Frank Morgan (1890-1949)

(Francis Philip Wuppermann)

Jovial, somewhat flamboyant Frank Morgan will forever be remembered as the title character in The Wizard of Oz (1939), but he was a veteran and respected actor long before he played that part, and turned in outstanding performances both before and after that film. One of 11 children of a wealthy manufacturer, Morgan followed his older brother, Ralph Morgan (born Raphael Wuppermann) into the acting profession, making his Broadway debut in 1914 and his film debut two years later. Morgan specialized in playing courtly, sometimes eccentric or befuddled but ultimately sympathetic characters, such as the alcoholic telegraph operator in The Human Comedy (1943) or the shop owner in The Shop Around the Corner (1940). He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor for The Affairs of Cellini (1934).

Ray Boldger (1904-1987)

(Raymond Wallace Bulcao)

Ray Bolger began his career in vaudeville. He was half of a team called “Sanford and Bolger” and also did numerous Broadway shows on his own. He was a song-and-dance man as well as an actor. He was signed to a contract with MGM in 1936 and his first role was as himself in The Great Ziegfeld (1936). This was soon followed by a role in Rosalie (1937). His first dancing and singing role was in Sweethearts (1938), where he did the “wooden shoes” number with red-headed soprano/actress Jeanette MacDonald. This got him noticed by MGM producers and resulted in his being cast in his most famous role, that of the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz (1939). Surprisingly, even though the film was a success, Bolger’s contract with MGM ended. He went to RKO to make Four Jacks and a Jill (1942). After this, Bolger went to Broadway, where he received his greatest satisfaction. In 1953 he turned to television and got his own sitcom, “Where’s Raymond?” (1953), later changed to “The Ray Bolger Show”. After his series ended, Bolger made frequent guest appearances on TV and had some small roles in movies.

Bert Lahr (1895-1967)

(Irving Lahrheim)

Fittingly known to be a “Leo” for his horoscope, Bert Lahr is always remembered as the Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz (1939). But during his acting career, he has been known for being in burlesque, vaudeville, and Broadway. Dropped out of high school at the age of fifteen for a juvenile vaudeville act, Lahr worked his way up to the top billing of the Columbia Burlesque Circuit. When in Broadway, Lahr usually plays a comic actor in plays which he starred in such as the classic routine The Song of the Woodman, which he would later perform in Merry Go Round (1937). Aside from The Wizard of Oz (1939), Lahr’s movie career never caught on because his gestures and reactions were too broad.

Jack Haley (1898-1979)

(John Joseph Haley Jr.)

Jack Haley was a movie and vaudeville actor who is always remembered as the Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz (1939). The Tin Man role was originally was going to Buddy Ebsen, but due to allergic reaction from the aluminum powder makeup, Ebsen was taken out of the casting and Haley replaced him. To avoid the same problem arising, they used aluminum paste for Haley instead of the powder. Haley starred in over thirty other movies.

9. What facts about the members of the film group seem the most interesting to you?

10. Watch «The Wizard of Oz» and write your own review for the film. Follow the film analysis scheme (see Appendix 3).

11. Translate the following extract into Russian:

Легенда «золотого века» кинематографа, звезда фильмов-мюзиклов, подросток, покоривший Голливуд, неординарная актриса, неподражаемая певица – такой была Джуди Гарланд. Известная своим оптимизмом, харизматичностью и мальчишеским задором на экране, в жизни она не была столь же позитивной, часто впадала в депрессии, которые тормозили съемочный процесс и доставляли массу неудобств съемочной группе. Все это стало последствием ее очень ранней карьеры – выступать на сцене Джуди начала в возрасте двух с половиной лет, а в тринадцать подписала свой первый контракт со студией «Метро-Голдвин-Майер». Юное дарование с непринужденной, безыскусной манерой игры и необычным завораживающим тембром голоса вмиг стало восходящей звездой Голливуда. И компания «Метро-Голдвин-Майер» использовала талант юной актрисы на все сто процентов, не брезгуя абсолютно взрослыми средствами допинга для уставшего ребенка, работавшего по двенадцать-четырнадцать часов в сутки. Судьба Джуди похожа на судьбы многих детей-актрис того времени –Ширли Темпл, Дины Дурбин, детство которых было принесено в жертву голливудской машине по производству легенд и материнским амбициям.

В 17 лет Джуди Гарланд получила «Оскара» за свою самую известную роль – девочки Дороти в сказке «Волшебник страны Оз» (1939). Здесь же Джуди поет свою самую известную песню – «Over the rainbow» («За радугой») — о чудесной стране, в которую она так мечтает попасть, о «месте, где не будет никаких неприятностей». Этот голос, этот тембр и манеру исполнения Джуди частично передала по наследству своей дочери, актрисе и  певице Лайзе Миннелли.

В фильме «Летние гастроли», в игривом музыкальном номере обворожительная, улыбчивая Джуди Гарланд поет: «Забудь свои неприятности и просто стань счастливым». Быть может, это и был ее ответ Дороти, искавшей убежище от проблем далеко за радугой?..  

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