Return To Oz: The Joy That Got Away [5/7]

[Italblessings]

Legendary movie, soundtrack, everything. Love this film. Will defo let my kids watch it (when I have them).

[wildchildlikeu]

Who cares when shock therapy was invented. It fit in well w/ how old fashioned ppl would deal w/ their child's fantasy of OZ. This was an interesting element 2 the film. it was sort of an homage to the strange medical approaches that were being done at the time.Just like w/ the Mummy pt 2, I heard there is no clue of sword fighting in ancient Egypt, in Asia yes.Those who grew up w RTO as I did love it &don't over analyze it. most other hollywood films aren't 100% accurate.

[NotOrdinaryInGames]

The movie is brilliant from start to finish, as is the score (which I bought)

[GodofFrankie]

Dororthy lookin' like Falkor on that Sticker Fun cover.

[SongBirdAllie]

Mr. Fricke is entitled to his opinion as everyone is- I just wish that someone had mentioned that the asylum and treatment were in keeping with the time period for the film, and in showing and doing that it caused controversy. Oh well. Good job, I'm always in search of "new" stuff on Return to Oz and I'm glad I found yours. I prefer Return to Oz over MGM's Oz story.

[J2Dstar]

Thank you for making that point about the "treatment" Dorothy receives. It's tiring listening to people compare this extraordinary film to the 1939 MGM bore. Judy Garland and MGM both did much better films (both aurally and visually); "Meet Me In St. Louise" anyone?

[OurGangFan]

@J2Dstar Don't forget For Me & My Gal, The Harvey Girls, and Easter Parade

[brabon1]

@SongBirdAllie really? how many kids in the 30s were sent to mental asylums for having an imagination?

[SongBirdAllie]

@brabon1 - L. Frank Baum wrote "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" in the year 1900. True as it may be that The Wizard of Oz movie was filmed in 1939, it was not set in that time period, nor were the books that L. Frank Baum wrote. The books were set in Late - Victorian, not Great Depression. Return to Oz is truer to L. Frank Baum's vision. A darker, less sing-songy movie representative of a time period where people who had active imaginations were sent to insane asylums. Research before you post. :)

[brabon1]

@SongBirdAllie i know when he wrote it....but i disagree that the 39 version was placed at the same time period..it looks to be depression era

now maybe return is set in the early 1900s....but children were not sent to asylums for having imaginations and shock therapy wasnt introduced till the 30s

i suggest you do more research...and check out what was the treatment for minor psych illnesses at the time....most freudian and a lot of sexual abuse

[SongBirdAllie]

@brabon1 - MGM did the best they could with what they had at the time they shot the Wizard of Oz back in 1939. RTO was shot in 1984-85, our technology and means for recreating time periods is superior to what they have in the 30's. I know you know that. I guess we will have to agree to disagree on the point of if they meant for it to be placed in the 30's or not. Shock therapy was introduced as a "safe" medical treatment in the 30s, or so the people of the 30's thought.

[SongBirdAllie]

@brabon1 - At the turn of the century, people with vivid imaginations or different ideas were thought as "strange". It wasn't "proper" to do anything out of the norm. HInce why in RTO Aunt Em takes Dorothy to the doctor for her strange dreams about places that don't exist and her insomnia issue. We will never know the extent of abuse and maltreatment some individuals endured while being in asylums. Early forms of shock therapy could have happened.

[SongBirdAllie]

@brabon1 - I suggest that you actually watch Return to Oz. If you had, you would know that Dr. Worley says, "In just two months, it will be the year 1900, a new century, the 20th century." And you would not have left your first reply about kids in the "30's" being sent to mental asylums for having imaginations.

[brabon1]

@SongBirdAllie well, as shock therapy didnt get started till the 30s, that is a huge mistake in the movie....and when it first came out on video, i tried to watch the pos....it was too depressing and fairuza balk creeped me out

she still creeps me out

[SongBirdAllie]

@TheJesusSucks- wow, this is your work? Nicely done except for the "failing" remarks. ;) I loved this film as a child and as an adult I am still obsessed with it. I actually posted all my comments at once, one right after another and did not see yours until I refreshed the page, so please know, I was not arguing with you.

[TheJesusSucks]

@SongBirdAllie Yes, I made this. I use both TheJesusSucks and MeatballsMarlowe as my YouTube channel. Sorry, I didn't realize I was replying to you as TheJesusSucks; that probably came off very confusing, lol. I'll send you a message as MeatballsMarlowe.

[SongBirdAllie]

Aunt Em did what she thought was best for Dorothy. So really it was not distastefully done, just a glimpse back in time to how people were "cured" from their mental illnesses back then.

[TheJesusSucks]

@SongBirdAllie It was definitely an interesting idea; again what I was trying to say in my documentary is not that the filmmakers made a mistake, but that it caused controversy. John Fricke was giving his honest opinion in the clip I showed, and he's entitled to it.

[SongBirdAllie]

The screen-writers did an excellent job of trying to stay true to Baum's books and to the time-period in which the were written. There were many insane asylums during that time period and many experiments used to treat the mentally ill, including electricity. Electricity was "new" and people did not know the dangers of it. Of course any parent/guardian who knew the dangers of electricity would not submit their child to it. However, the people then did not know any better b/c of lack of education

[TheJesusSucks]

@SongBirdAllie Again, you don't have to justify to me personally why you feel it was in there. I simply collected interviews of different opinions and put them all in. I also included footage of Jeanette (the girl with the glasses) saying in her interview that she liked the mental institution scene.

