Arena (1975)

In Search of Oz (1994x1)

: 29, 1994

An exploration of the phenomenal popularity of L Frank Baum's famous children's story 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz', written in 1900. About 20 film versions of the story have been made (including a 1925 one with Oliver Hardy), and the programme features clips from a selection of these, including the first TV showing of Baum's own 1908 film, plus missing footage from the Judy Garland movie. Distinguished devotees to Baum's magical land include writers Gore Vidal, Ray Bradbury, and Salman Rushdie, and filmmaker Nora Ephron.