Lion of Oz

Last updated

Lion of Oz
Lion of Oz film.jpg
Home video cover art
Directed byTim Deacon
Written byElana Lesser
Cliff Ruby
Based on Lion of Oz and the Badge of Courage
by Roger S. Baum
Produced bySophie Chicoine
Loris Kramer Lunsford
Michel Lemire
Jacques Pettigrew
Starring Henry Beckman
Jason Priestley
Tim Curry
Dom DeLuise
Bob Goldthwait
Kathy Griffin
Jane Horrocks
Lynn Redgrave
Edited byClaudette Duff
Music byJennifer Wilson
Production
company
Distributed by Sony Wonder (Canada)
Video Collection International (UK)
Release date
  • September 26, 2000 (2000-09-26)(USA)
Running time
74 minutes
CountriesCanada
United Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Lion of Oz is a 2000 animated film set before the 1900 children's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz . It tells the story of how the Cowardly Lion, formerly part of the Omaha Circus, came to be in Oz and how he stopped the Wicked Witch of the East from getting the Flower of Oz. It is based upon the 1995 book Lion of Oz and the Badge of Courage by Roger S. Baum [1] [2] (great-grandson of L. Frank Baum, the original author of the Oz books). It was announced by CinéGroupe and Sony Wonder and was released in 2000.

Contents

Plot

A lonely lion is shown in a circus, where everyone is afraid of him apart from his friend, the eccentric and virtuous balloonist Oscar Diggs. One evening, Oscar takes Lion up on his balloon and gives him a Badge of Courage. A thunderstorm drags them to the Land of Oz and Lion falls from the balloon.

Lion comes across a living Oak Tree being harassed by flying monkeys. Lion frightens them off and the Tree thanks him. The Wicked Witch of the East appears, claiming that Oscar is her prisoner. She demands Lion find the Flower of Oz for her or he'll never see Oscar again. Tree explains to Lion that The Witch is bent on conquering Oz, but is prevented by the Flower.

Lion saves the fairy Starburst from drowning. Starburst and her friends tell Lion to go to a certain castle to find the Flower. Lion meets a springy teddy bear named Silly Oz-bul, who follows Lion to the castle, where they are confronted by a toy soldier named Captain Fitzgerald. They are joined by a young girl named Wimzik and her toy ballerina Caroline.

Finding out from Gloom about Lion's interference, the Witch teleports Fitzgerald to a dungeon. But while there, the captain learns from a flying monkey guard the Witch was lying about Oscar being her prisoner.

The friends come to a waterfall with a silver bridge to a floating island. Silly attempts to cross the bridge, which turns out to be an illusion. Lion saves him, from falling over the cliff and they come to the town of the Mini-Munchkins, who built the original Silver Bridge before it was destroyed by the Wicked Witch of the East. The bridge the group saw was just an illusion caused by the Mini-Munchkins' sadness and doubt. Wimzik inspires them to believe in themselves and not to give up, somehow breaking the Witch's spell over them and restoring the bridge.

Caroline's battery runs out just as the Witch returns and casts Caroline's unconscious body into a whirlpool. Lion and Wimzik save her. Wimzik's touch gives Lion extra strength and recharges Caroline.

Next, the group meets the Seamstress, an elderly enchantress who turns Silly and Caroline into quilt patches. Realizing the Seamstress is under the Witch's spell, Wimzik calmly talks her into remembering who she really is. The Seamstress gives them a petal she says came from the Flower of Oz. Lion gets a whiff and tracks it to a large garden encased in ice. When Wimzik touches the flower, the garden is instantly thawed and Lion realizes Wimzik is really the Flower of Oz.

The Witch and Gloom show up. Fitzgerald, having stowayed, reveals the Witch's deceit. A fight ensures. Lion takes the Witch's blast for Wimzik, nearly dying. But Wimzik sits on her throne, regaining her powers. Enraged, the Witch spitefully steals Lion's Badge of Courage and throws it to Gloom who destroys it. Wimzik defeats the Witch and destroys Gloom. Beaten, the Witch swears vengeance before vanishing.

Lion is sad to have lost his badge, but Wimzik explains his courage doesn't come from a badge, but from his brave and noble heart. Lion bids his friends goodbye as he must go find Oscar, but promises to come back someday.

The movie ends with Lion meeting Dorothy Gale, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and Toto, thus stepping out of his own story and into "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz".

Cast

Home media

The film was released in the United States on DVD in 2000 by Sony Wonder with special features on the disc including Sing Alongs, Music Videos (which were straight from the movie), Games, Interviews with Behind the Scenes and a Gallery.

