The Making of Oz Trivia Quiz

Answer: Her singing voice was inadequate.

When MGM acquired the film rights to "The Wizard of Oz", Hollywood sweetheart Shirley Temple was considered a shoe-in for the role of Dorothy. Her subsequent audition was thought to be a formality, but a huge problem was revealed. According to the 1990 documentary "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: The Making of a Movie Classic", Temple's singing voice was considered too weak for the demanding musical numbers, and the producers rejected her.

Answer: Over the Rainbow

Judy Garland's famous rendition of "Over the Rainbow" was the final song that composer Harold Arlen and lyricist Yip Harburg created for "Oz". It didn't come easy, however; Arlen battled songwriter's block while attempting to compose the number. Finally, during a trip to the drugstore while nursing a headache, Arlen pulled out a small memo pad and wrote down the music that would become "Over the Rainbow".

His labors were almost in vain, as the song was initially cut from the film after a test showing.

The film's producers disagreed with the decision, and fought to have the song kept in the film. Their persistance was rewarded, and Arlen walked away with the Academy Award for Best Song.

Answer: Bulbo

One of many characters deleted before filming began, Bulbo was the Wicked Witch's son. Early drafts of the "Oz" screenplay contained a subplot involving his ascension to the throne of Oz. Like his wicked mother, Bulbo was given a counterpart in the film's Kansas sequences, appearing as Miss Gulch's son Walter.

Answer: Gale Sondergaard

Producers and writers originally envisioned the Wicked Witch as a stunning temptress reminiscent of the evil beauty in "Snow White". Before filming began, a decision was made to transform the Witch into the ghastly figure known to audiences. Oscar-winning actress Gale Sondergaard soon found herself in an unflattering guise of green makeup, tangled hair, and an elongated nose.

She immediately rejected the role after seeing how dramatically the costume compromised her beauty.

Answer: After Dorothy is locked In the Witch's castle

A cropped version of "Over the Rainbow" was sung by Garland after she was locked away with the hourglass in the Witch's castle. Her first rendition, remembered as perhaps the greatest song in film history, was almost removed also. Studio heads at MGM were worried about one of their stars singing in a barnyard.

It was also believed that the song slowed the film down a great deal. Fortunately, the song remained.

Answer: Terry

Terry, a Cairn Terrier, was hired for the role of Dorothy's dog Toto. During filming, she suffered a broken foot after being stepped on by one of the Winkie Guards. A second, uncredited dog was hired to fill in while Terry recovered. Terry's weekly salary was reportedly more than that of some of the film's human actors.

Answer: He had an allergic reaction to his make-up.

There is no surviving footage of Buddy Ebsen as the Tin Man, only still photographs of Ebsen in the original costume, including the aluminum powder he wore on his face. It was this powder that caused Ebsen to suffer a violent allergic reaction ten days into filming. Doctors discovered that he had been inadvertantly inhaling the powder, damaging his lungs. Rather than allow time for the actor to recuperate, producers hired Jack Haley.

The make-up department quietly ditched the aluminum powder, and replaced it with aluminum paste.

Answer: The Scarecrow

The original cut of "The Wizard of Oz" ran too long, according to studio heads at MGM. Several scenes were removed during post-production, including a routine performed by Ray Bolger during the song "If I Only Had a Brain". Also removed was the Jitterbug, performed by Dorothy and her companions in the forest before being invaded by the Winged Monkeys.

Answer: Richard Thorpe

Although "Gone With the Wind" director Victor Fleming is credited as the director of "Oz", several others worked on the film. Richard Thorpe was the film's original director, but was fired when producers were appalled at the footage he shot. Although Fleming is responsible for much of the film, he was not the man who finished it. King Vidor was in the director's chair when filming wrapped in March of 1939.

Answer: W.C. Fields

A famous drunkard who once said he was reading a bible because he wanted to "look for loopholes", W.C. Fields was coveted by producers for the "Oz" title role. Why Fields didn't get the part has never been fully substantiated. It is believed by some that the actor wanted too much money. Others claimed that Fields turned down the role because he deemed it "too small".

Answer: Noel Langley

After screenwriters decided that Dorothy's adventure in Oz was going to be portrayed as a dream, they began thinking of ways to enhance their concept. Noel Langley, credited by many film historians as "Oz"'s essential screenwriter, set about the task of establishing the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion as Kansas farmhands.

In addition, Langley also provided counterparts for the Wicked Witch of the West (Miss Gulch) and the Wizard of Oz (Professor Marvel).

Answer: The Cowardly Lion

Because he was considered superfluous in many respects, the Cowardly Lion was absent from several previous "Oz" film adaptations. When MGM bought the rights to the novel and script preparations began, it was determined that he would not be included. Screenwriter Noel Langley later reversed this decision.

Answer: The Witch's disappearance from Munchkinland

Filming "The Wizard of Oz" became a living nightmare for Margaret Hamilton. While shooting a retake of the Witch's disappearance from Munchkinland, a timing error caused the actress to be exposed to flames while descending the stage elevator below her. Hamilton suffered burns on her face and hands, and the experience caused her to refuse filming the scene of the Witch flying over the Emerald City.

A stunt double was hired, and Hamilton's fears proved to be well founded; a malfunctioning smoke mechanism caused the stunt double to suffer severe injuries.

Answer: The Tin Man

Per his contract with MGM, Ray Bolger was bound to accept any film role the studio selected for him. When he was chosen to play the Tin Man, Bolger's ego quickly got the best of him. He angrily confronted the studio heads at MGM, begging to play the Scarecrow, a role which had already been given to Buddy Ebsen. MGM relented, with Bolger and Ebsen switching roles.

Answer: Silver

"Oz" filmmakers took many liberties with L. Frank Baum's original story, including the matter of Dorothy's slippers. Referred to as 'silver shoes' in the novel, screenwriters originally intended to keep them for the film. Screenwriter Noel Langley made the change to ruby, reportedly to take advantage of the Technicolor process used for the Oz sequences.