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Summary
The performances of every doer who has played the Wizard of Oz in moviesreveal just how much the character has evolvedover the years . With the various film adaptations either commute or adding ingredient to the original children ’s novel by L. Frank Baum , these thespian have done their part in shaping the audience ’s perception of the Wizard and his role within Dorothy ’s adventures . Though the Wizard typically has much less screentime than every other major player in the narration , he is the titulary fictitious character for a reason , and the player who ’ve played him have secure places in cinema history .
Whether the Wizard belongs among the least ormost likableWizard of Ozcharactersis a subject of opinion - but what ’s sealed is thathis characterisation is important to any picture adaptation . Apart from being the one who send out Dorothy to confront the Wicked Witch , the Wizard is also revealed to be a mountebank . However , combine with how he serve Dorothy and the others , it can be said that the Wizard changes as much as the main characters throughoutThe Wonderful Wizard of Oz . This is somewhat reflected in the many shifting picture show edition of the enceinte Wizard .
10Hobart Bosworth
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1910)
Theearliest surviving screen version of the Wizardwas played by Hobart Bosworth , a pioneering actor and director who ’s also get it on as the " Dean of Hollywood " . Indeed , among the most popularmyths about the 1939 movieWizard of Ozis that it was the first moving-picture show adaptation of the novel - yet , it ’s in reality the 13 - instant silent filmThe wondrous Wizard of Ozthat can claim this honor . In this adaptation , the Wizard disclose his deception ahead of time on . However , as this was an extremely shortened cut of the story , there ’s no genuine space for the Wizard ’s character exploitation .
9J. Charles Haydon
His Majesty, the Scarecrow of Oz (1914)
James Charles Haydon was a silent film era actor and director who played the Wizard inHis Majesty , the Scarecrow of Oz , one of the many movies written and produced by L. Frank Baum himself . Baum inclose both a young story and fictitious character in this picture show . What ’s really notable about Haydon ’s Wizard is that he ismostly used in this narrative as adeus ex machina , whose nucleus function is to give the independent eccentric their glad ending . While this movie ca n’t needs be call in one of the skillful mum films ever , it remains an important part of cinematic history .
After roughly 100 years of picture palace , these former silent movies are still so ripe that even advanced audiences will be entertained .
8Charles Murray
The Wizard of Oz (1925)
Charles Murray was a music hall comedian and silent plastic film epoch actor who appeared in hundreds of shortstop and feature , includingThe Wizard of Ozlater in his calling , in which he act the titular Wizard . draw as a"medicine - show hokum hustler,“Murray ’s Wizard retain his roots as a skilled conman . Though consign to an even more minor use inThe Wizard of Oz , this adaptation of the Wizardarguably remained close to Baum ’s original visual modality . Indeed , while the Wizard serves Kruel as one of the Land of Oz ’s vicious rulers , he finally help the principal part near the ending.
7Frank Morgan
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Cast
Frank Morgan was a prolific doer whose 35 - year long career saw the transition from silent to sound films . Today , he ’s know for play the most part of anyone inThe Wizard of Ozcast . Apart from the Wizard himself , this include the Emerald City ostiary , the precaution , the Wizard ’s scary jutting , the coachman , and Professor Marvel . Morgan ’s functioning in these various use emphasise the Wizard ’s power to consist and con citizenry , while his turnaround in the ending makes him close to the original literary variation . Over 80 years later , Morgan ’s Wizardremains the most iconic movie version of the type .
6Graham Matters
Oz (1976)
Graham Matters first rose to prominence as Rocky in the original Australian production ofThe Rocky Horror Picture Show , which eventually opened the doors for Matters to become the Wizard . InOz , also known asOz – A Rock ' n ' Roll Road Movie , Matters ' Wizard is aglam tilt mavin who ’s run his last show ever , which the teen groupie Dorothy races to see . Similar to Frank Morgan inThe Wizard of Oz , Matters also plays several characters encountered by Dorothy in her quest , capture and preserving the Wizard ’s nitty-gritty despite the massive change to the setting and story .
5Richard Pryor
The Wiz (1978)
One of thefunniest Black comediansever , Richard Pryor also toy a version of the Wizard . Based on the musical theater of the same name , The WizreimaginesThe Wonderful Wizard of Ozfrom the perspective of modern African - American culture , with Pryor playing the titular character . In this version , the sensation has nearly the same bow as in the novel , except he ’s actuallya wash up Atlantic City politico identify Herman Smith . Notably , Pryor delivered a memorably screaming version of the theatrical role - but was ultimately eclipse by the exceptional musical performances of roll members like Diana Ross and Michael Jackson .
4Jeffrey Tambor
The Muppets' Wizard of Oz (2005)
well known for his roles in acclaimed video show likeTransparentandArrested Development , Jeffrey Tambor stepped into the role of the Wizard inThe Muppets ' Wizard of Oz . Though the motion picture modernizes the setting and casts Muppets as main character , it ’s mostly a faithful adjustment of the book . Tambor plays the Wizard as one of the few human theatrical role in the cast . Rather than killing the Wicked Witch or stealing her broom , Tambor ’s Wizard asks for the Witch ’s magic eye to shroud his rightful self- a small modification to the novel that arguably better contextualizes the Wizard ’s obliquity .
Wondering what to watch on your next family moving picture Nox ? These kids films from the 2000s are the best unity to check out .
3Christopher Lloyd
Dorothy and the Witches of Oz (2012)
2James Franco
Oz the Great and Powerful (2013)
From his roles in pic likePineapple Expressto127 Hours , James Franco is have a go at it as an in force actor in both clowning and drama . This eventually led Franco to star as the Wizard inOz the bully and muscular . Despite its ingenious premise of being a prequel that revealshow the Wizard came to Oz and became Emerald City ’s ruler , Oz the outstanding and Powerfulis widely regarded as the worst ofSam Raimi ’s motion-picture show . It ’s a pity because this was the first time for the Wizard to be in the lead role in anyWizard of Ozmovie .
1Jeff Goldblum
Wicked (2024)
Based on the original Holy Scripture , the illustrated novelWicked : The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the Westinspired the hit Broadway musicalWicked , which is pose to become a feature moving picture . In differentiate the origin story of the Wicked Witch , Wickedcharacterizes the Wizard as thecorrupt and fascistic ruler of Emerald City . The upcoming movie version ofWickedhas notably found its Wizard in Jeff Goldblum , whose theatrical role as the Grandmaster in the MCU cinema suggest that he would make a great malevolent swayer . Alongside Goldblum , theWickedmovie castis stacked with several other A - listers .
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