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A celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer movie musical, this new book The Wizard of Oz offers a rare glimpse into the creation of the classic film, its creator L. Frank Baum, the Academy Award-winning score, the leading lady, and the Oz phenomenon that continues to captivate the world. Although Oz creator L. Frank Baum died twenty years prior to the release of MGM�s celebrated film, his fascinating career and story, as told in this new book, will surprise even the most devoted Oz fans. Prior to MGM�s 1939 release of the movie, Baum�s book was featured as a Broadway musical, with songs by the justifiably forgotten Fred R. Hamlin, and two bizarre silent movies. The enduring appeal and lasting influence of The Wizard of Oz are discussed in a special chapter by creator�s great-grandson Roger Baum. The Wizard of Oz will lead the reader down the proverbial yellow brick road to discover: The seven flawless decisions MGM made to adapt Baum�s sprawling children�s book into a movie musical. The groundbreaking moviemaking techniques, MGM�s second full-length Technicolor film. The surprising story behind Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg�s superlative score, which includes �Over the Rainbow,� considered the greatest movie song of all time. How Judy Garland won �Dorothy,� her most enduring role, after 20th Century Fox refused to loan Shirley Temple to MGM. The birth of film�s greatest canine star, Cairn Terrier, Terry, as Dorothy�s little dog �Toto�. The many everyday Oz expressions that come from the most oft-quoted movie of all time How the Wicked Witch of the West (renamed her Elphaba after Oz creator�s initials) was remade �for good� in Broadway�s Oz prequel Wicked. This celebration of the iconic film is a must-have for all Wizard of Oz lovers.