Quips and Quotations (Emerald City Limits Edition)
That was my one big Hollywood hit, but, in a way, it hurt my picture career. After that, I was typecast as a lion, and there just weren't many parts for lions.
Mitchell, the Lion was my favorite among those Dorothy runs across. And growing up, I always found it a bit puzzling that the Scarecrow was the one she "would miss the most." Why? Because she met him before she met the others? First come first serve, so to speak?
Sometime in my 20s or early '30s I read a book about the making of The Wizard of Oz, and finally found out why that line is in there. As is usually the case, the screenplay for TWOO went through many drafts. One early draft sought to take advantage of the fact that Judy Garland was 16 at the time of filming and so it was decided the screen Dorothy should also be that age, even though the Dorothy in Frank L. Baum's original book was much younger. This meant that in the wraparound Kansas scenes, a romance could be hinted at between Dorothy and the Scarecrow's farmhand counterpart, Hunk (I wonder if this was before Ray Bolger was cast, since, as an entertaining a screen presence as he certainly was, he was hardly a "hunk".) A draft or two later, it was decided Dorothy should indeed be too young for high school (which, among other things, meant binding Judy's breasts) and the romance was dropped. Except for that one "I'll miss you most of all" reference, which apparently escaped everybody's attention.
How true too. I watch TMC and back in the day AMC remember when that was all old movies???? I can't recall ever seeing him in anything in a big part except Oz. But yet he won a Tony Award once for his part in a musical...Foxy, when he returned back to stage....which too wasn't very many parts. And to be honest, everytime I see him all I see is the Cowardly Lion.
Maddie, it's not at all uncommon for Broadway stars to have less than stellar Hollywood careers. Look at Patti LuPone or Bernadette Peters or Mandy Patinkin or Tommy Tune. None of them have been as popular on the screen (big or small) as they have been on the stage. Bert Lahr actually reminds me a bit of another Broadway mainstay, Joel Grey, who for whom there was also just one big Hollywood hit (Cabaret, starring Judy's daughter.) Grey, though, may have been a little better off than Lahr since he DID win an Oscar.
Lahr, who died in 1967, spent much of his last decade starring in a series of Lays Potato Chips commercials. If nothing else, it kept him in front of the public eye. CRUNCH! Bet you just can't eat one.
Put 'em up, put 'em up! Which one of you first? I'll fight you both together if you want. I'll fight you with one paw tied behind my back. I'll fight you standing on one foot. I'll fight you with my eyes closed... ohh, pullin' an axe on me, eh? Sneaking up on me, eh? Why, I'll... Ruff!
Hi, Kirk!
Happy 129th birthday in heaven to actor Bert Lahr, immortalized on film as The Cowardly Lion in The Wizard Of Oz. After making that indelible impression, it is easy to understand how he was typecast from then on, hindering his career. Can you imagine what America was like in 1895 when Irving Lahrheim was born? You might soon find out if the weirdos promoting Project 2025 are elected to office.
Thanks for remembering the wonderful character actor Bert Lahr on the anniversary of his birth. Well, I'm off the see the wizard. I hope to see you when I return to blogging on September 5. Take care, good buddy, and remember our slogan:
Shady, plenty of well-known figures from the first half of the 20th century were born in the 19th. When JFK gave his 1960 inaugural speech he pointed out that he was the first president to be born in the 20th. That's how long it took!
Fun quote. The lion was adorable. I always liked this movie as a kid. As an adult, I read the book and liked it a lot as well. A real classic! Whenever I see this film now, I cannot get it out of my head that Judy was given tons of pills during the filming so she could stay up...poor girl! If I remember well, there were other controversial things about this film and the conditions the actors worked in.
In order to keep the hucksters, humbugs, scoundrels, psychos, morons, and last but not least, artificial intelligentsia at bay, I have decided to turn on comment moderation. On the plus side, I've gotten rid of the word verification.
I loved him!
