The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1910) is the earliest surviving film version of L. Frank Baum's 1900 novel, made by the Selig Polyscope Company without Baum's direct input. It was created to fulfill a contractual obligation associated with Baum's personal bankruptcy caused by The Fairylogue and Radio-Plays, from which it was once thought to have been derived. It was partly based on the 1902 stage musical, though much of the film deals with the Wicked Witch of the West, who does not appear in the musical.

Directed by

Otis Turner



Writers

L. Frank Baum

Otis Turner



Cast

Bebe Daniels...Dorothy Gale

Hobart Bosworth...Wizard of Oz and King

Eugenie Besserer...Aunt Em

Robert Z. Leonard...Scarecrow

Winifred Greenwood...Momba

Lillian Leighton...Union Enforcer

Olive Cox...Glinda the Good

Alvin Wyckoff

Marcia Moore



Produced by

William Nicholas Selig

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Reviewer: fixitmanarizona - favorite favorite favorite favorite - August 11, 2020

Subject: Oh, yes Aperture102 What are you, 8 years old? Maybe mommy and daddy should put you in school, so you can learn to spell, and maybe learn some manners as well.

Otherwise, I had forgotten this existed! Amazing for its day. Realize this was 110 years ago when films were in their infancy... - August 11, 2020Oh, yes

Reviewer: Aperture102 - favorite favorite favorite - September 14, 2018

Subject: sick dances really good. i liked the dances. they were good but they copied fortnite dance. try to be more origianal next time.

two stars were deduckted from my rating for IP theft.

my papa was very mad when he found out that you stole his dances he is ceo of fortnite and is filing a lawsuite right.... NOW. hes MAD.

see you IN CORT.!:( - September 14, 2018sick dances

Reviewer: judeblack, bbc - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - May 14, 2015

Subject: Thank you! Thank you for posting this movie. It truly is a Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The Scarecrow steals every scene he's in, which should have been more difficult with the great cast of characters. Charming and enjoyable both times. - May 14, 2015Thank you!

Reviewer: Kentworth - favorite favorite favorite favorite - October 5, 2014

Subject: Worth the watch This is amazing video quality, considering.



Not to be compared to the later version, nor the book, but in 1910 this had to be a real treat. It's a treat to watch it 104 years later, although for different reasons. Take the time to watch it. - October 5, 2014Worth the watch

Reviewer: indianacarnie - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - October 3, 2014

Subject: Cute Could have done without the dig at unions at the end but overall a cute and very watchable little film. Loved the rudimentary "special effects", the scene with the tornado......... lol. Well worth the 13 minutes it takes to watch. Print decent without much unevenness as in some other films of this age. - October 3, 2014Cute

Reviewer: floridacracker8188 - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - September 26, 2014

Subject: Wonderful This is great find. I just love to watch the film industry in its very beginings. Imagine the children(and adults) being amazed at the flying people. we laugh now, but this at one time was groundbreaking. Thanks for the internet archives, Ive enjoyed hours of watching old films. Donate today. - September 26, 2014Wonderful

Reviewer: rclo - favorite favorite - June 20, 2011

Subject: Silent better than sound The story is so familiar to everyone that even this version is no too difficult to follow. The most fascinating character is the trippy lion. I found myself watching him in every scene in which he appeared.



The totally silent version is much clearer than the soundtrack version.



Worth watching. - June 20, 2011Silent better than sound

Reviewer: bobdylansdead - favorite favorite favorite favorite - January 26, 2011

Subject: What??? Is it just me or is this the most terrifying interpretations of L. Frank Baum's book ever?



The faces on the trees were certainly eerie, but I think the scariest part was how the animal characters were only halfway anthropomorphised and the costumes they were wearing were also pretty creepy.



I realize this was done in 1910, and actually, I thoroughly enjoyed this version of the story. - January 26, 2011What???

Reviewer: babe917 - favorite favorite favorite favorite - January 12, 2010

Subject: cute classic :) ive seen a few other silent OZ movies but not this 1! i liked it alot, it was a cute short!



oh btw the scene with the faces on the trees were eerie lol ! but cool don't get me wrong :) babe917 -- January 12, 2010cute classic :)

Reviewer: nigeldavahah - favorite favorite favorite favorite - January 11, 2010

Subject: nice;) nice;) OZ everyone has on pointed hats LOL - January 11, 2010nice;)

Reviewer: Onimusha - favorite favorite favorite favorite - August 30, 2008

Subject: Excellent early Oz It may be a little fuzzy around the edges but I thought it was excellent. I will be watching it again soon. - August 30, 2008Excellent early Oz