It was too powerful, too emotional, too sorrowful. They cut it from the movie because test audiences found it far too disturbing. I have not seen that particular scene, but I heard the song, and it was heart wrenching. That part was in the movie, but they shoot a scene where Dorothy once again sings “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” but this time is scared, small, quivering voice. She has been threatened with death, and is left alone by the witch to wait for her impending doom. There were a few scenes that were deleted from the Wizard of Oz, most notably a scene with Dorothy in the Witch’s castle. Most of us have this idea of a safe and secure world, and if that is upended, we feel our wholes lives are upended. In some countries kids are snatched away by roving paramilitary soldiers, who train them to kill at an early age. Some are torn from the parents arms, by social workers or border agents. Some encounter abuse, some from their parents. Of course we know what is not true for all children. When we are scared we run to our parents beds and snuggle up with them, and we are safe from all the beasties and boogeymen of the world. In an ideal world our parents can protect us from the hazards of the world-witches and flying monkeys and monsters under the bed. As children we like to think our lives are safe and secure. No, I think what makes it scary, especially for young people, is that a likable young girl comes face to face with evil. Ok, so the Scarecrow has his innards tossed all around by the Flying Monkey, but that is straw. Not a drop of blood is spilled in the movie. What makes it scary? That is a hard question to answer. It has been, in all likelihood, the first scary movie most people ever see. Whether it was the Wizard, who really scared me, or the Wicked Witch of the West, or the Flying Monkeys, this movie has apparently scared generations of watchers. When I mentioned I was doing a series on the Wizard of Oz, I got a very common reaction from people-that movie scared me to death.
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