The film was released on DVD in the United Kingdom by VCI's budget arm Cinema Club in 2002. The DVD contains no extras except for a scene selection on the DVD menu. [3]

Reception

Common Sense Media stated, "Although this movie doesn't include enough music for it to be considered a musical, the characters sing a few times. The only concern for parents here is cartoon scariness, as the villainous Wicked Witch of the East, her flying monkeys, and her partner in crime -- a skull-faced mist creature called Gloom -- threaten Lion and the friends who're trying to help him. However, any child who's comfortable with the level of scariness in the 1939 classic film can handle Lion of Oz." [4] FilmDienst also noted the prominence of songs in the film. [5] "In this animated prequel to The Wizard of Oz, based on a book by L. Frank Baum's great grandson, Roger S. Baum, a circus lion and the circus balloonist, Oscar, are blown from Nebraska into Oz. ... The action is punctuated by several nicely melodic and message-laden songs. The story follows in the Oz books tradition of successive episodes introducing new and fantastic characters. Some of these minor characters, particularly Fitzy, the toy soldier prone to malapropisms, and Caroline, the doll with a sharp tongue and a warm heart, are delightful and help keep the video from becoming cloying. Technically this video is beautifully made and it boasts a fine cast of actor voices including Dom DeLuise as Oscar, Jane Horrocks as Wimsik, Jason Priestly as the Lion, and Lynne Redgrave as the Wicked Witch.", commented the School Library Journal . [6]

The website of the RTP called Lion of Oz a "delicious animation film for the little ones ...and grown-ups" [7] while TV Guide found it was a "charming animated prequel". [8] The German website Cinema.de gave the film 5 stars out of 5. [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dorothy Gale</span> Fictional protagonist in Oz novels

Dorothy Gale is a fictional character created by the American author L. Frank Baum as the protagonist in many of his Oz novels. She first appears in Baum's classic 1900 children's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and reappears in most of its sequels. She is also the main character in various adaptations, notably the 1939 film adaptation of the novel, The Wizard of Oz.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wizard of Oz (character)</span> Character from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

Oscar Zoroaster Phadrig Isaac Norman Henkle Emmannuel Ambroise Diggs is a fictional character in the Land of Oz created by American author L. Frank Baum. The character was further popularized by a stage play and several films, including the classic 1939 film and the 2013 prequel adaptation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tin Woodman</span> Character from Oz series

Nick Chopper, the Tin Woodman, is a character in the fictional Land of Oz created by American author L. Frank Baum. He first appeared in his 1900 book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and reappeared in many other subsequent Oz books in the series. In late 19th-century America, men made out of various tin pieces were used in advertising and political cartoons. Baum, who was editing a magazine on decorating shop windows when he wrote The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, was inspired to invent the Tin Woodman by a figure he had built out of metal parts for a shop display.

The Wicked Witch of the West is a fictional character who appears in the classic children's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900), created by American author L. Frank Baum. In Baum's subsequent Oz novels, it is the Nome King who is the principal villain; the Wicked Witch of the West is rarely even referred to again after her death in the first book.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wicked Witch of the East</span> Fictional character

The Wicked Witch of the East is a fictional character created by American author L. Frank Baum. She is a crucial character but appears only briefly in Baum's classic children's series of Oz novels, most notably The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900).

<i>The Muppets Wizard of Oz</i> 2005 musical fantasy The Muppets television film

The Muppets' Wizard of Oz is a 2005 musical fantasy television film directed by Kirk R. Thatcher, and the third television film featuring the Muppets. The film stars Ashanti, Jeffrey Tambor, Quentin Tarantino, David Alan Grier, Queen Latifah, as well as Muppet performers Steve Whitmire, Dave Goelz, Bill Barretta, and Eric Jacobson. A contemporary adaptation of the 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, the story follows young Dorothy Gale, who works in her Aunt Em's diner, but dreams of becoming a singer somewhere beyond her small Kansas town. Swept up by a tornado, in her trailer home with pet prawn Toto, she lands in Oz and embarks on a journey to meet the Wizard who can help make her dreams come true.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meinhardt Raabe</span> American actor (1915-2010)

Meinhardt Frank Raabe was an American actor. He was one of the last surviving Munchkin-actors in The Wizard of Oz, and was also the last surviving cast member with any dialogue in the film. He portrayed the coroner who certified the death of the Wicked Witch of the East.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Munchkin Country</span> Fictional location in L. Frank Baums Oz books

Munchkin Country or Munchkinland, as it is referred to in the famous MGM musical film version, is the fictional eastern region of the Land of Oz in L. Frank Baum's Oz books, first described in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900). Munchkin Country is in the East, noted by later being ruled by the Wicked Witch of the East.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roger S. Baum</span> American novelist

Roger Stanton Baum is an American former banker and stockbroker, and currently a children's author. Baum publishes under the name Roger S. Baum. He also tours the country, reading from and signing his children's books.

<i>Tales of the Wizard of Oz</i> 1961 multi-national TV series or program

Tales of the Wizard of Oz is a 1961 animated television series produced by Crawley Films for Videocraft. This is the second animated series produced by the studio and the first by Rankin/Bass to feature traditional animation.

