Marking the 75th anniversary of The Wizard of Oz, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (WBHE) will bring the cherished classic into the present and beyond with a brand new kind of magic: a stunning 3D version that will premiere theatrically and will be the highlight of the studio’s 75th Anniversary Collector’s Edition.
“People have asked for years about The Wizard of Oz 3D conversion,” says Ned Price, Warner Technical Operations Vice President of Mastering. “My answer was always: ‘We’re not doing it until it’s perfect.’ And now it is. As a kid, I was so enthralled by this film. Watching it, you just want to enter the frame, enter the Land of Oz. This new version will allow you to do just that.”
Kicking off the celebration, The Wizard of Oz 3D will exclusively debut in a one-week limited engagement in more than 300 3D Digital IMAX® theatres across the U.S. and Canada beginning September 20th. This special 3D exhibition will transport fans into the wonderful Land of Oz, immersing them in the film in a way 1939 audiences could never have imagined. Following the theatrical debut, WBHE will release a limited and numbered The Wizard of Oz 75th Anniversary Collector’s Edition on October 1, featuring the 3D version of the film and much more.
The 3D conversion was a long and complex project, which Warner Bros. initiated with an 8k scan of the original Technicolor camera negative. The restored 2D image was then transformed by creating a depth-map of each frame to construct 3D imagery and determine distances from the viewer’s vantage point. This was followed by a lengthy process to further refine viewer distances and fully layer shapes and objects.
The Wizard of Oz 75th Anniversary Collector’s Edition ($105.43 SRP) will debut as a limited and numbered five-disc set that will include 3D, Blu-ray™, DVD and UltraViolet versions of the film; a new documentary, The Making of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz; bonus features and premium collectibles. Three more editions will be available separately: a two-disc 3D/Blu-ray ($35.99 SRP), a one-disc Blu-ray ($19.98 SRP) and a two-disc DVD ($16.95 SRP). All four will contain the new documentary and extra content. The set will include all previously released special features along with:
- ALL-NEW Documentary! The Making of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz: This candid overview of how a troubled production overcame the odds to become an integral part of American culture features contributions from historians John Fricke and Sam Wasson, composers Stephen Schwartz (Wicked) and Marc Shaiman, critics Leonard Maltin and Michael Sragow, Bert Lahr’s son John as well as revealing interview clips with Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, Buddy Ebsen, Margaret Hamilton, and Mervyn Leroy, among others.
- NEW! Exclusive Collectible Memorabilia—A collectible 75th Anniversary journal; Sparkle Ruby Slippers Globe; Noble Pin Set; a Map of Oz; and a 48-page hardcover book. Encompassing much previously unpublished material, the deluxe volume includes behind-the-scenes Land of Oz photographs, studio memos, and script pages for abandoned scenes and musical numbers. The collection is limited and numbered!
The Wizard of Oz 3D release is great news for anyone with childhood memories of this beloved film. And who doesn’t look back fondly at the movie that melted hearts with its indelible melodies and transcendent themes of family, home and the courage to pursue dreams? Don’t miss your chance to see and own this timeless classic in amazing new 3D!