ReplyDeleteMitchell, the Lion was my favorite among those Dorothy runs across. And growing up, I always found it a bit puzzling that the Scarecrow was the one she "would miss the most." Why? Because she met him before she met the others? First come first serve, so to speak?
DeleteSometime in my 20s or early '30s I read a book about the making of The Wizard of Oz, and finally found out why that line is in there. As is usually the case, the screenplay for TWOO went through many drafts. One early draft sought to take advantage of the fact that Judy Garland was 16 at the time of filming and so it was decided the screen Dorothy should also be that age, even though the Dorothy in Frank L. Baum's original book was much younger. This meant that in the wraparound Kansas scenes, a romance could be hinted at between Dorothy and the Scarecrow's farmhand counterpart, Hunk (I wonder if this was before Ray Bolger was cast, since, as an entertaining a screen presence as he certainly was, he was hardly a "hunk".) A draft or two later, it was decided Dorothy should indeed be too young for high school (which, among other things, meant binding Judy's breasts) and the romance was dropped. Except for that one "I'll miss you most of all" reference, which apparently escaped everybody's attention.
Interesting history!
DeleteHow true too. I watch TMC and back in the day AMC remember when that was all old movies???? I can't recall ever seeing him in anything in a big part except Oz. But yet he won a Tony Award once for his part in a musical...Foxy, when he returned back to stage....which too wasn't very many parts. And to be honest, everytime I see him all I see is the Cowardly Lion.
ReplyDeleteMaddie, it's not at all uncommon for Broadway stars to have less than stellar Hollywood careers. Look at Patti LuPone or Bernadette Peters or Mandy Patinkin or Tommy Tune. None of them have been as popular on the screen (big or small) as they have been on the stage. Bert Lahr actually reminds me a bit of another Broadway mainstay, Joel Grey, who for whom there was also just one big Hollywood hit (Cabaret, starring Judy's daughter.) Grey, though, may have been a little better off than Lahr since he DID win an Oscar.
DeleteLahr, who died in 1967, spent much of his last decade starring in a series of Lays Potato Chips commercials. If nothing else, it kept him in front of the public eye. CRUNCH! Bet you just can't eat one.
Put 'em up, put 'em up! Which one of you first? I'll fight you both together if you want. I'll fight you with one paw tied behind my back. I'll fight you standing on one foot. I'll fight you with my eyes closed... ohh, pullin' an axe on me, eh? Sneaking up on me, eh? Why, I'll... Ruff!
ReplyDeleteHi, Kirk!
Happy 129th birthday in heaven to actor Bert Lahr, immortalized on film as The Cowardly Lion in The Wizard Of Oz. After making that indelible impression, it is easy to understand how he was typecast from then on, hindering his career. Can you imagine what America was like in 1895 when Irving Lahrheim was born? You might soon find out if the weirdos promoting Project 2025 are elected to office.
Thanks for remembering the wonderful character actor Bert Lahr on the anniversary of his birth. Well, I'm off the see the wizard. I hope to see you when I return to blogging on September 5. Take care, good buddy, and remember our slogan:
"The future's so brat... I gotta wear shades."
"Can you imagine what America was like in 1895"
DeleteShady, plenty of well-known figures from the first half of the 20th century were born in the 19th. When JFK gave his 1960 inaugural speech he pointed out that he was the first president to be born in the 20th. That's how long it took!
Hahahahaha!
ReplyDeleteYour laughter is infectious, Debra, and a reminder that Lahr was joking around.
DeleteGood quote haha. A lot of actors do tend to get typecast though.
ReplyDeleteFor some, Ananka, it means steady work.
DeleteFun quote. The lion was adorable.
ReplyDeleteI always liked this movie as a kid. As an adult, I read the book and liked it a lot as well. A real classic!
Whenever I see this film now, I cannot get it out of my head that Judy was given tons of pills during the filming so she could stay up...poor girl! If I remember well, there were other controversial things about this film and the conditions the actors worked in.
Ivana, however many pills Judy took, it sure didn't seem to affect her vocal abilities any.
Delete