The Wizard of Oz Returns to Theaters in HD
You won't believe your eyes and ears on this brand new magical journey down the yellow brick road with Dorothy, her dog Toto, The Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion. On September 23rd, NCM Fathom, Warner Home Video and Turner Classic Movies (TCM) will give theatergoers the opportunity to experience this family classic for the first time in high definition on the big screen.
The Wizard of Oz 70th Anniversary Hi-Def Event, a special one-night only, nationwide in-theater presentation, will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 23rd at 7:00 p.m. local time. The unforgettable cultural icon has been entirely re-mastered and will be shown in movie theaters for the first time ever in high definition in an historic big-screen event that celebrates the 70th anniversary of The Wizard of Oz. The event will also feature the specially created "To Oz! The Making of a Classic," an exclusive look inside Oz featuring behind-the-scenes footage, home movies and archival interviews with the cast and crew.
Tickets are available at participating theater box offices and online at Fathom Events. For a complete list of theater locations and prices, please visit the web site (theaters and participants are subject to change).
The Wizard of Oz 70th Anniversary Hi-Def Event will be introduced by Robert Osborne, classic film historian and host of Turner Classic Movies, who will share facts and stories about this ageless classic. The exclusive cut of "To Oz! The Making of a Classic" will offer audiences a unique peek into the Land of Oz through interviews with original Munchkin actors; an audio outtake of "If I Only Had a Brain" with Ray Bolger and July Garland, complete with stills and home movie footage; and a look at how the MGM artists and craftsmen created the music, costumes and amazing special effects for The Wizard of Oz in the 1930s.
"Warner Home Video is proud to be part of the year-long celebration of this cinematic treasure. We're also delighted to be bringing it into the digital age with this new painstakingly re-mastered Blu-ray, which makes it seem like you're seeing these endearing characters and hearing the unforgettable Oz songs for the first time," said Jeff Baker, Warner Home Video's executive vice president and general manager, Theatrical Catalog.
Adapted from L. Frank Baum's timeless children's tale about a Kansas girl's journey over the rainbow, The Wizard of Oz opened on Aug. 15, 1939, and is ranked among the top 10 best movies of all-time. The Wizard of Oz received five Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and captured two Oscars - Best Song ("Over the Rainbow") and Best Original Score - plus a special award for Outstanding Juvenile Performance by Judy Garland.
"NCM Fathom continues to bring communities together in local movie theaters and we are proud to be the first to present this much-loved story to audiences in a way they're sure to remember," said Dan Diamond, vice president of Fathom. "Fans - young and old - will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see Dorothy's journey come to life on the big screen in a high definition experience that will include an exclusive look inside the making of this masterpiece."
The Wizard of Oz 70th Anniversary Hi-Def Event appears on the big screen in high definition with Cinema Surround Sound in 449 select AMC Entertainment Inc., Celebration! Cinema, Cinemark Holdings, Inc., Clearview Cinemas, Cobb Theatres, Georgia Theatre Co., Goodrich Quality Theaters, Hollywood Theaters, Kerasotes Showplace Theatres, Malco Theatres, National Amusements and Regal Entertainment Group movie theaters, as well as Arlington Theatre (Santa Barbara, CA), The Carolina (Asheville, NC), El Raton Theatre (Raton, NM), Palace Cinema 9 (South Burlington, VT) and Penn Cinema (Lititz, PA), through NCM's exclusive Digital Broadcast Network.
Warner Home Video's re-mastered Blu-ray and DVD release, The Wizard of Oz 70th Anniversary Ultimate Collector's Edition, debuts September 29. With six times higher resolution than standard DVD, along with the sonic excellence of Dolby TruHD, the film will be at its pristine best, marking an historic benchmark in the Blu-ray format. The limited and numbered Ultimate Collector's Editions will feature 16 hours of bonus features - four hours of which have never been available before now. Every package will bear a silver label containing a specific numbered version; once these packages are sold out, they will never again be available to consumers.
Visit the official website The Wizard of Oz for more information on events and products.
The Wizard of Oz was released August 15th, 1939 and stars Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr, Jack Haley, Billie Burke, Margaret Hamilton, Charley Grapewin. The film is directed by Victor Fleming, Mervyn LeRoy, Richard Thorpe, King Vidor.
Comments (11)
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Vanboy
Yeah reelmein, I second that.
Are they insane?! One night only. A lot of you think this is no big deal, but trust me, there will be people flocking with there kids to see this. It's going to be a mad house wherever it's shown. Does TCM want to insight riots over tickets? It's not like they can just go to the next showing. It's one night.
And then a limited time Bluray release? Frankly, I don't understand the point of that. Why would they go through the trouble to remaster it in perfect clarity and not want to cash in on it?
Well, I'll reserve mine as soon as it's available and avoid the madness. Seriously, think about it!
2 years agoby @vanboyFlag
Mutant
Hey, they'll properly be tone deaf.
Can't stand it when people talk during a film, or having their cell phone on it just ruins it for the rest of us.
2 years agoby @zenderFlag
reelmein
sorry if i whant to see in HD i just wach at home on my Blu-Ray
that way i dont have worry about the pepole that migth sing in the theater...
2 years agoby @reelmeinFlag
CelluloidDreams
Anybody who'd pay good money and waster their time watching a digital transmission-projection showing of this, or any other movie, ought to have his or her head (and eyes) examined.
2 years agoby @2movieguysFlag
WiseGuy
F*cking great news.
2 years agoby @zgcorleone072Flag
isa98
Holy crap, when i saw that picture i thought they were remaking this... Some films shouldn't be remade... Hollywood is so unoriginal these days.
2 years agoby @isa98Flag
ZanyZap
I doubt I'd ever have the initiative or impulse to see Oz in the theater; I've probably only watched it once or twice in my life.
Wicked would be a good movie, but it's almost a cliche to attach Burton as the director. ;)
And I'm not sure how a remake would fair with today's audience.
2 years agoby @zanyzapFlag
schlike22
NO MORE REMAKES. Leave some classics alone. You really think a Tim Burton remake on this would be any good ? This event is cool
2 years agoby @schlike22Flag
Mutant
I heard a rumor a while back that Wicked was suppose to be made as a film. What happened to that anyway?
2 years agoby @zenderFlag
kingbrady
i really wish they would do a remake it would be awesome, get Tim Burton on that, i would assume they whole singing though might be not so good lol but nonetheless
2 years agoby @kingbradyFlag
Rlt9009
Holy sh*t,when I saw the picture I thought they were doing a remake.
2 years agoby @rlt9009Flag