![]() ![]() #THE YELLOW BRICK ROADMOVIE SERIES#Due to the film’s age, the urban legends surrounding it were enraged in ways no other film covered by this series has come close to. Drunken misbehavior and rumors of orgies plagued the cast for years and turned their image into one of mistreatment and a far cry to how they were presented in The Wizard of Oz. Cursed Films II: Episode 1: The Wizard of Oz (© MGM)Ī large portion of the first episode is tied to the media attention and tarnished legacy surrounding the cast of the Munchkins as stories started largely albeit unintentionally by Judy Garland. For every story of Judy Garland’s unintentional addictions or Margaret Hamilton’s horrific injuries, there’s also stories of overcoming the hereditary nature of addiction through Garland’s daughter and the efforts that Hamilton took to protect her son from the realities of the injuries she suffered. Episode 1 of Cursed Films II is quick to dive into these stories but, at the same time, it isn’t quick to forget the good that came out of the terrible work conditions and treatment of its cast. ![]() Whether it’s the antics of the Munchkin cast that were wildly overblown or the highly dangerous set that resulted in the injuries of multiple actors on set, stories surrounding the film are plentiful. It’s a trait that is very new for Cursed Films II to explore in episode 1 as it’s mostly focused on films that were right in line with streaming service Shudder’s specific line up of horror films which traded yellow brick roads for gore and violence.ĭespite the cheery and innocent nature of the film however, The Wizard of Oz has had its fair share of stories and urban legends surrounding it that paint a much darker picture. It’s a simple story of good and evil with a variety of unique characters, dazzling effects and pleasant music that delighted families all around the world. ![]() Released in 1939 on the cusp of WW2 and post The Great Depression, the film created a hopeful and bright image of the future for Americans and the world to envelop themselves in. If you ask any filmmaker what film inspires them, The Wizard of Oz is likely going to appear in the conversation. With Cursed Films II, the series is planning on dipping its toes outside of predominantly horror productions, and what better way to start this slight deviation than episode 1 covering arguably the most innocent and family friendly film out there, The Wizard of Oz. Despite some issues with going too far in the more surreal side of these stories with interviewing people who only have small connections to the subject matter, it nevertheless provided a hugely engrossing and fascinating series of stories that shed light on subjects and stories that got out of control over the years. When Cursed Films II released its first season on Shudder in 2020, it told the tragic, strange and sometimes humorous stories of 5 films as well as examining the idea of urban legends and how quickly they spread from person to person. Cursed Films II Episode 1 is an emotional and cathartic examination of one of film’s greatest achievements, The Wizard of Oz. ![]()
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