Why Over the Rainbow was Cut from The Wizard of Oz 

Hi everyone! I think I should provide a little more context for my conclusion, as there was a part of the video that I decided to cut but that would have given a musical justification for my final thoughts. Edens’ original Kansas song was inspired by Henry Bishop and John Howard Payne’s ‘Home! Sweet Home!’, (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home!_Sweet_Home!) but this wasn’t the only influence this song had on the production. Herbert Stothart actually included the melody from the song throughout the orchestral score, and you can hear it most prominently at the end when Dorothy says ‘There’s no place like home…’ - at 1:03 in Delirious Escape / Delirious Escape Continued / End Title (ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-4uVxx4cUwmU.html). But you can also hear it, played by a solo horn, at 2:35 in the same track underneath ‘Over the Rainbow’. So, for me, it feels like we have two conflicting messages - one melody, by Bishop, telling us there’s no place like home, that Kansas is where Dorothy belongs, and Arlen’s melody, whose only lyrics in the film have been about escape, telling us this is not her true home. So, my conclusion was that Over the Rainbow, that Harburg and Arlen were trying to tell us something important at the end. Anyway, this is just how I interpreted it and I just thought I would give a little more information. Let me know what you think!

Those seeing the movie in its first run were people who were still going through the trials of The Great Depression. This song would hardly have been over their heads. It would have struck them directly in the heart.

Mom said everyone in the theater gasped when the door opened to munchkin land. She said it was the most magical thing any of them had ever seen.

This story reminded me of how Disney almost cut “Part of Your World” from The Little Mermaid. The lyricist Howard Ashman knew the importance of having an “I want” song to establish the story and fought to keep it in the film. I often hear Somewhere Over the Rainbow cited as an early example of the “I want” song, maybe not the first but one of the best. It’s crazy to think of the impact this song has not just on this film, but the entire musical theatre tradition.

Hard to imagine anyone watching/hearing Judy Garland's performance of that song and thinking it should be cut for time. You'd have to have a heart of stone!

The thing that makes the Garland rendition of the song so impactful is that it came from her heart. Her mother was a nightmarish 'stage mom' by all accounts. According to Hollywood rumors she was left on the "director's couch" by here mother at age eleven for a "private" interview. Whether or not it is true, her life was not her own and she ended up looking for the other side of the rainbow in booze and drugs and never finding it.

THE ASPECT RATIO. BRILLIANT CHOICE

Bloody hell you're good at making these videos!

I think the reason the score brings back a reprised "Over the Rainbow" at the end is because the point of the movie's story is that there's a fantastical, amazing, beautiful world out there, just over the rainbow... But there's no place like home.

Even at age 69, no song will bring me quicker to tears than "Somewhere Over the Rainbow". I suppose it is the nostalgia and eagerly awaiting its showing every year as a little boy. I can cry now just thinking of it.

This is a marvelous film. I worked for a couple of years at a children's hospital that had in-house movies. The Wizard of Oz was great for kids facing a serious illness since one of its themes is facing your fears and inadequacies.

You even made the aspect ratio 4:3, this is great

When you talk about the final orchestral version when Dorothy is back in Kansas, Kansas hasn't changed as you pointed out, but perhaps it is Dorothy who has changed and she now appreciates the things she took for granted...

I also want to point out that this film was released over 80 years ago, people still watch it, love it, dream along with it, and we're still talking about it. This is no ordinary movie.

As an editor and storyteller myself, I can't imagine taking that piece out of the film. It really sets the stage for everything that occurs in the rest of the story, and quite literally sets-up the big "color reveal" when she goes to Oz. This is why a good producer knows when to get involved in the process, and when to stay out!

I always wondered what the reaction of the audience was like when Dorothy opened the front door of her house and stepped out into a world of color. The beginning of the movie displayed in a sepia tone along with a two dimensional perspective was a set up for a door opening to three dimensional vibrant colors along with the star transitioning to a beautiful young girl stepping into a vastly enhanced awe inspiring new world. There must have been many gasps around the theater as the people felt they just underwent a fantastic change themselves.

This video deserves at least a million views. Extremely well done, mate.

Editing of this channel is next level

I recently found your channel and watched your Harry Potter and Star Wars videos. I was absolutely blown away. You explain the topic you are explaining in a TON of detail. Your editing skills make even the most music theory clueless person able to understand it. Keep up the amazing work!

I recognized Austin’s voice as soon as I heard it.

“Audiences can’t handle a 2 hour movie - cut everything that helps with continuity!” Endgame- audiences wanted it longer

I think you got the message of the film totally wrong,yes at the end Kansas is still the same but Dorothy isn't she has evolved and has accepted who she is and where she's from,she doesn't need the escapism in her life anymore,why would the last line of the film be..."there's no place like home!"if she still felt trapped.