Ayşecik ve Sihirli Cüceler Rüyalar Ülkesinde is a 1971 film by Turkish film director Tunç Başaran, an uncredited and very close adaptation by Hamdi Değirmencioğlu of L. Frank Baum's 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The film was produced by Özdemir Birsel for Hisar (Citadel) Film. It is one of nearly forty films featuring Zeynep Değirmencioğlu as Ayşecik, many of which, like this one, were uncredited adaptations of famous stories, for example, Sinderella Külkedisi (Cinderella), Hayat Sevince Güzel [literally, "Loving makes life beautiful"] (Pollyanna), and Pamuk Prenses ve 7 Cüceler.

"Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead" is a song in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz. It is the centerpiece of several individual songs in an extended set-piece performed by the Munchkins, Glinda and Dorothy Gale highlighted by a chorus of Munchkin girls and one of Munchkin boys, it was also sung by studio singers as well as by sung by the Winkie soldiers. It was composed by Harold Arlen, with the lyrics written by E. Y. Harburg. The group of songs celebrate the death of the Wicked Witch of the East when Dorothy's house is dropped on her by the cyclone.

<i>The Wizard of Oz</i> (1982 film) 1982 anime film directed by Fumihiko Takayama

The Wizard of Oz is a 1982 anime feature film directed by Fumihiko Takayama, from a screenplay by Akira Miyazaki, which is based on the 1900 children's novel by L. Frank Baum, with Yoshimitsu Banno and Katsumi Ueno as executive producers for Toho.

<i>The Wizard of Oz in Concert: Dreams Come True</i> 1995 American film

The Wizard of Oz in Concert: Dreams Come True is a 1995 television musical performance based on the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz. The book and score of the film were performed on stage at Lincoln Center to benefit the Children's Defense Fund. The concert featured guest performers including Jackson Browne as the Scarecrow, Roger Daltrey as the Tin Man, Natalie Cole as Glinda, Joel Grey as the Wizard, Jewel as Dorothy, Nathan Lane as the Cowardly Lion, Debra Winger as the Wicked Witch, and Lucie Arnaz as Aunt Em. The Boys Choir of Harlem appeared as the Munchkins, and Ry Cooder and David Sanborn performed as musicians.

<i>The Wizard of Oz</i> (2011 musical) 2011 musical based on the 1939 film

The Wizard of Oz is a 2011 musical based on the 1939 film of the same name in turn based on L. Frank Baum's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, with a book adapted by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jeremy Sams. The musical uses the Harold Arlen and E. Y. Harburg songs from the film and includes some new songs and additional music by Lloyd Webber and additional lyrics by Tim Rice. It is the third stage musical adaptation of the film following the 1942 version for the St. Louis Municipal Opera and the 1987 version for the Royal Shakespeare Company.

<i>The Wizard of Oz</i> (1942 musical) 1942 musical commissioned by the Muny

The Wizard of Oz is a musical commissioned by The Muny based on the 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum and the 1939 film, The Wizard of Oz, using the film's songs by Harold Arlen and E. Y. Harburg. The book of the musical is by Frank Gabrielson, who would later write an adaptation of The Marvelous Land of Oz (1960) for Shirley Temple.

<i>Oz the Great and Powerful</i> 2013 film by Sam Raimi

Oz the Great and Powerful is a 2013 American fantasy adventure film directed by Sam Raimi and written by David Lindsay-Abaire and Mitchell Kapner from a story by Kapner. Based on L. Frank Baum's early 20th century Oz books and set 20 years before the events of the original 1900 novel, the film is a spiritual prequel to the 1939 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film, The Wizard of Oz. Starring James Franco in the title role, Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz, Michelle Williams, Zach Braff, Bill Cobbs, Joey King, William Bock, and Tony Cox, the film tells the story of Oscar Diggs, a deceptive magician who arrives in the Land of Oz and encounters three witches: Theodora, Evanora, and Glinda. Oscar is then enlisted to restore order in Oz while struggling to resolve conflicts with the witches and himself.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cowardly Lion</span> Fictional character from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

The Cowardly Lion is a character in the fictional Land of Oz created by American author L. Frank Baum. He is depicted as an African lion, but like all animals in Oz, he can speak.

References

  1. Simpson, Paul (2013). A brief guide to Oz. Internet Archive. London : Robinson. p. 218. ISBN   978-1-4721-0988-0.
  2. Pratley, Gerald (2003). A Century of Canadian Cinema: Gerald Pratley's Feature Film Guide, 1900 to the Present. Lynx Images. ISBN   978-1-894073-21-9.
  3. Lion of Oz DVD , retrieved 9 February 2024
  4. "Lion of Oz Movie Review | Common Sense Media". www.commonsensemedia.org. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  5. "Der Löwe von Oz und die magische Blume". www.filmdienst.de (in German). Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  6. "Lion of Oz. - Document - Gale General OneFile". 10 February 2024. Archived from the original on 10 February 2024. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  7. "O LEÃO DE OZ - Filmes - RTP". www.rtp.pt. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  8. "Lion of Oz and the Badge of Courage". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  9. "Der Löwe von Oz und die magische Blume (1999) - Film | cinema.de". www.cinema.de (in German). Retrieved 9 February 2024.