The Wizard of Oz

Title: The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Director: Victor Fleming
Starring: Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr, Jack Haley
Rank: 10

A Brain. Heart. Courage. A place to call home. These are the things coveted by the four yellow-brick-road-trekkers in The Wizard of Oz. Being smart, being a good person, having courage, and having people who love us are common human desires that most of us have. What we often don't realize, like the four characters, is that we already possess these traits inside of us, waiting to flourish.

The Scarecrow wants a brain. There are not very many people in the world who wouldn't want to be smarter. More often than not, it is a matter of applying oneself. If we didn't have brains, we wouldn't be breathing. Like any muscle, the brain needs exercise or it becomes flabby and weak. The more we use our minds, the stronger it becomes.

The Tin Man wants a heart. Deep down, I believe people want to be good. We all want to make a difference in the world, and leave something positive that future generations will remember us by. A good example of this is the situation in Haiti right now- there are people in need, and because of the dire situation, there are thousands of people who are reaching out to help those less fortunate than them. Whether it is by donating time, money, or blood, each little bit helps. (I myself tried to donate blood, but the Red Cross had to deny my donation due to the cancer and chemotherapy I had as a child. I was able to donate a little bit financially, though.) We all want to help others when they are in need, we all have a heart.

The Lion wanted courage. Life isn't easy, and often we have to do things that seem uncertain, and it takes a bit of courage to get by sometimes. People who are brave have the admiration and respect of others, two things that everyone would love to have. Being a valiant person doesn't mean looking for trouble, but facing it strongly when it comes.

Dorothy wanted a way home. What she is really looking for is familial love. No matter how far we may travel or how successful we may become, we still want the love of family and friends and the comfort of a place to call home.

What the four characters don't realize is that they had the things they wanted from the beginning, all it took was a little encouragement from the wizard for them to see that they were who they wanted to be. There is amazing potential in all of us, we just have to learn to tap in to it. So much easier to say than to do, but still entirely possible. People are astonishing creatures. As cliché as this may sound, we are all special. Each of us is a unique individual, and we all have our own interests, passions, and talents. People often don't realize how much potential they truly have, all it takes is a little belief in oneself.

When you put your mind to it, there isn't anything that you cannot do. We all have brains, heart, courage, and loved ones who support us. I firmly believe that the only limits we have are the ones we give ourselves.

Just because I think they are so pretty, I'm sharing with you a picture of the Ruby Slippers.


Movies to Go: 93

Swing Time

Title: Swing Time (1936)
Director: George Stevens
Starring: Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers
Rank: 90

There are a lot of old movies that I absolutely love, but Swing Time isn't one of them. The dancing and the singing are fantastic, and the story is easy to follow, but the plot is not very strong and the main character, Lucky (played by Astaire), is not the best of guys.

Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers are a fantastic pair on screen, and it is amazing to watch their routine. The singing is beautiful, the dancing is astronomical, and the songs are catchy and fun. Because of their chemistry and fame as an on-screen pair, it is not surprising to see an Astaire and Rogers picture on AFI's list. Swing Time was one of ten films that the duo did together.

The character of John "Lucky" Garnett is a bit of a sleazy guy. He forgets his own wedding to Margaret due to a gambling problem, only to show up hours late when everyone has gone home. Then, he makes a deal with Margaret's father that he'll go to New York to earn $25,000 and come back and marry Margaret once he's proved himself worthy by earning the money. After being in New York for only a few minutes, Lucky meets Penny and becomes instantly smitten with her, following her around. He then proceeds to pursue a romance with Penny, all the while talking behind her back about returning to marry Margaret. He also lies to Penny and says that he is giving up his gambling, only to give in to temptation the first time it arises. At one point, Lucky mentions that he isn't sure if he would rather go back and marry Margaret or stay in New York and be with Penny. In the end, it is only by chance that Penny and Lucky end up together when Margaret confesses that she doesn't really love Lucky. If Margaret hadn't confessed that she didn't really love Lucky, it seems almost as though he would've went through with marrying her.

Even though the plot may be weak, I do have to appreciate the entertainment value of the film. Astaire and Rogers put all their effort into each film that they did, and Swing Time is no exception to that. For the "Never Gonna Dance" routine, everything kept going wrong and it took 47 takes to get it right, and Ginger Rogers' feet actually bled due to the repetition of the intense dancing. Not many people can honestly say they put that much effort into their job!

Movies to Go: 94