You need to do an essay on early cartoon film score most Prevalently Tom and Jerry and Bugs Bunny.

Your videos are criminally under-viewed. They are some of the greatest gems on RU-vid! Everything about them is well thought out and orchestrated.

You narration style makes these videos great. You should consider reading audiobooks. I'd definitely love listening to you read a book.

I cannot think of a better song from the 20th century. It is PERFECT! The lyrics and melody personify the mood and perspective of Dorothy. Judy's vocal is so visceral.

I was not prepared to cry on a Wednesday afternoon 😭 your videos are so consistently beautiful and moving, nice work!

Just makes you think of all the things that we as consumers miss out on because of limitations

"Over The Rainbow" Somewhere over the rainbow way up high There's a land that I heard of once in a lullaby Somewhere over the rainbow skies are blue And the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true Someday I'll wish upon a star And wake up where the clouds are far Behind me Where troubles melt like lemon drops Away above the chimney tops That's where you'll find me Somewhere over the rainbow bluebirds fly Birds fly over the rainbow Why then, oh, why can't I? If happy little bluebirds fly Beyond the rainbow Why, oh, why can't I?

"Why is the movie in black and white at the start?" "Have you ever been to Kansas?" Hey, it turns out there actually was a reason for that. Also, Dorothy's Ruby Slippers were Silver Slippers in the book, but red shows up better on the screen with the color film they had back then.

Geez the quality of these videos every 👏🏻 single 👏🏻 time 👏🏻

12:50 - I interpreted this use of Over the Rainbow in the exact opposite way. She travelled over the rainbow, and the dreams she dared to dream came true - both the fantastical adventure she dreamed of. The trouble is that it didn’t fulfil her underlying goal of finding somewhere to belong - she was definitely not at home in Oz, as per Glinda’s incantation. (With a pet theory that the magic wouldn’t have worked at the start of the movie because she didn’t believe it yet) I took the second iteration of the song to represent her having found what she wanted when she first sang the songs but having grown up to want her family and home in Kansas after her want didn’t satisfy her underlying need. Otherwise she doesn’t grow as a character, and does precious little in the course of the story, which isn’t super-compelling. The other way is classic dramatic arc character development stuff, or at least that’s how I made sense of it.

Great mini-documentary on this piece of The Wizard of Oz story! As always, I was transported to your canvas and enjoyed my stay!

I'm so happy I found this. So beautifully produced, narrated, and imagined. Thank you.

I love the Austin cameo so much, I am so ready for the alg to hit this video.

I think the whole point of the movie is that in the beginning, Dorothy wants to get away, but then she realizes that however dull and colourless Kansas is, it's where the people she loves are. When she first gets to OZ, she wants to go home because she's scared and this place isn't familiar. But through her adventures and the reflection of her friends and family back home within the lion, scarecrow and tin man, she learns not to take them for granted. She used to be upset with them for yelling at her and being so serious, but the lion scarecrow and tin man remind her of their good qualities and she misses them. I think this is why Glinda didn't tell her about the ruby slippers power to take her home from the beginning. Dorothy needed to learn not to take the people she loved for granted and really, truly miss them before she could go home.

My Grandma told me about seeing Wizard Of Oz in the theater. She said she was blown away by the special effects when the house is inside the tornado and various actors fly past the window. She also said when she first saw the scene where they meet the wizard it scared the shit out of her.

Amazing video, Barney! I love this topic and the editing is incredible. Well done and keep it up!

Your videos are really in a class by themselves, and your profound love of music always come through. Bravo!

Thank you so much for making videos about music. Your stories about these songs follow along their musical impact. They're wonderful.

Your work is incredible! I wonder if you would do an essay on Ennio Morricone's main theme for The Mission? It's one of the most the transcendent pieces of music to come out of the 20th century - in my humble, layman, grasshopper opinion. Thanks for your work!

Amazing content as always! Over the Rainbow is one of my favorite songs, thanks so much for this again!

Love that you got Austin McConnell for that voiceover!

This is spectacular quality, and something I am sure I will come back to multiple times, well done!

The special effects on this video are AMAZING especially Glinda’s bubble! I don’t know what you use for editing, but it’s amazing!

i have no idea how you manage to make all of your videos fantastic, but you have done it ONCE AGAIN. i have yet to come across another channel’s musical analysis that even contends with the ones you have made. incredible job. keep doing what you’re doing dude.

Amazing really ... Your channel is totally one of my all times favorite on YT

Great video, thank you. Loved the reading cameos too. What a great channel this is. Keep them coming.

Damn it Man! You editing skills are AMAZING on this video! Seems like each time you make a video it’s just getting better and better. For someone reason that last part made me get tears in my eyes lol. I can’t wait to see what you talk about next!

Great video essay! Great stuff! I love these older movie gems, keep them coming!

I just found your channel tonight and I'm so glad I did! Thank you for sharing what I believe, is your gift!

