Why is There a "Dead Munchkin" in the Wizard of Oz?
Those who are familiar with The Wizard of Oz, are sure to have heard rumors surrounding a scene that appears to show a dead Munchkin hanging from a tree, but in truth - this isn’t an event that took place on set. The film doesn’t feature a “hanging munchkin,” though this is one of the most popular myths to surround the classic film.
Although this tale is widely recognized in pop culture. It has no actual connection to the film itself or those events involving The Wizard of Oz film set. The actual event - if it took place - would’ve been extremely unusual given those characters on set - were paid very little (as Jerry Maren, a surviving Munchkin actor mentioned in this article) - while the Wizard of Oz cast, (particularly those like Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale), faced challenges during their journey.
Where Did the Hanging Munchkin Rumor Come From?
There are numerous Wizard of Oz rumors surrounding the production of this iconic film, specifically, this movie has developed into a movie with several Urban Legends, particularly one involving a “hanging Munchkin”. Fans of The Wizard of Oz - and particularly those who follow those Urban Legends around classic films - are sure to recognize this as a classic tale.
The rumor itself, may stem from those events where viewers noticed that in one of the scenes featuring Dorothy, the Tin Man and the Scarecrow on the Yellow Brick Road, as the characters walk away a silhouette is visible, it almost appears as if someone were Hanging. A Wizard of Oz hanging became a widely spread Myth for those who watch, adding to the mystery surrounding this Wizard of Oz film and those who like to explore some of its more interesting details and aspects of the story, but there’s an entirely different explanation behind those scenes as it is, actually a bird, possibly an emu. It's easy to understand how it’s easy to see how viewers would misinterpret the event. The scene does appear to show an unusual, and perhaps ominous figure - adding a great degree of mystique to this movie.
Is the Wizard of Oz A Cursed Movie?
Those who love The Wizard of Oz are well aware of its legacy and, perhaps, those infamous elements surrounding those behind the scenes stories: The Wizard of Oz behind the scenes - is quite compelling, often creating a sense of mystery, controversy, or perhaps a touch of darkness.
Fans of The Wizard of Oz, might even make connections to several key events, especially as many fans believe it is cursed and that the production itself brought several dangerous occurrences that left those involved either injured or, perhaps tragically, with a fatality. The stories can even range from those involving the original Tin Man, Buddy Ebsen who was painted in a substance that led to a hospital stay - a near fatal event - or Margaret Hamilton, the actress who portrayed the Wicked Witch of the West who suffered from several injuries on set. All this would lead to a dark legend that would become popular and serve as the origin for several Urban Legends - adding a greater depth to this iconic story and bringing those fans to explore an often hidden and obscure narrative, and making them believe that the film is in many ways "cursed," though those Wizard of Oz secrets often remain mysterious and debated amongst fans.
Was There Really a Hanging Scene in The Wizard of Oz?
The Wizard of Oz (based on L. Frank Baum’s classic book, “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz”, a story that became one of the biggest, classic fantasy Movies ever made - particularly for the era it was released in. A visual masterpiece: It also served as the first major production of its kind with Wizard of Oz special effects that had a significant impact on Hollywood. The story itself became one of the cornerstones for pop culture, bringing characters such as the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and The Cowardly Lion, and especially Dorothy, whose story has endured and continued to inspire audiences for nearly a century.) is shrouded in controversy with one of the biggest legends: The Myth of the “hanging munchkin" that supposedly occurs during the scene as those characters walk on the Yellow Brick Road scene.
The events, as presented as a myth and often shared on social media or as part of various online stories are said to be seen in the scene and there is a silhouette in the background that resembles someone hanging, however, it’s been discovered that this was not a real person but instead, a large bird: a crane, possibly an emu. It was part of the Wizard of Oz production, which often involved adding numerous birds as an element to make this classic film as realistic as possible. It seems this became a fascinating event as the myth was shared with many. It took on a life of its own and the "hanging munchkin" would continue to exist for several decades.
Is the "Hanging Munchkin" a Real Death?
In The Wizard of Oz, the hanging munchkin rumor is widely spread, even among those who are well versed in Hollywood’s greatest classics and those Movies that have often had tragic moments - particularly, events on set in the Golden Age. The event that inspired the "hanging munchkin" is based on a bird (a crane, an emu), often seen in the background of this famous film. One of the common things for movies made in the 1900s is how a production could often rely on live animals to help with production.
While the myth has gained a considerable amount of attention, the story has become widely debated - including being shared online or across a multitude of platforms as Wizard of Oz urban legends - however, it has also been refuted. There’s an element of intrigue to the story and its ability to spread through the online world has also highlighted the fascination surrounding this iconic, family-friendly film. Even so, the truth continues to be shared.
What Other Legends Are Surrounding The Wizard of Oz?
The Wizard of Oz has many urban legends surrounding its history, in addition to being a movie with several mysteries, controversies and an often "misunderstood aspect" when it comes to those behind the scenes stories - particularly, when it involves events with the Wizard of Oz cast that took place during the 1930s, with its use of Wizard of Oz special effects. While there are countless mysteries - including some of the film's scenes, which could even highlight Wizard of Oz secrets , a popular story involving the hanging munchkin - this has helped the story’s legacy expand.
There's also a theory that Dorothy (Judy Garland) was the Wicked Witch of the East , based on some events. While that theory has gained attention, a popular one surrounding The Wizard of Oz has its own twist which revolves around how "The Wizard of Oz" is a "cursed movie". Those who believe this often site the various accidents or even tragic moments that took place while shooting the movie and making the Wizard of Oz movie as we see it. One of the more well-known events was an incident that led to Buddy Ebsen - the actor portraying the Tin Man - getting a series of illnesses because of his makeup. It could lead those who love the movie to feel a strong sense of curiosity to learn more about these events and explore its dark secrets.
What Makes the Wizard of Oz so Popular?
Those who are familiar with this iconic classic - are sure to be able to cite several reasons. The Wizard of Oz has long served as one of the cornerstone films in cinema, particularly in its use of special effects - and visual beauty, which, during its release in 1939 - helped solidify a new era in film. "The Wizard of Oz" has its place in popular culture - especially for being a film that many parents share with their children.
In recent decades, the film's popularity continues to rise - particularly with a slew of online content that focuses on analyzing its events - but those who are familiar with its story are sure to know its key features, and how those events are driven through the character of Dorothy and her companions: the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion, as they navigate the magical world of Oz. There's an element of adventure and fantasy which brings those watching back to their childhood memories of how those stories had such a long-lasting impact, helping create a legacy that has also spread to an abundance of productions. This is evident in the production of "Wicked" which explores those same elements, making it a major adaptation of a beloved, classic story, while also serving as a new chapter for the "Wizard of Oz" story, a symbol of its power and longevity - which is sure to have a strong impact on fans and future audiences who are intrigued by this story.
