Return to Oz
My first Big Film. In short, it was a wonderful experience. I was well taken care of. To this day the Director, Walter Murch stays in my heart as the kindest, most insightful, and one of the best directors I have had the honor to work with. In my estimate, and many others, this man is a genius. He wrote a fascinating book called In the Blink of an Eye, which I recommend to any person who wants to learn to be great at filmmaking.
Working on this film was to change my life forever. I won the role out of something like 1200 other girls, and it came as a great surprise. It was fun, and it was very hard work. We shot for a year, which in film terms is a very long time. I felt like we were one big family on this movie, and truth be told, we were. The publicity for the film took my mother and I to Japan, where we met the Crown Prince, Paris, London, New York, Los Angeles, and many other cities.
It will forever live in my heart as the most special film I have, or will ever make. I am happy that it has achieved the kind of cult status that it has, because it is a very special film to me. Someday, when I finish my book, I will be able to go into greater detail about the experience, for there is far too much to fit into this small space.
11 Responses to “Return to Oz”
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I can actually say this film has brought me so much happiness. I think I first saw it when I was 3, where as most of my friends were terrified of the wheelers and Princess Mombi’s many heads I found it so magical. I have literally grew up with this film. I wish I could find more merchandice. I recently watched it and evrytime I do I remember why I love it so much. So I just want to say a HUGE thank you for the brilliant work you did on this film :) x
I was always quite sure about Wizard of Oz and this beautiful movie as long as any other fairy tale, that they were never intended to be fully understood and liked by kids. It’s a big lose for me that I haven’t seen this movie as a kid, but as a grown-up, I found this movie immortal and fascinating.
I haven’t cried during movies for a very long time, but that scene when Jack Pumpkinhead asks Dorothy to “help him put some of the rest of him together” and check his head for spoils really made me cry, as much as the ending or how she has to wind-up Tic-Toc all the time to keep him ‘alive’.
I watched Return to Oz after like half of other Fairuza’s movies and it was cute and odd at the same time to see how she’s acting at that young age, to see the same mimics and eyes as 20 years later.
I was frightened at the beginning of the movie expecting that young Fairuza might do something wrong but she played her role brilliant, she was a real star at her 11 years, a real natural-born talent.
I’m in love with that magical movie, thank you Fairuza for your talent!
Thank you for your post, I am so glad you enjoyed the film, Its a very special work of art.
Thank you very much:)
I Love that Movie as well:)
From what I hear merchandise from that film is quite rare and hard to come by these days.
Thanks for writing in and for the lovely compliments
Sincerely
F
Return to Oz was a big part of my childhood and i remember going to the video store and that would be the only video i would ever rent and my mom would ask me why don’t you get something else and i never would! As much as a classic the 1939 garland film is. It pains me that this movie is always compaired to that! they are two different films i’m sorry but when i read the oz books and then watched these two films, your portrayal of dorothy is just how i expected! I hope you put some oz pics on here to get signed i already ordered a picture of you but would love to have an oz pic or be able to send one! thanks for the memories fairuza!!
Return To Oz is one of my all time favourite films and I think it portrays the true essence of the original Oz books much more accurately than The Wizard Of Oz does. I saw it at the cinema when it was first released and I was astounded by Fairuza’s incredible performance as Dorothy and I became an instant fan. I knew that she would go on to do more incredible work and I feel rather smug that I was absolutely right.
I am watching Return to Oz now, I love it. I remember wanting to watch it so desperatly as a kid and recorded a movie show preview which I watched over and over until I watched it. When I did finally watch it I loved it but couldn’t believe how different it was to the the original in an amazing way.
The way you portrayed Dorothy reminds me of my sisters spirt as a kid and now years later her daughters spirit which was nothing like mine at the time.
since my first viewing it has forged a special place in my heart and I was so pleased when you continued acting. Over the years I have seen many of your films and have loved all the characters you have brought to life since Dorothy. I hope to contine watching you, and now listening to you… XX Love from the UK XX Paul
Loving your music and you work.
This film is a big part of my childhood, i would always be asking for my mum to put it on for me, so i feel a special connection to the film, Even you are part of my childhood, thats why i can safely say im probably your biggest fan :D You did an excellent job in the film.
Wow, I have such fond childhood memories of this movie! My parents didn’t get a VCR until the mid 1990s, so I used to walk to the local video rental store and ask the employees to play Return to Oz for me on their display TV/VCR, again… and again… and again. I probably wore out their poor VHS tape with all my repeat viewings, but I couldn’t help myself — for me Return to Oz (NOT the MGM film) was THE definite Oz movie.
Even today when I watch the film (on my much more durable DVD) I’m amazed by how brave your Dorothy is. Judy Garland’s Dorothy spends a lot of time crying and waiting to be rescued from the Wicked Witch of the West, but YOUR Dorothy stands up to Mombi, comes up with a creative escape plan, AND chooses to risk her life for her friends even after the Nome King offers to send her home. Maybe Garland gave Dorothy her great singing voice, but you gave Dorothy her courage (and a personality that I think is a lot more faithful to Baum’s books).
Looking forward to seeing all of your future projects!
Michael
A really great movie. Just fabulous. It was magical back when i was a kid but i think it’s even better, and much more magical when i look back at it now. I remember what got me into loving movies like RETURN TO OZ back then. That thing while growing up that makes me want to know all the tricks they use to make these scenes, all these stunning visuals.
Such an amount of talent and creativity, such brilliance was displayed for months during the making of this masterpiece. All that before CGI became overused (Sorry. There’s good about it i know but meh.) I mean everything was so well made back then in a movie like that, with such talented workers.
And an actress as Dorothy that grew up to pull some of the most mesmerizing roles i’ve seen and do it with such brilliance. You are AMAZING Fairuza, and so this movie is.
As a film and media studies prof, and a fan, this remains for me the finest adaptation ever made of L. Frank Baum’s “Oz” books. Your Dorothy is much truer to the Baum spirit, and the combination of puppets, claymation, and other sorts of film wizardry brings Billina, Jack, and Tik-Tok to life more wonderfully than any magic powder could.
A few months ago, I blogged about the film — for anyone interested, my post is here: http://virtualgrowlery.blogspot.com/2013/03/return-to-oz.html
Many thanks for this site!