In The Wizard of Oz (1939), there are few actors that stand out to me each time that I watch the movie. They are Judy Garland (Dorothy), Margaret Hamilton (Wicked Witch of the West), and Ray Bolger (Scarecrow). According to Goodykoontz and Jacobs (2014) actors are classified in one of five categories impersonator, interpreter, personality, wild card, and character. I would classify the three identified actors the following way:
Judy Garland would classified as a star as she is very well know in the film world and beyond. In The Wizard of Oz (1939), Judy played a young women when at the time in reality Judy was 16 when filming began. In the film Judy was able to bring vulnerability to the character because she was so young herself. In the scene with Glenda, Garland says that she would like to go home and the way that she looked up at the Good Witch made you feel for her character. This movie set the tone for Judy Garlands film career.
Margaret Hamilton as a character actress. Hamilton was an actress that would play roles like a nurse, wicked witch, and a Grandmother. In The Wizard of Oz (1939), Hamilton created a role that she made her own and one that she would be known for the rest of her life. In the tower scene when Hamilton is talking with the flying monkey and looking into the crystal ball, she mover her hands in a mysterious ways while staring deep into the crystal ball. I feel that she really made the scene her own.
Ray Bolger would also be apart of the classification of character actor. In The Wizard of Oz (1939), Bolger brought a scarecrow to life. Because scarecrow are not a real living thing, Bolger had to figure our what a scarecrow would do when walking and building a relationship with a young girl. Bolger has a lot of broadway experience as an actor staring in The Wizard of Oz (1939) that helped when creating this character.
Judy Garland was an actress that was cast in many movies where her acting talent and singing were often used. Garland would often be in musicals like Meet Me in St.Louis (1944) and Easter Parade (1948). I believe that Garland had alot more to offer yet the studios type cast her into roles as a personality type of actress. It was evident that she was talented when she began her variety show and was able to do comedy and entertain her audience with her well-known talent of signing and dancing.
References:
Goodykoontz, B. & Jacobs, C. P. (2014) Film: From watching to seeing (2nded.). SanDiego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc
IHeartWizardofOZ. (2010). Skip to my Lou – Judy Garland ( Meet me in St.Louis). [Video file]. Retrieved fromhttps://youtu.be/jSY7jX28P48
LeRoy, M. (Producer), & Fleming, V.(Director). (1939). The Wizard of Oz [Film]. Culver City, CA:MGM.
Linn, Z. (2011). Wizard of Oz – The Wicked Witch of the West sets fire to Scarecrow [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/F0Vj3zLaO4w
Freed, A. (Producer), & Minnelli, V. (Director). (1944). Meet Me in St. Louis [Film]. Culver City, CA: MGM.
Freed, A. (Producer), & Walters, C. (Director). (1948). Easter Parade [Film]. Culver City, CA: MGM.
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