It's no secret that movies that came out when Hollywood was still brand new had to improvise quite a bit to get their special effects to work even remotely well. And with New Line Cinemas announcing a still-to-come remake and "fresh take" on on The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, there's no doubt we'll all get plenty of looks back at the original 1939 movie as we wait.
On Thursday, Joseph Gordon-Levitt posted a picture of the massive winter snow scene from the original version of The Wizard of Oz to his Twitter account, likely in connection with his involvement with the new "Straight Outta Oz" album from Todrick Hall. The new album, which is a Wizard of Oz musical remake, will feature Gordon-Levitt, Perez Hilton, Jordin Sparks, and many other celebrities. This is Hall's second studio album.
The fact seems too shocking to be true, but in fact, it really is. In lieu of a snow machine, which hadn't been invented yet, the crew and production department suffered through the use of 100% pure asbestos for the famous snow scene in the poppy field. (Thanks, Glinda!)
Only in the last twenty years or so has it come to light that asbestos is dangerous: It's a naturally occurring fibrous mineral, but it's also toxic. When the fibers get into your lungs, they never leave, as your body can't break them down. When your cells grow over them in an attempt to, it eventually will affect your breathing, and it can even cause cancerous tumors.
Asbestos wasn't the only dangerous prop used to bring The Wizard of Oz to the small screen, however. In order to create the tin man's costume, aluminum dust was made into paint and pasted onto Frank Morgan's skin.
Morgan himself was picked to replace Buddy Epsen, the original actor, who himself had to leave because he had an allergic reaction to the aluminum dust.
The remake of this classic movie will be directed by Nicole Kassell of Watchmen fame. Temple Hill partners Marty Bowen and Wyck Godfrey will produce along with Marc Platt. Eric Klausner will serve as an executive producer.
While there isn't an official production schedule or release date for the film, it's safe to say fans of the original will be curious, waiting to see if Kassell can pull off something as monumental as the original.
As for Kassell, she had this to say about the work ahead:
"I am incredibly honored to join Temple Hill and New Line in bringing this beloved classic to the screen. While the 1939 musical is part of my DNA, I am exhilarated and humbled by the responsibility of re-imagining such a legendary tale."
Kassel also indicated that she is excited to put a new spin on the 120 year old story. "The opportunity to examine the original themes — the quest for courage, love, wisdom and home — feels more timely and urgent than ever," she said. "These are profoundly iconic shoes to fill, and I am eager to dance alongside these heroes of my childhood as we pave a newly minted yellow brick road!”
Keep your eyes peeled for updates on this remake, as filming and release dates are sure to come within the next few weeks.