Before Wicked, there was Return to Oz.
Disney's dark fantasy fairytale sequel to The Wizard of Oz, directed by Walter Murch with an uncredited assist from George Lucas (Star Wars) and Francis Ford Coppola (The Godfather), was released 40 years ago and formed a childhood cinematic collective of stylistically similar movies including The Neverending Story, The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth (the latter two directed by Muppet creator Jim Henson).
Although Return to Oz, based on L. Frank Baum’s early novels, Ozma of Oz and The Marvelous Land of Oz, passed me by at the cinema for reasons unknown. I vividly remember the Wheelers appearing on Blue Peter as instant nightmare fuel for Dorothy (Fairuza Baulk) and friends to evade.
Murch's movie forgoes the Technicolor trappings of the beloved MGM musical starring Judy Garland in favour of muted tones in a tale of psychiatric wards, disembodied heads, talking clockwork toys and an exploration of childhood trauma, which many (myself included) can relate to.
A box office bomb, Return to Oz embodies a dark, grittier and creative chapter of family fare from the House of Mouse, which also includes The Black Hole and The Black Cauldron. It became a cult classic on home media and the subject of critical analysis with fellow media students at college.
Return to Oz is streaming on Disney+.
What are your memories of watching Return to Oz? Let me know in the comments below.