[SongBirdAllie]

Also, when they reference the part about Dorothy going to the mental institution/asylum to get "treatment" they should not say that is was "distasteful or scary". As a child watching the film, I didn't understand why the "treatment" was bad, but I knew that it was bad and Dorothy had to escape. However as I grew older I found out what exactly that treatment was and was a little disturbed but not surprised.

[TheJesusSucks]

@SongBirdAllie Well, I personally am not saying it is distasteful or scary; the people I interviewed had different opinions and I wanted to include them. The choice to feature a scene in a mental institution was very controversial when the film was released, and is again a major element in evaluating the film, so I don't think it should be ignored in discussion.

[SongBirdAllie]

Oy Veh. I'm sorry, but I've been watching this documentary in segments and whoever was the narrator seems all to glad to keep reminding the viewers that the film was not successful at the box-office. Maybe I feel that way b/c I grew up watching this film and loved it. However I really believe that is not the case.

[TheJesusSucks]

@SongBirdAllie Hello, thanks for your comments on my work. Maybe I do mention it too much; sorry, I made this 3 years ago with the mindset that I wanted more people to know about this great film. And I think the fact that the film struggled to find an audience is a major part of evaluating it. But, maybe I do mention it too much, so that is a fair criticism.

[MunchkinReviewer]

The first bit of music sounds like teh score from The Wizard of Oz slowed down a bit. It's not very noticeable, but I wonder if it was intentional.

[LightsOutNukeWinter]

i'm so happy to have this film in my memory from age four. so scary, but so truthful. it's lack of success only adds to the personal treasure that the film carries. i'm truly one of the lucky ones.

[straker454]

That music that starts at 4:12...AWESOME! One of my all time favorite pieces of music for that film!

I agree though that they should have added the Wizard of Oz story as a recap using this films style. that really would have helped. And yes, I agree that the shock therapy was messed up. Still, I love this film SO much more then the original MGM film

[hotty198]

4:43 is better

[straker454]

@hotty198 Well, gee, I hate to disagree (no I don't) but I like the other piece better. It stands out in my mind and memory more then the other tracks in the score and isn't as typical as the rest of the music, though that doesn't mean I don't like the rest of the score.

[hotty198]

4:43 is beautiful. your pick is kinda catchy music but 4:43 is heart moving.

[straker454]

I'm glad you have an opinion but I don't care? I like the other song more. Still my favorite track. buh-bye!

[hotty198]

im glad ur glad buh bye!

[straker454]

And I'm glad you're an idiot. Buh-bye!

[hotty198]

takes one to know one douche bag buh bye. u have no musical taste at all. get off of youtube. delete your account and go play your triangle.

[straker454]

Wow, that the best you got? You sound like a little child. Go fuck yourself. ^_^

[hotty198]

ding ding ding. wow you got talent ding ding ding ding play that triangle

[straker454]

HAHAHAHAHA! You're funny. Come on, gimmie another one! I like how repetitive you are! You must spend hours thinking these up! I like the part where you TRY to act smart, that was the best! Come on though, try harder.

[hotty198]

i know im funny and smart... dont have to act it out when it flows naturally. now why are you still here? buh bye

[straker454]

Now THAT is the best joke ever! Not only do you try to act smart, but you actually SAY it too! You should be in stand up! It's funny because you're saying the opposite to what is true! XD Good one, man! HOO BOY! Come on, tell me more jokes! I KNOW! Tell me your IQ! XD That will be good for a few more laughs! XDDD

[hotty198]

ur a dork. you wanna compare IQ's now?  now that my friend... is comedy.

[straker454]

DORK! XD HAHAHAHA! That's awesome because it's what a kindergartener would say! XD I also like how you said "ur" instead of "you are" or "you're" because poor literacy is"kewl" right? XD It also makes for great comedy! XD And yes, you trying to compare your IQ to mine should be great for a laugh or two more. One laugh for each of the points in yours. XDDDD

[hotty198]

for real get over UR self. what are you a grammar teacher? what exactly do you use your "high" IQ for??? defending UR self on youtube all day LOLZ!!!!

[straker454]

lol,! You must have to get help for these come backs! XD Your whole family combined must be as smart as a stalk of celery. XDDDD Come on and try harder! XD *snicker* defend myself on youtube? XD Defend myself against what? Are you ACTUALLY saying you're "attacking" me? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! That is the BEST joke so far! Keep the laughs coming, because so far the only genius you've displayed is in comedy. XD God knows your channels videos are a joke as much as your user name is, "hotty" XD

[hotty198]

you must be bored out of your mind. let me see straker454. 32 years old. keeps his time in his mothers basement most of his life. has no life, no girlfriend, no hope. at least he has his IQ.

[straker454]

Bored? Oh hell no! You're keeping me VERY entertained here XD This must be VERY comforting to you thinking that I actually care what you say. I'll bet you have this vision of me just fuming over my keyboard too. XD What I find best is that you're your own example of how meaningless you are by accusing me of the same. I'd laugh if it wasn't so pathetic...HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH­AHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

[OurGangFan]

The score for Return To Oz is timeless!

[Johnlindsey289]

Why did it do badly at the box-office? it was suppose to save Disney's ass during the 80's period but it didn't. Luckily Roger Rabbit, Oliver and Company, Little Mermaid and Honey I Shrunk The Kids all were succeeses at the box-office.

[TheArchDandy]

musical slideshow a little too long? good other than that so far

[BroadwayGuy25]

Not long enough in my opinion. David Shire's score is a masterpiece. This man created part of the soundtrack of my childhood.