Wizard of Oz question..Besty?

[xxnewgirlxx]

Posted: 10/20/09 at 10:55am

I bow down to the expert of all that is the Wicked Witch of the West. :P

I'm doing this for Halloween. I am having a brain spasm. Does she wear striped socks in the film? If so, what color?

Thanks!

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 10/20/09 at 10:56am

I am pretty sure you never saw her socks. Her sister wore the striped socks.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 10/20/09 at 10:58am

Why don't you wear a big dollhouse and go as her sister?

[tazber]

Posted: 10/20/09 at 10:59am

I love that you're going as the "wicked witch" from the movie and not "Elphaba" from the show.

[xxnewgirlxx]

Posted: 10/20/09 at 11:00am

Ha ha..I like the idea, PJ.

And taz...I MAY play her with a little softer edge...;P

[Bluemoon]

Posted: 10/20/09 at 11:16am

The wicked witch is so much more interesting and fun than the good witch. have fun!

I was going to PM Besty with the following link, but I'll also post it here - fun reading. It's an article I read last night regarding the inspirations for Baum's characters in Oz (including where he got the name Dorothy Gale).

http://www.historynet.com/matilda-josyln-gage-the-unlikely-inspiration-for-the-wizard-of-oz.htm

[best12bars]

Posted: 10/20/09 at 11:21am

I'm with PJ! Great idea.

If you're going as the Wicked Witch of the West from the MGM movie, she wore black hose and black shoes, not unlike the Ruby Slippers in their form. Probably the same exact 1930s pump used, before the red sequins were sewn on.

Hers were flat black (no shiny leather) with no adornments on them. Still the shape is very much like "her sister's" shoes. You can actually see them fairly well for a moment (particularly on the new Blu-ray release). Right after the Ruby Slippers disappear and the feet curl up under the house, the next shot is of the Witch turning around and walking back toward Dorothy and Glinda. That's when you can see her black (semi-transparent) hose and the shoes. You can also see them in the Witch's Castle, when she catches up with Dorothy and her friends, just before she melts. Her entrance shot is where the shoes are visible.

(Yeah, I know WAY too much about this movie.)

I also know someone here in L.A. who owns one of her hats and a pair of high-buttoned black shoes (ala Mary Poppins style) that were tested for the movie, but never used. They've got "Margaret Hamilton" and "Wicked Witch" sewn into the label just the same.

[best12bars]

Posted: 10/20/09 at 11:25am

Bluemoon---Thanks! I"ve seen that link before, but I appreciate you thinking of me. :)

And best of luck with your costume, xxnewgirlxx. Post pics here, if you can! I'd love to see your final "threads."

[xxnewgirlxx]

Posted: 10/20/09 at 11:35am

Cool..thanks for the information.

Sadly, time and money are prohibiting me from going totally authentic, now that I've looked a little more into the costume.

The problem is I'm only 5'3" and the costume is something like 62 inches long. And it's already a bit pricey without alterations. I suppose I could just cut the skirt, but sadly, I think I have to do a more generic witch this year...

[best12bars]

Posted: 10/20/09 at 11:43am

I just Googled around and found these:



Not exact, but very similar to what she wore in the movie.

And hey, a generic witch is cool, too! If you want the best "Margaret Hamilton" effect, I would worry more about matching the broomstick than the shoes. So very distinctive! And those 1890s medieval mutton sleeves with the pouch/bag she wore slung over one shoulder. Terrific details in that MGM costume. But her shoes are only visible in two shots, so I wouldn't sweat too much over those.

That's for a future witch costume, of course!

[Gothampc]

Posted: 10/20/09 at 12:02pm

Go as the Witch at the point where she is melting, so everything from the waist down is just trap door.

Since you're only 5'3" why not go as Bernadette Peters as the Witch in Into The Woods.

[best12bars]

Posted: 10/20/09 at 12:08pm

Hey, at 5'3", she is already three inches taller than Margaret Hamilton was in the film.

[Biff AKA Levi]

Posted: 10/20/09 at 12:14pm

For only being five feet, she was terrifying!

[xxnewgirlxx]

Posted: 10/20/09 at 1:06pm

Too bad the makers of costumes arent aware that Ms. Hamilton was a petite flower. The dress itself is 5 feet long.

[blueroses]

Posted: 10/20/09 at 2:05pm

"For only being five feet, she was terrifying!"

Especially to a young child. What a performance! One of the best movie villains ever.

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 10/20/09 at 2:13pm

And who knew she wore Yves St. Laurent?!

[mominator]

Posted: 10/20/09 at 2:38pm

Moony, thanks for the link to that article. What a great read!