Principal Photography Dates and Locations
The Wizard of Oz began principal photography at MGM Studios in Culver City, California, in October 1938, with shooting wrapping in March 1939. The production used soundstage work for the Kansas sepia sequences and the Technicolor Oz scenes, with additional location shooting at the ranch areas surrounding MGM. The studio was MGM, and the film was released by Loew's Inc., with the final release date set for August 25, 1939. For more on the studio history, see Forbes.
The production schedule was compressed by studio demands, and the shoot ran roughly five months. The film was shot on 35mm film using the Technicolor three-strip process, which required extensive lighting and multiple takes. The final runtime was about 101 minutes, and the film went through several preview cuts before the wide release. The original budget was reported at around $2.8 million, which made it one of the costliest MGM productions of that era. You can check the current status of MGM library assets via SEC filings.
Budget, Box Office, and Release Timeline
The Wizard of Oz earned around $3 million in worldwide box office receipts during its initial theatrical run, which did not immediately recoup its production cost. The film was re-released multiple times starting in 1949, and those reissues significantly increased its lifetime gross. Adjusted for inflation, the film is often listed among the highest-grossing movies of all time by box office tracking services. For a breakdown of adjusted grosses, see Forbes.
The film was distributed by Loew's Inc., later known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc., and the copyright was renewed multiple times. The current rights holder is Warner Bros., which acquired the library through corporate transactions and mergers. The film has been remastered and reissued on home video formats, and digital versions are available through major streaming platforms. The latest 4K restoration details are documented by the Warner Bros. official site.
Production Companies and Key Crew
The Wizard of Oz was produced by Louis B. Mayer Productions and distributed through the MGM studio system. Victor Fleming served as the primary director, with King Vidor stepping in to complete some Kansas sequences. The screenplay was credited to multiple writers, including Noel Langley, Florence Ryerson, and Edgar Allan Woolf, based on L. Frank Baum's 1900 book. For background on the original book, see Wikipedia.
The cinematographer was Harold Rosson, and the art direction was led by Cedric Gibbons, who won an Academy Award for the film's distinctive visual design. The costumes were designed by Adrian, and the music was composed by Herbert Stothart, with the famous songs written by E.Y. Harburg and composed by Harold Arlen. The film received multiple Academy Award nominations and won for Best Original Song and Best Original Score. The full credits and production notes are available through the IMDb page for the film.