Oz: The American Fairyland

Oz: The American Fairyland (1997) is a documentary film directed by Gayle O’Neal, Leonard A. Swan Jr. rated 9.0/10.

The first part tells of the life and works of L. Frank Baum, along with his career as a writer and filmmaker, centering on the creation of Oz. This portion continues with the effect of Oz after his death, with novelties, dolls, radio, stage, and screen adaptions, and advertising gimmicks based on his work, culminating with MGM's Wizard of Oz (1939). While discussing some of the major alterations between the book and the film, such as MGM making Baum's real-life adventure a dream. The second half is about interpretation of Oz by other artists, including Helen Kish, Barry Moser, Barry Mahon, Evelyn Copelman, Robert Tonner, Robin Woods, Michael Hague, Lizbeth Zwerger, Pavel Arsyenov, and Charles Santore. The documentary concludes with an analysis of Baum's work and its profound effect on American culture.

Cast

Lee Lively

Narrator

Michael Patrick Hearn

Himself

Ozma Baum Mantele

Herself

Charles Santore

Himself

Rachel Cosgrove Payes

Herself

Jay Scarfone

Himself

William Stillman

Himself

Kelsey Davis

Child