Beautifully and thoughtfully put together. Thank you.

Great video, as usual. Really enjoyed the history lesson. Keep up the good work! Thanks!

That is an incredibly well-researched and thoughtful analysis and retelling of the song's history, and I'm so glad that this video was quite randomly recommended to me. It's completely unrelated to all of my watch history, as this is my work account that I use for listening to chill music at the office, but I'll definitely be subscribing from my personal account and checking out more of your videos.

I’m pretty sure that the message of the movie is that while she wanted to escape Kansas because out there was where she’d find happiness, fact is, everything she really wanted and needed was right at home, in Kansas and she didn’t need to leave home to find it.

I was just scrolling through random videos on the RU-vid homepage and came across this one. Very well done and you have earned yourself a new subscriber!

Wow amazing video! Your editing just keeps on getting better with every video! I was thinking with the recent Spider-Man hype and nostalgia, now would be a good time to do a video on Danny Elfman's score for the original 2000s trilogy. He did such a great job of setting the tone for both Peter and Spider-Man, and I still consider it one of the best superhero film scores out there

Love the Austin McConnell cameo!

Excellent video mate, omg. I just found your channel and I am so hooked!! Thank you for all your hard work!!

I absolutely love this. And thank you for educating on a otherwise unknown topic about the making of the movie - something that we didn’t already know!

Beautifully constructed. Thank you for this.

I know absolutely nothing about music but I find your videos utterly fascinating. Keep them coming!

You are exceptionally excellent at creating videos. Keep up the amazing work! Love your content!

Amazing! Thanks so much for your marvelous video!

This is a masterfully made video. Please keep up this approach to making content

The imagery and music selections in this video are great! Thanks for discussing this! I had no idea! Take care! 🙂

This is an awesome video - thanks so much!

Just subbed to your channel and I love these kind of videos. The Wizard of Oz is one of the best movies ever made even if it had a rough production I still feel the magic is real. Over The Rainbow is one of the best songs of all time.

I cannot imagine The Wizard of Oz without the song. It would be like a masterpiece painting, with a giant blemish running across it. Fantastic video!

Woahhhh these vids keep getting better! Outstanding as always! ❤️

Really appreciated this video, thanks!

This is superb. Thanks for making it.

Um, no. The point of the song is that it gives Dorthy something she otherwise would not have; character growth. Because at the end she realizes that what really matters are the people in your life that love you. She thought she wanted to escape, until she did. As the old saying goes you don't know what you got until it's gone.

Amazing editing!

This was astounding. Beautifully done.

Wonderfully informative. Great narration.

WOW!!!! Outstanding video. Thank you!

Great video! Happy to see you getting sponsored.

Very well done video. Thank you.

Once again, you left me speechless with this video!

Bravo! This is the first time I heard anything about the struggles for this song, which I assumed was a no brainer, to be included in the movie. Extremely informative!

Another superb presentation - incredibly clever and beautifully constructed in every way

Okay so, where has this channel been? Its so amazing! Keep up the good work

So good to see you over 100k subscribers. This channel is extremely special. 🎶

Brilliant. You are a master of video creation. Looking forward to you blowing up!

I want to see the version of the movie that was too long. I would happily spend 2, 3, or 4 hours immersed in The Wizard of Oz.

Really interesting and informative, thank you!

I was pleasantly surprised with the content. Surmising the title was click-bait it is nice to find there was value and not sensationalism. Great documentational images with a calm, clear narration supported by relevant musical clips makes me hope to find more little 'nuggets' of information which add color to memories.

Very well made video!

Fascinating. The first time I've seen your channel. I've subscribed.

Loved this! It's such a special song and we're so fortunate that Arlen and Harburg fought to keep it in the film. I didn't realize that so much was cut from the film, but I found a Deluxe Edition soundtrack that seems to include all the music outtakes.

This documentary had the polish and professionalism of other documentary's like the ones you see in National Geographic. This was very enjoyable to watch, and the story was wonderful. Thank you for making something worth the time ,and something worth sharing. Cheers!

Incredible, incredible video.

Completely charming and fully informative and entertaining. What more good can I say. Accept thank you 🙏

fantastic production!!

Brilliant video, thank you!

I think my late friend would be crying over this, that’s how good the documentary is.

Damn dude your editing is on another level holy shit. 😤

It's particularly interesting to consider that in the original Oz series, Dorothy goes back and forth to Oz from Kansas a couple times before eventually moving to Oz permanently with her Aunt and Uncle, which Dorothy requests happen due to their losing the farm to debt. She even ends up being appointed an official Princess of Oz by Ozma. In many ways, the movie actually inverts the whole premise of the books, in which Oz is a real place that people can go and come from, and in that sense, they ALL end up living over the rainbow in the end.

The visuals in this were stunning. Excellent art direction.