The original film has been criticized for its all-black cast. White audiences felt this was discriminatory and deemed it racist. This is called reverse racism, a concept that seeks to right wrongs. While this criticism was unfounded, it does highlight some of the problems with the film’s production.
Judy Garland’s pay
Judy Garland was paid $500 per week for her role as Dorothy in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz. This was considerably less than the pay of her male co-stars, who received $3,000 a week for their work. Even the dog Toto got a decent amount of money, earning $125 a week. However, these figures do not reflect the actual earnings of the actors, who were often paid considerably less than their female co-stars.
Garland was very successful as an actress, and had other talents such as singing. This was an unusual combination for an actress, as most of the women of the time were expected to perform at least one of these three things well. During her first marriage, she had an abortion. After that, she married Vincente Minnelli, the father of her daughter Liza. She also had several affairs, including with Orson Welles, Tyrone Power, and the bandleader Artie Shaw.
Although Judy Garland earned millions during her career, she was also burdened with severe financial problems. By the time of her death, she had accumulated debt of about $4 million. This was due to the mismanagement and embezzlement of her agents. Her family and friends had to help her with her finances, but the actress could not fulfill many of her philanthropic requests.
Judy Garland’s portrayal of Toto
Despite her renowned voice, Judy Garland was paid less than the dog that played Toto in the film, despite her iconic role. During filming, the young actress was put on a strict diet to lose weight. She was also forbidden from smoking. On one occasion, director Victor Fleming slapped her during a scene, because she was too excited and couldn’t control her laughter. Nevertheless, she completed the scene.
While the film is widely regarded as one of the most beloved movies of all time, it was a painstaking process to create. Judy Garland, who played Dorothy Gale, suffered a lot during filming. She was often beaten and neglected, and she received a lot of abuse, including being paid less than Toto!
Although she had no speaking parts, Toto is one of the most important characters in the film. Unlike the Munchkins, Toto earned more money than the actors, earning more than $1,000 per week. In addition to that, she was the last to be hired as a main cast member. Garland spent months looking for a perfect match. However, Garland was determined to keep Terry as her dog, and she pleaded with her director to adopt him.
Judy Garland’s portrayal of Dorothy
Originally, Judy Garland was set to play Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, a movie about a young farm girl from Kansas. In order to look like a child, Garland had to eat a low-calorie diet and only drank chicken soup and smoked cigarettes. She also had her chest bound underneath the dress to make her appear more child-like.
Judy Garland’s portrayal of Dorothy Gale is one of her most famous film roles. The movie starred Garland at just 16 years old and earned her a special Academy Award in 1940 for her role. After the movie, Garland went on to receive nominations for A Star is Born (1954) and Judgment at Nuremberg (1961). She also went on to have a successful singing career, although she is remembered for her portrayal of Dorothy in “Wizard of Oz”.
Despite Garland’s fame, she had faced abuse on set, which she never discussed. Sid Luft, Garland’s co-star, described the treatment of Garland as “cruel.” Munchkins would slap Judy Garland’s face and put their hands under her dress, which triggered her to break down. The experience connected Garland’s experiences on set with her own personal struggles.
Matilda Joslyn Gage’s radical feminism
Historically, the women’s rights movement has been a difficult topic for modern feminists to approach, but one woman whose influence is still largely overlooked is Matilda Joslyn Gages. She is considered one of the first feminists and was a prolific writer. Her pamphlets, such as Woman, Church, and State, were considered radical texts.
Gage was an American writer and activist, famous for her work for women’s suffrage. She also campaigned for Native American and anti-slavery causes. She was also an advocate of freethought. Her influence on L. Frank Baum’s creation of The Wizard of Oz is undeniable, as Gage also influenced him in his own works.
As a radical feminist, Gage had been an activist against the Christian Church and an opponent of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union. She believed that women should have the right to vote as a ‘natural right.’ Despite her opposition to the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union, Gage was deeply religious. She even participated in a committee that wrote The Woman’s Bible.