Sort of off topic, but not really.... I just re watched RETURN TO OZ and was wondering how Disney got the rights to use the ruby slippers in that film. Considering they were only red in the MGM film, and not in the books, which the story was taken.
Anyone have the dirt on that? Disney paid MGM a licensing fee to use the shoes back in 1985 (when they were still friendly over the subject). This was one year before the MGM catalogue (including Wizard of Oz) was owned by Ted Turner and ultimately controlled by Warner Bros.
But not long ago, Warners licensed the ruby slippers to Fox for one of the "Night at the Museum" movies.
Like most things in Hollywood, they can be had for a price.
However, Disney and Warners were recently in a battle (and a law suit) over several trademark infringements connected to Oz the Great and Powerful (including its title, which is directly taken from the MGM film. In the book, he is "Oz the Great and Terrible." --- they lost that one, by the way.) Still, there was no way in hell they were going to license the ruby slippers to Disney for this film, so poor Rachel Weisz had to wear "sensible shoes" instead.
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22