WICKED-Respects to Margaret Hamilton- Page 2

[best12bars]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 8:31pm

Here's how much of an Oz "geek" I am...



That's me (pictured above) a few years ago "Photoshoped" into Oz, in "sepia tone," no less.

Ah, there's no place like home. Maggie would've been proud.

[grizzabella]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 8:47pm

"Is all that we see or seem but a dream within a dream?"
Terrific picture!

[best12bars]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 8:53pm

Beautiful quote.

Thanks Grizzy!

[Sluggy]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 8:56pm

Not to detour away from Ms. Hamilton, but didn't Buddy Ebsen originally start out as the Scarecrow? I seem to remember Ray Bolger saying in an interview that he was the original Tin Man, but pleaded with the powers that be to switch them because he liked the character of the Scarecrow so much. Imagine how different Oz would have been with Ebsen as the Scarecrow and Bolger as the Tin Man. Oh, yeah, and they wanted Shirley Temple for Dorothy and W.C. Fields as the Wizard. I don't think we're in Kansas anymore!

[BSoBW3]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 8:57pm

W.C. Fields as the Wizard?

That seems counter-productive.

[grizzabella]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 9:02pm

I seem to recall reading that various people were considered for any number of roles before the cast was finalized, and most of them, in retrospect, would have changed the "feel" of the movie considerably, and probably not for the better. I'm just thankful that they got it right in the end. I have to say, since Ray Bolger so exuded heart in the movie, his Tin Man would have been extremely interesting.

[best12bars]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 9:07pm

W.C. Fields was approached to play the Wizard. Aside from demanding a very high fee (why not?), he thought the role was WAY too small. This was before they decided to use the "Wizard" actor to play 4 other minor parts (Professor Marvel, the gate keeper, the Emerald City guardian of the gates & the cabby), expanding his presence in the film significantly... not to mention allowing the actor to show versatility. They also approached Ed Wynn and received the same response. Frank Morgan was an MGM contract player, so he couldn't refuse... not that he wanted to. Much to our great fortune!

Sluggy---As far as the initial casting of Bolger as the Tinman and Ebsen as the Scarecrow, you're absolutely right. It was Bolger himself that went to the "brass" and persuaded them to switch parts. Ebsen had no preference, so he happily agreed... and that was a mistake, since ultimately the Tinman's makeup lead to him being taken off of the film and replaced by Haley.

Yes, there were MANY names mentioned for roles in The Wizard of Oz... some were seriously pursued... others were considered only in passing... but ultimately they ended up with the definitive cast for this film. IMO, not one cast member could be replaced with someone better. Each and every performer, right down to Toto, created iconic, legendary work in this film.

[best12bars]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 9:15pm

Someone mentioned earlier about Margaret's "witch laugh" and how Idina indirectly paid tribute to it in Wicked. I have heard her mention that, too.

One of the things I'm most satisfied with as a 7-year-old, when I first met Maggie, was that (alone in her dressing room for "Oklahoma!" at the NEW Lincoln Center)... I asked her to do the witch laugh for me.

Well, if you think about it, I guess I was "testing" her to see if she REALLY was The Witch, right? She looked like this sweet little old lady, who was SO nice and comforting to me.

She smiled and nodded... then dropped her head back and let go with THAT LAUGH. Just me. Just her. And I was in the presence of the Wicked Witch of the West.

I will never forget it as long as I live.

[cliffarico]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 10:32pm

Margaret Hamilton played the maid in the Patty Duke show. Even with that role she was wonderful

[Elphabuff2]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 10:51pm

I, too, have been fasinated by Margaret Hamilton since I was a child. I actually found out about WICKED b/c of her, after doing some research on her character and Littlefield's "Parable on Populism: The Wizard of Oz," in June of 2003. I have been hooked ever since. Just thought y'all would enjoy these pictures. Hopefully, you can see the evolution the Wicked Witch of the West underwent as the directors changed.








And here's the "original" Wicked Witch of the West, Gail Sondergard (sp), before the Witch went in a...different direction. Just more proof that there'd be no WICKED without Margaret Hamilton.

[Parks]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 10:55pm

This thread is ridiculously interesting.

Thanks for distracting me from homework for like 20 minutes. Gah.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 2/9/06 at 11:49am

