The Wizard of Oz
"There's no place like home"... In the opening film of our CINEMA OF COLORS series, Dorothy and her dog Toto are whisked away by a tornado into a vibrant, colorful world. On her quest to find the Wizard of Oz, she encounters a scarecrow without a brain, a tin man without a heart, and a cowardly lion, who all help her in her journey back home. Based on L. Frank Baum's book "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," this fantastical musical was nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Song ("Over the Rainbow") and Best Original Score. The cult classic dazzles with its iconic use of color and groundbreaking special effects, continuing to influence pop culture, including musicals and animated films.
The transformation, as Dorothy steps from her drab black-and-white world into the suddenly vibrant Technicolor realm of Oz, must have been a breathtaking experience in 1939. The process of splitting light into its primary colors—red, green, and blue—recorded on separate film strips and then combined into a single, richly colored image, significantly contributed to the film's timeless appeal and marked a revolution for both cinema and television.
Supporting Film: A Trip to the Moon
The first SF movie ever made. A group of scientists led by Professor Barbenfouillis are shot to the moon inside a giant capsule with a cannon. At a congress of the Astronomical Society, they present a plan on how to fly safely to the moon. With the exception of one scientist, the project was unanimously approved. The preparations go according to plan and the scientists are confident. Accompanied by attractive ladies, they board the capsule shortly before the launch. At the ceremonial launch, the French flag is waved, the wick is lit and the ball is shot to the moon. The journey also goes smoothly and when they arrive, they not only encounter a bizarre lunar surface, but also unpleasant lunar inhabitants.