The Dreamer of Oz (1990)
The film is the biography of Frank Baum, the children's book author and creator of the fantasy world Oz.
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The greatest movie ever!
The greatest movie ever made..!
A Disappointing Continuation
After playing with our expectations, this turns out to be a very different sort of film.
This is a very moving and telling film. We have watched it about 20 times now!! I must say I missed this TV film when it aired originally. However, in February of this year we purchased the 75th Anniversary collectors kit. If you are an avid Oz buff, it is a must purchase and this movie is included. While it is not an digitally updated as the Wizard of Oz itself, you can really tell the awesome portrayals of two more awesome actors who have left us-John Ritter and Rue McClanahan :( I would recommend on seeing this film for all families. It's almost as magical as the original movie itself! The box set also comes with commentaries, deleted scenes and songs, biographies of the original Wizard of Oz cast and literature as well as a watch.
After hearing about Rue McClannigan's death, I remember her role playing the mother in law (whose based on The Wiched Witch of the West). She disliked Frank for being an actor, but then after reading his books, she admits that he's got talent for imagination.So I dug up the vcr tape & saw that movie. The 2nd time NBC aired it, they deleted some scenes. One is when Frank, his wife & mother in law, discussed ideas for titling the story (since it's superstitious to have a name of a jewel in a book title).NBC should've aired this movie the week CBS had The Wizard of Oz, which would be tradition (until cable took it away from CBS).
My son and I watched this show when it first premiered and we still talk about it to this day. We learned a great deal about the life of L. Frank Baum and you have to admire the persistence of this man. John Ritter did an excellent job in his portrayal. All in all we found it to be very enjoyable and it should be rerun many, many times so that others can enjoy it also.
This movie is as good as, or better than, the original "Wizard of Oz". I find that this movie has more story to it. It's fascinating how the story book of the Wizard of Oz comes about and builds throughout the movie. John Ritter is great in this movie. I would like to see this movie on TV again soon.