Ok, i didn't want to start a new thread just to talk more about Wicked, so i saw the show last night in Fort Lauderdale. The show was far more enjoyable than it was when i saw it in NYC. I happened to see Idina Menzel, Megan Hilty, Joey Mc Intyre, Carol Shelley and George Hearn on Broadway.
Stephanie J Block was great. She really does sound like a young Liza sometimes. She was brilliant and she had excellent diction, and a very powerful voice. The sound was a little low on the tour. It was too loud in NYC.
Kendra Kasseubaum was just ok i thought. She wasn't funny enough but at least she did hit all the high notes, but her voice wasn't as powerful as some of the girls in the ensemble. Megan Hilty was definitly way better as Glinda.
Jenna Leigh Green was good as Nessarose.
Argentinean descend Sebastian Arcelus was great as Fiyero, he had great dancing skills and his singing and acting were very good. He was great in Good Vibrations too, so it was not a surprise.
Carole Shelley was good, but the funniest thing is that she got booed at the curtain call.
David Garrison was great as the Wizard.
Overall the show was more enjoyable becuz the audience in NYC resembles the kind of audience that i saw at the Justin Timberlake concert. And that is not appropiate for a Broadway show. The audience was well behaved, except for a group of drunk queens in the mezzanine, no wonder why they call this town Fort Liqordale. Not too many kids.
The book by Winnie Holzman is very clever.
Stephen Schwartz is a master doing catchy songs and creating hits. The settings by Eugene Lee are amazing. I am glad this high budget production is a hit, and probably this show will make a lot of people want to see other shows on Broadway. Is it the best musical? No way!!! They kinda stole the idea of the leading lady "flying" in Defying Gravity from "Kiss of the Spider Woman" where The Spider Woman sings the title song of the show in the center of a spider web. Shows like "Kiss...", "Rent", "Bombay Dreams","Wonderful Town" or "Aida" are show that i would wanna see over and over and over. This will be my last time seeing "Wicked", once one knows the story the show doesn't make that much sense anymore. Get over it Wickedheads!!! The show is a success and doesn't need financial support from anyone. It is a big fat hit.

Updated On: 2/9/06 at 11:49 AM

[Elphaba]

Posted: 2/9/06 at 11:54am

excellent post!

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 2/9/06 at 11:57am

tnks

[Elphabuff2]

Posted: 2/9/06 at 9:07pm

Uhh...I'm guessing that's humor, right? tnks you.

[Sant]

Posted: 2/10/06 at 5:57am

On THE WIZARD OF OZ dvd I love the Margaret Hamilton bit where she recalls how she was contacted about the part!

Her agent called her and said they would like her to play in TWOO. And she was thrilled for she loved the books.

And she asked her agent what was the part.

"Well... The witch." her agent said

"The WITCH????????" said Hamilton, surprised

And her agent replied "Of course - what else?!"

There's two performances from the classic old films that have stayed with me over the years, the other is Gloria Swanson's extraordinary performance as Norma Desmond in SUNSET BOULEVARD and the other is Margaret Hamilton in THE WIZARD OF OZ. It may not be greatest acting of all time (Hamilton has said it herself) but for me it is THE role of the film. And truly one performance to remember.

[Tigger]

Posted: 2/10/06 at 6:32am

As a six year old child in London, England I had nightmares for weeks after seeing the Wizard of Oz especially because of Margaret Hamilton and the flying monkees. I insisted on bolting all the windows in the house before going to bed (much to the consternation of my parents) as I was petrified "the witch and her monkees" would carry me away.
Years later I had the great pleasure of seeing Margaret Hamilton in Toronto playing Mme. Armfeldt in A Little Night Music. She was hilarious and touching and memorable.
What a lovely thread this has been!

[moljul]

Posted: 2/10/06 at 2:37pm

I'm also really loving this thread. So fascinating. In addition to the Wicked Witch, Margaret Hamilton, for me, will also forever be Hester Frump, Morticia's mother in The Addams Family.

[actor]

Posted: 10/2/06 at 10:01am

Just to clarify - A stunt double did not die during the sky writing sequence. She was injured, but not killed. The pipe that was blowing out smoke apparently blew up, throwing her off the broom. She was alright, as she was able to hold onto the broom while it could be lowered. She was hospitalized, but not killed.

It explains it all in this book:


Click Here for Info on the Book

[actor]

Posted: 10/2/06 at 10:35am

bump

[best12bars]

Posted: 10/2/06 at 10:40am

Hi, actor! I can't believe you found this old thread.

Boy do I sound like a know-it-all. (In truth, I'm more of a "know-it-some" kinda guy when it comes to Maggie and this movie.)

I did want to point out that I don't think anyone (including me) implied that the stand-in (Betty Danko) DIED from her injuries. In fact, on the previous page, you can see I talked about the copy of the book that was given as a "get well soon" gift to Betty in the hospital, signed by cast and crew. It was auctioned off on eBay, not that long ago. What an incredible find!

[actor]

Posted: 10/2/06 at 1:23pm

Sorry. Next time I'll actually read the entire thread.

[EltonJ]

Posted: 10/2/06 at 1:36pm

I'm NOT a FAN of it (WIZARD OF OZ) and this thread is great!

[best12bars]

Posted: 10/2/06 at 8:05pm

Here's more Maggie for the masses to love...

Updated On: 10/2/06 at 08:05 PM

[Unknown User]

Posted: 10/2/06 at 8:37pm

i love margaret hamilton too!
what a treat to read all these stories about her!

i was thrilled when the WICKED book was first published because i'd always felt The Witch was misunderstood...i felt just as much kinship with her as the other characters in the movie!

I'd like to know more about the character of Elvira Gulch, too...I know there was that earlier musical with BORN ON A BIKE, but i dont really know anything specific about it.

on that site we dont link to, you can watch margaret hamilton in the opening credits of BREWSTER McCLOUD!