Search - Lee Holdridge :: The Dreamer of Oz [Original Television Soundtrack]

The "L. Frank Baum Movie" CD Soundtrack

Sam A. Milazzo | Sydney, N.S.W Australia | 05/23/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

""The Dreamer of Oz" is/was a 1990 TV-Movie that told the story of how L. Frank Baum came to write 'the Wonderful Wizard of Oz'. It starred John Ritter (May he Rest in Peace) as L. Frank Baum, Annette O'Toole as his wife Maud Gage Baum (who now plays Martha Kent in 'Smallville') and although on Video for a short time (in Australia) has not yet been *properly* released on an actual DVD (a "Special Commemorative Edition" would be SO PERFECT!! - with many Special Features of course!). The movie started (and ended, both in b-&-w) with the premier of MGM's Musical, and a young reporter talked to Maud Baum, who then went to tell him (turning into colour) how she met L. Frank Baum, made a family (despite her mother, Matilda Joselyn Ggae, disapproving), his storytellings, the circumstances in his life inspiring fantasy, how the name 'Oz' originated, the illustrations by W. W. Denslow and getting published. Although bits of the movie resembled MGM (e.g. 2-Leg walking Lion, Emerald Towers, Wicked Witch Sisters, Beautiful Young Good North Witch), neglected to show the cyclone and the Magic Silver Shoes and had the Munchkins purple instead of blue, it was an EXCELLENT and BEAUTIFULLY MADE TV-Movie, and I wish I had kept it on tape, or had a copy to watch again and again. The Video may be rare and the DVD non-existent, at least we have the CD Soundtrack to be grateful for.

The CD not only comes with music from the movie (which you can see on the info) it also comes with a 32-pg booklet on the Making of the TV-Movie, with behind-the-scenes photos and facts (one including one certain orginal 'Lollipop' Munchkin actor and Great Grandson of Baum), movie stills, pictorial background on Baum, a never-before-seen sketch from 'Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz' (L. Frank Buam's 4th 'Oz' Book) and interviews.

The CD Disk itself has Desnlow's original images of Dorothy, Scarecrow, Lion, Tin Woodman, a Munchkin and Toto printed.

If you didn't see the Movie, you MUST get this CD, because it's wonderful to listen to (you could play ANY Oz movie on mute and play the CD in any order you like to match the scene) and has great pictures on the making of this masterpiece. WORTH the BUY!!

Also, the Cover is not only the booklet, but also is modelled after John. R. Neil's drawings (illustrator for the rest of Baum's Oz books and other ones), although Lion never had daisies in his mane, just a BLUE bow, while the Hungry Tiger had a red ribbon on his tail."