby card, two posters, a booklet of reduced size lobby cards, the death certificate of the Wicked Witch of the East, certificates from the Wizard for Dorothy's friends, a cardboard frame that shows your choice of several paper photos of the Oz characters, and a large mock newspaper clipping from the fictional Oz Herald. It almost feels like the recent Collector's Box set of the film intentionally left any 1939 replicas out just for this book. (Which, remember, it does have two advertisements for.)

Overall, though, the book doesn't really need the bonus memorabilia. The rare photos and new information in the book are worth the price of the book alone. Well done to Stillman and Scarfone!

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Patricia
Maravilhoso
Reviewed in Brazil on January 10, 2025
Verified Purchase

Livro super interessante pra quem gosta de cinema também, há uma passagem sobre o Oscar. Gostei muito!

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Prunelleblues
Complet et bien documenté
Reviewed in Belgium on December 13, 2024
Verified Purchase
Ouvrage magnifique qui vous emporte sur le chemin de briques jaunes et qui nous invite à la rencontre des personnages tout en offrant des photos et des facs simulés dont un certificat de décès de la méchante sorcière de l'ouest...
Un ouvrage destiné à être offert et j'en ai recommandé un second pour moi. Un vrai bijou !

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Prunelleblues

Complet et bien documenté

Reviewed in Belgium on December 13, 2024
Ouvrage magnifique qui vous emporte sur le chemin de briques jaunes et qui nous invite à la rencontre des personnages tout en offrant des photos et des facs simulés dont un certificat de décès de la méchante sorcière de l'ouest...
Un ouvrage destiné à être offert et j'en ai recommandé un second pour moi. Un vrai bijou !

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Cyn Catleesi
Una grata sorpresa
Reviewed in Spain on August 15, 2022
Verified Purchase
Ha sido un acierto para un regalo de cumpleaños.
ESTÁ GENIAL.
No dudéis en comprarlo porque la persona que sea muy Fan del Mago de Oz o de Judy Garland quedará ensmlrada con esta edición.

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Evelyne
Lovely item
Reviewed in Canada on October 20, 2024
Verified Purchase
Lovely item for a collector or a fan ..however the inserts could be a bit better .

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notpennysboat
Un livre magnifique !
Reviewed in France on August 15, 2024
Verified Purchase
Quel plaisir d'avoir ce livre en main !

Il date de 2013 et célèbre les 75 ans du chef d'oeuvre de Victor Fleming, Le Magicien d'Oz.
Cette comédie musicale de 1939 est déjà la deuxième adaptation cinématographique du livre du même nom de L.F. Baum en 1900. Elle a été nommée pour 6 Oscars et lauréate de 2.

Un film culte pour beaucoup de monde, j'ai moi-même été introduit à l'histoire dans les années 80/90 avec une très bonne adaptation en série animée.

Après avoir vu une dizaine d'adaptations (films, séries TV, animés), celle de Fleming reste la plus magique et grâce à ce livre, c'est un réel plaisir de découvrir l'histoire des acteurs, les évolutions du film, les moyens techniques mis en oeuvre à l'époque, etc.

En plus d'être incroyablement détaillé, le livre est accompagné d'une enveloppe remplie de goodies (objets collector) en tout genre : cartes, marque-pages, posters, certificat de décès de la Méchante Sorcière, gazette annonçant la nouvelle, etc.

Pour finir, n'hésitez pas, ce magnifique livre ravira tous les fans !

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notpennysboat

Un livre magnifique !

Reviewed in France on August 15, 2024
Quel plaisir d'avoir ce livre en main !

Il date de 2013 et célèbre les 75 ans du chef d'oeuvre de Victor Fleming, Le Magicien d'Oz.
Cette comédie musicale de 1939 est déjà la deuxième adaptation cinématographique du livre du même nom de L.F. Baum en 1900. Elle a été nommée pour 6 Oscars et lauréate de 2.

Un film culte pour beaucoup de monde, j'ai moi-même été introduit à l'histoire dans les années 80/90 avec une très bonne adaptation en série animée.

Après avoir vu une dizaine d'adaptations (films, séries TV, animés), celle de Fleming reste la plus magique et grâce à ce livre, c'est un réel plaisir de découvrir l'histoire des acteurs, les évolutions du film, les moyens techniques mis en oeuvre à l'époque, etc.

En plus d'être incroyablement détaillé, le livre est accompagné d'une enveloppe remplie de goodies (objets collector) en tout genre : cartes, marque-pages, posters, certificat de décès de la Méchante Sorcière, gazette annonçant la nouvelle, etc.

Pour finir, n'hésitez pas, ce magnifique livre ravira tous les fans !

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