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Epicurus.com - Journey Back to Oz
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List Price: $14.98
Our Price: $12.99
Your Save: $ 1.99 ( 13% )
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Bci / Eclipse
Starring: Ethel Merman, Liza Minnelli, Rise Stevens, Danny Thomas, Margret Hamilton
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: DVD
Brand: BCI ECLIPSE LLC
EAN: 0787364723195
Format: Animated
Label: Bci / Eclipse
Legal Disclaimer: Warranty does not cover misuse of product.
Manufacturer: Bci / Eclipse
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Bci / Eclipse
Region Code: 1
Release Date: 2006-10-24
Running Time: 88
Studio: Bci / Eclipse
Theatrical Release Date: 1971
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Editorial Reviews:
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Dorothy and Toto travel back to the land of Oz where they arrive just in time to help their old friends fend off an invasion of magic green elephants. Voice characterizations are performed by a number of stars including Liza Minnelli Ethel Merman and Danny Thomas.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre:Â CHILDREN/FAMILY Rating:Â G UPC:Â 787364723195
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Passed down from Mother to Daughter!
Comment: As everyone knows, Judy Garland first played the role of Dorothy in the 1939 masterpiece "The Wizard of Oz". In Journey Back To Oz the torch has been passed to her daughter Liza Minnelli. Even though Liza only does the voice work for Dorothy I think she did a great job with the character, and It's a treat that Margaret Hamilton returned to do another Oz film even though it was to portray Auntie Em. I remember that this film was broadcast on T.V. several times years ago and I was always there to enjoy it as a child. If you are an Oz fan I believe you'll love this movie and already have it as a part of your Oz collection. For those who are not Oz fans, but animation fans I'd recommend renting it first to see what you think of it. This film didn't do so well at the box office, but I feel that it has a cult following.
Customer Rating:
Summary: A RESPECTABLE ANIMATED SEQUEL
Comment: To hear Lou Scheimer, Hal Sutherland, and Fred Ladd tell it (and they do prattle and yack on endlessly during a dotty DVD commentary track), you would think that "JOURNEY BACK TO OZ" is equal in every way to MGM'S 1939
masterpiece "THE WIZARD OF OZ." It isn't... but it is a respectable animated sequel. Wacked out Sutherland keeps referring to "THE WIZARD OF OZ" as "The Judy Garland Version."
In L. Frank Baum's book "THE LAND OF OZ", Wicked Witch Mombi attempts to take over Emerald City and destroy the Scarecrow. She is defeated by a boy named Tip, Jack Pumpkinhead, and Woodenhead the Horse. Tip turns out to be a girl who Mombi transformed into a boy. Tip is actually Ozma, the rightful ruler of Oz, before the Humbug Wizard blew in. Sutherland and Ladd keep this basic plot structure, omit Tip/Ozma entirely, and put Dorothy in his/her place.
For the film, Dorothy (beautifully voiced by Liza Minnelli) is back in Kansas. She starts to get that old feeling for Oz; a cyclone blows her and Toto back, and she battles Mombi, etc.
"JOURNEY BACK" had quite a journey itself. The excellent voice cast was recorded in 1960. But lack of finances delayed the film for well over a decade. "JOURNEY BACK" was finally finished and had a small theatrical release around 1974. Apparently, nobody saw it. Scheimer, Sutherland, and Ladd sound understandably proud that the film has finally appeared on DVD. While not as magical as in the 1939 MGM live-action masterpiece, Oz is nicely depicted in animation here. The animation is much better than the Hanna-Barbera cheap and quick, Saturday morning TV show style. Apparently, a few of the animators who worked on "JOURNEY BACK" were former employees of Disney Studios. The animation was intially began overseas, while the voice cast was recorded in New York City and Los Angeles.
I am certainly no fan of that overblown Broadway hag Ethel Merman. But, having said that, Ethel is perfectly cast as animated hag /Witch Mombi. She looks and sounds frightening. Margaret Hamilton, the original Wicked Witch Of The West in 1939, is briefly heard here as the voice of Aunt Em in Kansas. Paul Lynde is excellent as the voice of (Jack) Pumpkinhead. Mickey Rooney, Judy Garland's old partner at MGM, replaced a mis-cast Peter Lawford, as the voice of the Scarecrow. It is disappointing that (the added in to the film's plot) old friends The Tin Man and Cowardly Lion essentially whimp out on Dorothy when she asks them to help. Glinda (voiced here by opera star Rise Stevens) reappears to tell Dorothy she only has herself to rely on and sing a ho-hum slow ballad.
At least "JOURNEY BACK" does not commit the unforgivable cinematic sins of the 1985 Disney live-action disaster "RETURN TO OZ." In that hideous film, (AVOID IT AT ALL COSTS) Aunt Em and Uncle Henry take Dorothy in for electric-shock therapy to have all memories of Oz removed from her mind!! Dorothy subsequently escapes to an Oz in serious dis-repair, devoid of joy and music. While the songs in "JOURNEY BACK" by Sammy Cahn and James Van Heusen may not be of the same quality, as the perfectly integrated, Academy- Award winning "THE WIZARD OF OZ" score by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg, it is still nice to hear Liza Minnelli sing such songs as "Keep A Happy Thought," "That Far-Away Land," and "Feeling For Home" in perfect "Dorothy Gale From Kansas" style. Apparently, Liza has exspressed regret in participating in "JOURNEY BACK." True, she sounds almost exactly like her mother Judy Garland did in 1939 here... but there's nothing wrong with that, especially not in this instance. In fact, the vocal similarity is likely the primary reason she was cast to "voice" Dorothy in the first place.
I recommend "JOURNEY BACK TO OZ" to fans of Liza Minnelli-- and for Oz fans who would like another adventure/trip. After all, L. Frank Baum wrote 14 Oz book sequels himself.
Customer Rating:
Summary: must see DVD for all Oz fans
Comment: this movie is all that and more
I saw this as a boy with my grandmother in the theater and later on TV.
I have always been a huge Ethel Merman fan and her Mombi is right on
the best song to me is an elephant never forgets.
this is a must see for any fan of the old classic cartoons
Customer Rating:
Summary: OKAY
Comment: HOW DO I RETURN THEM BECAUSE YOU SENT ME TWO OF EACH AND I ONLY WANTED ONE. THERE ARE NO DIRECTIONS OR RECIEPTS WITH IT.
Customer Rating:
Summary: wonderful childhood favorite
Comment: This brings back happy memories! Journey Back to Oz was a wonderful part of my childhood. I loved watching it on TV as a kid. It's a great sequel with wonderful songs and a fantastic cast. I'm very happy that Journey Back to Oz is available on DVD.
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