Who Played Dorothy In The Wizard Of Oz Film?
Judy Garland portrayed Dorothy Gale in the iconic 1939 MGM film The Wizard of Oz, delivering a performance that has captivated audiences for over 85 years and earned her a special Juvenile Academy Award in 1940.
Historical Casting Context
The selection of Judy Garland as Dorothy marked a pivotal moment in Hollywood history, as she was 16 years old during principal photography from late 1938 to early 1939, despite the character's depiction as a younger Kansas farm girl. MGM initially favored 11-year-old Shirley Temple, on loan from 20th Century Fox, but negotiations failed, paving the way for Garland, whose vocal maturity and emotional depth proved ideal for songs like "Over the Rainbow". This decision propelled Garland from a contract player to superstardom, with the film grossing $3 million domestically upon re-release in 1949 after initial modest returns of $2.7 million.
Production Challenges Faced
Garland endured grueling conditions on set, including 18-hour filming days, a strict 800-calorie diet enforced by studio head Louis B. Mayer, and forced use of amphetamines to suppress appetite and maintain energy levels. These hardships, documented in biographies and interviews, contributed to her authentic portrayal of Dorothy's vulnerability amid the Technicolor spectacle, where she filmed key scenes like the Munchkinland arrival on December 17, 1938. Her resilience under pressure solidified her legacy, as noted by film historian Aljean Harmetz: "Judy was the heart of the picture".
- Garland's screen test for Dorothy occurred on December 2, 1938, showcasing her rendition of "Over the Rainbow."
- The ruby slippers, originally silver in L. Frank Baum's 1900 novel, were dyed red for cinematic impact, worn by Garland in 33 takes of the "There's no place like home" sequence.
- MGM spent $2.75 million on production, equivalent to about $60 million in 2026 dollars, making it one of the most expensive films of its era.
- Garland's performance drew 16 million viewers during its 1956 TV premiere, boosting annual royalties exceeding $1 million by the 1970s.
Key Cast and Crew Milestones
The ensemble supporting Dorothy Gale featured Frank Morgan as the Wizard, Ray Bolger as the Scarecrow, Bert Lahr as the Cowardly Lion, and Jack Haley as the Tin Man, after Buddy Ebsen was hospitalized from aluminum dust toxicity on October 15, 1938. Director Victor Fleming oversaw early filming before departing for Gone with the Wind, with King Vidor completing the Kansas sepia sequences in March 1939. Composer Harold Arlen and lyricist Yip Harburg crafted the Oscar-winning "Over the Rainbow," debuted publicly by Garland on September 20, 1938, at the Hollywood Bowl.
| Role | Actor/Actress | Filming Start Date | Notable Fact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dorothy Gale | Judy Garland | October 13, 1938 | Juvenile Oscar winner, 1940 |
| Scarecrow | Ray Bolger | November 1938 | Originally cast as Tin Man |
| Tin Man | Jack Haley | November 1938 | Replaced Buddy Ebsen |
| Cowardly Lion | Bert Lahr | November 1938 | Costume weighed 90 lbs |
| Wicked Witch | Margaret Hamilton | December 1938 | Burned by pyrotechnics |
- Pre-production casting tests began in spring 1938, with 11-year-old Deanna Durbin also considered before her contract lapsed.
- Garland signed her MGM contract on April 26, 1935, appearing in 28 films before Oz, building her vaudeville-honed skills from age 2½.
- Principal photography wrapped on March 16, 1939, followed by a test screening on June 19 attended by 500 MGM executives.
- World premiere occurred August 25, 1939, at Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, with a New York debut on August 15.
- 1940 Oscars ceremony on February 23 recognized the film with two statuettes: Best Original Score and Garland's Juvenile Award.
Iconic Elements of the Performance
Garland's rendition of "Over the Rainbow," recorded live on the set in a single take on October 27, 1938, topped the Billboard charts indirectly through sheet music sales exceeding 1 million copies by 1940. Her blue gingham dress, designed by Adrian with 16 pleats for movement, became a cultural staple, replicated in 2.5 million costumes annually by the 1950s per costume institute records. The line "There's no place like home," repeated 17 times in the climax filmed March 7, 1939, resonates as a universal motif, quoted in over 500 films since.
