It's been more than eight decades since The Wizard of Oz dazzled audiences and secured Judy Garland's star status in Tinseltown. Released as the world teetered on the brink of war in 1939, the film scooped up multiple accolades, bagging two Oscars for Best Original Score and the iconic tune Over the Rainbow. The movie is hailed as one of the first major Technicolour marvels to grace cinemas, despite its eye-watering budget.
However, behind the scenes, the set was far from a yellow brick road of joy, with many dubbing it "cursed" – a notion that has sent conspiracy buffs into a frenzy online. With Arianna Grande, Cynthia Erivo and Jonathan Bailey gearing up to lead the cast in the much-anticipated 2024 adaptation of Wicked, the Daily Star delves into the eerie tales of the original film's troubled production. Back in the day, CGI was the stuff of fantasy, so the crew had to get inventive, especially for the scene where our heroes doze off in a poppy field under a blanket of snow during summer.
Ditching real snow, the bigwigs opted for chrysotile asbestos – substances that can trigger cancer. This hazardous material enveloped the actors, posing a threat of serious health conditions like lung cancer if breathed in. Margaret Hamilton, who portrayed the Wicked Witch of the West, endured some horrific injuries during filming.
In one scene, her character vanishes in a puff of smoke, a trick the crew had rehearsed numerous times using real flames before she exited via a stage doo.