"The Wizard of Oz" stole the hearts of generations with its whimsical fantasyland and infectious soundtrack. However, behind its colorful surface lurked dark and strange secrets that most fans don’t know about.
Buzzfeed recently listed these shocking facts about the movie:
1. Toxic makeup. For her role as the Wicked Witch of the West, Margaret Hamilton had to be covered in green paint however the makeup reportedly contained copper and was so toxic that the actress wound up on a strict liquid diet for the duration of filming.
2. Accommodating little people. During filming one of the Munchkin actors allegedly got stuck in a toilet for 45 minutes, leading to MGM hiring attendants to help little people on set on and off the studio toilets.
3. The tragedy of Auntie Em. On screen Clara Blandick delivered a convincing performance as the content, warm and caring Auntie Em but off screen she was a person in turmoil who eventually committed suicide at age 85. Her suicide note read: "I am now about to make the great adventure. I cannot endure this agonizing pain any longer. It is all over my body. Neither can I face the impending blindness. I pray the Lord my soul to take. Amen," according to IMDB.
4. Stunts gone wrong. Hamilton did not have much luck on the set of "The Wizard Of Oz." She reportedly suffered second and third-degree burns to her face and hands when she got caught in the flames of a fire after a trap door failed to open fast enough.
5. A mane of lion hair. The Cowardly Lion costume worn by Bert Lahr was made of real lion skin and fur. The costume was sold for more than $3 million at a New York City auction several years ago, CBS News reported.
6. The not-so-innocent Munchkins. Several of the male actors who played the Munchkins in "The Wizard Of Oz" allegedly sexually assaulted Judy Garland by repeatedly putting their hands under her dress.
7. Another strike against the Munchkins. At one point the actors who played the Munchkins got so raucous on set that MGM assigned an employee to watch over them. This did not prevent many from reportedly having to be bailed out of jail.
8. Costume woes. Buddy Ebsen was originally cast to play the Tin Man but illness forced him out of the movie after the aluminum dust from the makeup nearly killed him. Jack Haley replaced he actor and makeup artists replaced the paint with a less toxic alternative.
9. Horses painted in Jell-O. The studio hit a snag when trying to color the horses in Emerald City. It was deemed unacceptable to use paint on the animals so eventually they landed on the idea of sponging the horses down with Jell-O powder.
10. Underpaid. The actors who played the Munchkins reportedly were paid just $50 a week, which could explain their rebellious behavior on set.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.