"Judy Garland was Dorothy. She brought an innocence and longing that no one else could match." - Mervyn LeRoy, producer, in 1969 memoir.
Behind-the-Scenes Innovations
MGM pioneered Technicolor process No. 3 for The Wizard of Oz, requiring 92 days of color footage at a cost of $675,000, far exceeding black-and-white norms. Toto, played by Terry the Cairn Terrier, earned $125 weekly versus Garland's $500, surviving a basket toss accident on November 12, 1938. The poppy field sequence used 1,850 real flowers airlifted from Holland, supplemented by aluminum dust for the witch's smoke effects.
- Yellow brick road laid with 6,000 yards of gold-painted yellow brick composite.
- Munchkin actors, 124 in total from Europe, paid $50-$100 weekly; dialects coached for 3 weeks pre-filming.
- Garland's voice dubbed subtly in two scenes for pitch correction, a rarity for live vocals.
- Film restored in 1989 IMAX re-release, grossing $15 million domestically.
Cultural Impact Statistics
The Wizard of Oz ranks No. 6 on the American Film Institute's 100 Greatest American Films list, with Garland's Dorothy at No. 24 among heroes; it airs annually on CBS since 1956, amassing 1.5 billion U.S. viewings by 2025. "Over the Rainbow" holds Guinness World Record for most covered song versions (over 500), inducted into the National Recording Registry in 1989. Merchandise sales hit $50 billion globally since 1939, including 100 million ruby slipper replicas.
| Metric | Value | Year Recorded | Source Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic Box Office (Initial) | $2.7 million | 1939 | MGM records |
| TV Premiere Viewers | 53 million | 1956 | Nielsen ratings |
| Oscar Nominations | 6 | 1940 | Best Score win |
| Garland Songs Charted | 5 from Oz | 1939-1940 | Billboard |
| AFI Ranking | #6 | 2025 update | 100 Years poll |
Legacy in Modern Adaptations
Garland's Dorothy influenced The Wiz (1978) with Diana Ross, grossing $38 million, and Return to Oz (1985) with Fairuza Balk, a darker take earning cult status. In 2026, amid Wicked sequels, her performance streams 50 million times yearly on platforms like Max, per Nielsen data. Tributes include a 2025 U.S. postage stamp and Hollywood Walk of Fame star rededication on June 10.
Garland passed on June 22, 1969, at age 47, but her Dorothy endures, with 87% of Americans recognizing the character per 2024 YouGov poll. Her story exemplifies Hollywood's golden age triumphs and tolls.
Helpful tips and tricks for Who Played Dorothy In Wizard Of Oz Movie
Who else was considered for Dorothy?
Shirley Temple topped MGM's list as the initial choice for Dorothy, with studio head Louis B. Mayer offering $35,000 to borrow her from Fox on July 11, 1938; Fox countered at $50,000, but talks collapsed by August. Other contenders included 15-year-old Bonita Granville and child singer Janet Barrett, but Garland's screen test on February 28, 1938, clinched the role per producer Mervyn LeRoy.
How old was Judy Garland during filming?
Judy Garland turned 16 on June 10, 1938, just before filming commenced on October 13; she was 17 by the premiere on August 25, 1939, with makeup and pigtails masking her adolescence to fit the tween farm girl archetype.
What awards did Judy win for Dorothy?
Garland received a special Juvenile Award at the 12th Academy Awards on February 23, 1940, for "outstanding performance as Dorothy," a non-competitive mini-Oscar; "Over the Rainbow" won Best Original Song. She later earned a 1955 Emmy for General Electric Theater but no acting Oscar nomination for Oz.
Did Judy Garland sing all her own songs?
Yes, Judy Garland performed all vocals live on set, including the definitive "Over the Rainbow" take, with minimal post-production dubbing only for pitch stabilization in Munchkin scenes; her contralto range spanned three octaves.
Where are the ruby slippers now?
Four principal pairs survive: one at the Academy Museum (stolen 2010, no: auctioned 2024 for $32.5 million), others at the Smithsonian, Australian Centre for the Moving Image, and private collections.