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The Wizard of Oz (1939)

By Scott Root · July 28, 2011

Screenplay Genre: Adventure / Family / Fantasy

Movie Time: 103

1. INCITING INCIDENT

After Dorothy Gale’s (Judy Garland) dog is seized by her wicked neighbor, Ms. Gultch (Margaret Hamilton), she recovers the dog and runs away from home. She meets Professor Marvel (Frank Morgan) who convinces her to go back home. (00:11:00)

2. LOCK IN (End of Act One)

A storm blows in while Dorothy is on her way home; the resulting twister drives everyone into shelter before she arrives. She is swept up in the tornado and when she finally lands, she opens the door into the magical land of Oz. (00:19:30)

3. FIRST CULMINATION (Midpoint)

Since meeting all of her friends on the road to Oz: The Scarecrow (Ray Bolger), The Tin Man (Jake Haley), The Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr), and Dorothy reaches her destination — the Emerald City. (58:05)

4. MAIN CULMINATION (End of Act Two)

The Wizard (Frank Morgan, again) has commanded Dorothy and her friends to bring him the broomstick of the Wicked Witch of the West before he will grant them their requests. The Witch captures Dorothy and her friends, and lights the Scarecrow on fire. Dorothy tries to put her friend out by throwing water on him, but she hits the Witch instead and melts her. (1:26:24)

5. THIRD ACT TWIST

The team returns to the Emerald City broomstick in-hand. However, the Wizard is unwilling to help. As it turns out, he is not a wizard at all, but a man who was lost in Oz during a ballooning accident. He shows all of Dorothy’s friends that they’ve had what they wanted all along, and he agrees to take Dorothy home in the ballon. As they take off, Toto attacks a cat and Dorothy is left behind since the “Wizard” can’t return. (1:35:00)