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Trigger Warning - This story discusses disordered eating and drug addiction.
For generations 'The Wizard of Oz' has captivated audiences and brought joy to the masses. Yes the film may be a timeless classic but for the cast and crew it was a hellish nightmare. Over the years, the people of Oz have come forward and shared their troubling stories about the world's most famous movie. From on-set injuries to pay inequality to even toxic makeup, the real land of Oz was 'no place like home.'
Behind The Scenes Judy Garland Was Mistreated By Studio Execs And Movie Directors
Prior to filming 'The Wizard of Oz,' Judy Garland had already been signed to MGM for three years. They were horrible to the young teen and would often call her a 'fat little pig with pigtails.' They encouraged her to lose weight and forced her to go on a restrictive diet consisting only of chicken soup, black coffee and cigarettes. By 16, Garland scored the role of a lifetime as Dorothy from 'The Wizard of Oz,' however, her mistreatment only exacerbated during filming.
While on set she was slapped by director, Victor Fleming. According to reports, this was in response to her giggling in a scene. During this time, MGM studio head Louis B. Mayer also began groping Garland and calling her "his little hunchback." He continued to harass and assault Garland up until her early twenties. He also played a huge role in Garland's lifelong addiction to drugs. In order to handle the hectic filming schedule, studio executives gave Garland "uppers and downers." By the time Garland finished filming 'The Wizard Of Oz,' she was 17 and already addicted to barbiturates and amphetamines.
Toto Made More Money Than The Munchkins
Over the decades there's been rumours and conspiracy theories about the actors that played the Munchkins on 'The Wizard of Oz'. Producer Mervyn LeRoy claimed the actors would often have orgies in a nearby hotel. Bert Lahr (who played the Cowardly Lion) said the actors made a living "panhandling, pimping and whoring." Judy Garland described them all as "drunks," and her ex-husband , Sid Luft, even said they "made Judy's life miserable by putting their hands under her dress."
However, in recent years, there's been disputes against these claims. Jerry Maren (who played a Munchkin) said Judy Garland made up many lies thanks to her "pills and booze." In his memoir he said only two of the Munchkin actors misbehaved on set.
"There were a couple of kids from Germany who liked to drink beer; they drank beer morning, noon and night, and got in a little trouble," he said, "they wanted to meet the girls, but they were the only ones."
Actress Margaret Pellegrini (who also played a Munchkin) said it's been"upsetting" hearing all these rumours, she claims "there was no rowdiness" on set.
While it's uncertain how the Munchkin actors behaved on and off the set of 'The Wizard of Oz,' reports confirm the Munchkin cast were incredibly underpaid. According to Jerry Maren (lead Munchkin) the "little people" on set were paid $50 per week for a six-day work week. Meanwhile Toto (or rather her trainer) earned $125 per week.
The Cowardly Lion Wore Real Lion Skin
Bert Lahr's Cowardly Lion costume was made from actual lion skin and fur. It weighed 90 pounds and Lahr would sweat profusely while wearing it. During filming, two crew members would spend every night drying out the sweat-filled costume.
The Wicked Witch Of The West Got Severely Burned
Actress Margaret Hamilton and her stunt double, Betty Danko, suffered severe injuries while playing the Wicked Witch. During a scene where the Wicked Witch leaves Munchkinland under a burst of flames, Hamilton was meant to be lifted down on a platform. However, her cape got stuck and she was burnt by the flames causing second-degree burns on her face and third-degree burns on her hand. According to reports, medics had to use strong solvent acetone to remove the green makeup to get to the burnt skin as the makeup was made with copper. She later said, "I'll never, as long as I live, have anything that [takes] my breath away like that pain."
Stunt performer Danko got injured twice on set. She needed to be treated by a chiropractor after a Munchkin actor accidentally fell onto her shoulder during a stunt scene. And she reportedly had to get a hysterectomy later in life due to damage to her internal organs. This was caused by an explosion in the Wicked Witch skywriting scene. While riding a broom with a pipe attached to the back of it, the pipe exploded leaving Danko in hospital for nearly two weeks with a two inch deep burn on her leg.
"I felt as though my scalp was coming off, I guess that's because my hat and my black wig were torn loose," said Danko, "the explosion blew me off the broomstick... while I lay there on the floor, waiting for the ambulance, the wardrobe woman came running in, and she said, 'what did you do with the hat? I have to turn it in, you know.'"
The Tin Man Was Hospitalised From Toxic Makeup
Nine days into shooting 'The Wizard of Oz,' actor Buddy Ebsen was hospitalised. Unbeknownst to him, the Tin Man makeup contained toxic aluminium dust, and within days had coated his lungs.
"My first symptoms had been a noticeable shortness of breath, I would breathe and exhale and then get the panicky feeling I hadn’t breathed at all," he later wrote in his autobiography, "one night in bed I woke up screaming, my arms were cramping from my fingers upward and curling simultaneously so that I could not use one arm to uncurl the other, the cramps in my arms advanced into my chest to the muscles that controlled my breathing... I was sure I was dying."
Due to the hospitalisation of Ebsen, production had actor Jack Haley cast as the new Tin Man. According to reports, Haley didn't know about Ebsen's hospitalisation. In an attempt to make the Tin Man makeup safer, the aluminium powder was turned into a paste. Unfortunately the paste gave Haley an eye infection, which later required eye surgery.
The Leading Cast Ended Up Covered In Asbestos
Asbestos was used during the poppy field scene to replicate show. This was a common practice in Hollywood during the 1930s to the 1950s. The toxic fibers was used in numerous films including 'Citizen Kane,' 'It’s a Wonderful Life,' 'Goldfinger' and 'Full Metal Jacket.'
