Introduction to Film

One of the most beloved fantasy movies of all times that holds a special place within many people’s hearts is the famous “Wizard of Oz”. This movie is a musical that was created and directed by Victor Fleming in 1939 with the help of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Malcolm Brown, William A.

Horning and Jack Martin Smith as the production designers (that were never credited) and Cedric Gibbons as the art director. (IMDb, n. d) This movie is about a young, girl from Kansas named Dorothy Gale played by Judy Garland who dreams of another life.Dorothy lives on her auntie Emily (Clara Blandick) and uncle Henry’s (Charley Grapewin) farm, and has friends named “Hunk (Ray Bolger), Zeke (Bert Lahr) and Hickory (Jack Haley). All of the mentioned friends play a vital roles as The Scarecrow (Ray Bolger), The Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr) and The Tin Man (Jack Haley)” in the film. (IMDb, n.

d). At one point, Dorothy decides to run away and find a new life with her dog Toto. During a storm and trying to get back home, Dorothy finds herself in a strange place, The Land of Oz.The scene I have chosen to analyze is “The Cowardly Lion” staring Dorothy, Toto, the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and the Lion.

The importance of each character in the scene is the Lion tries to seem brave, while the Tin Man and the Scare Crow are scared of him. Toto runs away from him and Dorothy saves Toto. She teaches the Lion a lesson on picking on people. That is when they learn the lion is really just a coward. The producers used a little bit darker lighting, which mad the background appear to be darker when the Lion was picking on the Tin Man and Scarecrow.

The light casts shadows off of the characters, especially Toto. I feel that it helps the viewer relate to the menace the Lion is trying to portray. According to Geneseo Edu (n. d), “costumes give information on the tone, style, time and place of a play.

Dresses with an empire waist made of light fabrics in light colors place us in the early 18th century. Costume shows greatly the progress of the plot, most importantly through character development.“The characters move the story along and with the director and the actor while the costume designer helps to set the film’s emotional tone n a visual way. In a more physical sense the costumes’ style and color help to keep the story on track, keeping a check on time and place. ” (Jeffrey Kurland, 2010, p.

1) For example, in the beginning of the movie, Dorothy’s costume is seen as a simple down to earth farm dress, but later in the movie the light colors help portray a cheerful girl that tries to help others. Characters reveal things about themselves in the way they dress. Bert Lahr’s costume was made of real lion skin.It made his character more believable, and real. Hair and makeup help tell the story by giving the viewers visual details about the story and characters. Different makeup and hair styles help the actors portray their role as that character.

It gives the confidence of looking good or even bad and playing the role. It can all reveal what type of person they are playing. (Goodykoontz,, & Jacobs, 2011). For example, Dorothy’s makeup and hair are clean and simple.

Also, the makeup and the color gave her skin gave her a happier look.However, the scarecrow’s makeup made his skin have somewhat of a slight tan to indicate that he has been in the under the sun for a long period of time. The Tin Man’s make-up was shiny, giving the appearance of real metal. The Lion’s make-up included a brown paper bag. In the film, the viewer cannot tell. His make-up really portrayed a lion with the big cheeks, and pronounced jowls.

The setting of “The Cowardly Lion” is on the yellow brick road in the forest. In this scene the time period is unknown because many people believe that Dorothy was only dreaming about her adventures in the Land of Oz.However, from the lighting it appears to be later in the day. Culturally lions are depicted as being strong and brave. The cowardly lion depicts a character that people can relate to in the Depression Era in which the film was made. The Mise-en-Scene are all of the elements that appear on-screen when we watch a movie.

Bordwell (2008), states that it consists of “setting, costume and makeup, lighting, and staging” (Bordwell, 2008, 115). The placement of a prop or altering the way the light shines on a scene are ways that the director can select and control the meaning of a film.The scene appears harmonious with what the filmmaker envisioned for a brave lion, and then changing again to show the cowardly lion. I love the lighting used to accentuate each scene of the movie. I also enjoyed the use of black and white with color. In conclusion, many elements of design went in to making this movie.

The use of lighting to brighten the color of some scenes and to make others more menacing helped evoke emotion in the viewer. The hair and make-up helps the character be more believable.