His Majesty the Scarecrow of Oz (1914) by L. Frank Baum
Sunday, November 20, 1983, 8:00 pm
L. Frank Baum
His Majesty the Scarecrow of Oz, U.S.A., 1914, 65 min, B&W
The creator of The Wizard of Oz fantasy books produced, wrote and directed three early feature films based on his own stories which were considered “lost” until recent years. Although lacking the elaborate production values of the later Garland vehicle, Baum’s versions are unrivaled for their charm, fantastic characters, and overall sense of wonderment. His Majesty combines aspects of Baum’s Wizard of Oz with original elements to make this his final and most successful film.
The Magic Cloak of Oz, U.S.A., 1914, 45 min, B&W
Baum’s first adaptation tells the story of a magic cloak woven by fairies, of Queen Zixi of Ix who covets the cloak of woods full of strange animals, and the Man on the Moon.