Whoa....I guess I need to get around to reading those Oz books by Frank L Baum! I haven't yet, but boy are they different from the stuff you saw in the 1939 film!! This film finds a mythical kingdom without a king. Since the dead king had no heirs, the law says that the 47th person to pass through a certain gate will be their new ruler! And, unfortunately, it's Bud--a kid who would rather spend the country's treasury on toys than do anything to help his new subjects. In the meantime, there's a story about a donkey and other animals that are really people dressed up in odd costumes and there is a plot involving a magic cloak. All of this is pretty weird but also pretty entertaining because it is so incredibly strange and oddly entertaining. Overall, it's a really weird but engaging film that made me smile several times due to it's kitschy style and charm. It's NOT a film, however, to show to those unfamiliar with silent films--it might just be too strange and might scare them away from an awesome genre. Fun and weird.

Magic Cloak of Oz, The (1914) *** (out of 4) The fairies of Oz create a magic cloak, which will give one wish to the person who wears it. Once again the production design is very good here with wonderful and magical sets. The story is quite touching and I'm sure kids would love this version just as much as adults. The highlight of the film is the scene where a horse (played by a human in an outfit) is scratching his butt up against a tree and tries to teach a monkey how to do it.Wizard of Oz, The (1910) *** (out of 4) Nice if strange version of the classic tale. The production values here are actually pretty nice and it's a rather strange trip seeing humans in outfits playing the various animals including the lion.Wizard of Oz, The (1933) *** (out of 4) Pretty good Technicolor cartoon based on the book. The animation is rather nice and the scarecrow and tin man are pretty funny here as well. This was the first version to show Kansas in B&W and then Oz in color.

This adaptation of L. Frank Baum's "The Magic Cloak of Oz" is an enjoyable fantasy feature that is also quite resourceful for its era. The settings and costumes are often lavish, and most of the special visual effects work well. The story is complex and lively, making for good entertainment.A number of sources indicate that Baum himself directed this feature, replacing J. Farrell MacDonald after the first of the three Oz features in this 1914 series. Whether or not Baum actually did the direction, he certainly had a clear image of what he wanted the Oz world to look like, and you can clearly see his influence in the way that the characters and the Oz locations are brought to life.The story, like all of the Oz stories, is a fun one that takes numerous exaggerated, imaginative characters and weaves them into the same narrative. As the main plot device, the magic cloak is the focus of the characters, and the story wisely makes restrained use of its actual powers so as to keep the focus on the characters themselves.The cast includes several performers who also appeared in one or both of the other features in the series. Mildred Harris and Violet MacMillan, as Fluff and Bud, make sympathetic main characters. As Nikodemus, Fred Woodward gets the chance to show his skill with animal costumes, and several other good costume animals also appear. Juanita Hansen as Queen Zixi, the silly-looking Rolly Rogues, and the rest of the characters all get some moments of their own.The movie features plenty of imaginative details, and the settings work well in bringing you into Baum's fantasy world. Although this is not quite a full-length feature, it's quite a bit longer than the average film was in 1914, and much of the production is creative and innovative for its time. It's an enjoyable movie that still holds up rather well for those who enjoy silent movies.

Writing for children is arguably the hardest job for anyone. It involves so much speculation regarding the child's psyche, that the author, despite a richness of childhood experience, feels helpless at the task; that is if he/she intends to write good children literature. L. Frank Baum never seemed to have this handicap.'The Magic Cloak of Oz', lost in its complete version, lacks the power of a great piece of work, and yet it is somewhat touching. The sets and the costumes are rich and beautiful; the cinematography is pleasant (Mildred Harris' mirrors scene deserves commending). On the acting front, Fred Woodward's physical performance is rather successful, and Juanita Hansen provides reasonable attempts not to overact.The film is definitely dated, and it seems hard to imagine that the children of our times can really appreciate it. J. Farrell MacDonald, or Baum himself (according to some records), has provided a feeling of playfulness and sheer childhood joy in the story however. One has to imagine how great would it be for a kid to have the entire national budget spent on toys! Maybe, the film has the magic of the irresponsible days, a feature we learn to loose in time.