Top 30 Things Only Adults Notice in The Wizard of Oz

#30: Dorothy GALE

Did you know that in L. Frank Baum’s first couple of books, Dorothy, much like Cher, Madonna, or Beyoncé, was known mononymously? Apparently, Baum first added “Gale” for his 1902 stage adaptation. It essentially sets up a great running gag, like when Dorothy introduces herself to the Scarecrow and he responds, “That accounts for your breezy manner.” Of course, now we can’t miss the irony: an especially strong gale becomes the movie’s entire catalyst. Between that name and living in Kansas, tornado central, Dorothy never really stood a chance. How different things might’ve been if she’d lived in, say, Maine, and been called Dorothy Ray (as in a ray of sunshine), huh?

#29: A Bad Wizard, but a Good Man?

After Toto pulls back that curtain, the man behind it is quick to defend himself. But is he, really? Hmm, let’s take a look. Dorothy and her friends come to him asking for help, and what does he do? Sends this kid and her companions on this perilous mission, that if he’s so “Wonderful,” why doesn’t he just complete himself? (We know why, but why doesn’t anyone else question it?) It’s really a stroke of luck that Dorothy and her friends make it back alive. And does he keep his word to them? No. Because he knows he’s just a fraud. Good man? Yeah, Good man, our Oz!

#28: Dorothy Comes Out of the Pig Pen Looking Pretty Clean

We can’t say we’ve made it our habit to fall into many pig pens, but we have to say that out of all the ones we’ve come across, they’ve never quite struck us as the cleanest habitats. Yet when Zeke rescues Dorothy after she falls in, she and her dress look as fresh as they probably did when she got dressed that morning. Is Oz not the only land with magic, then? We don’t have much time to dwell on that as the attention quickly moves onto the panicked Zeke. If you knew what pigs were capable of, you’d freak out, too. Safe to say, we’ll be staying far away from those pens!

#27: Toto Is the Real Unsung Hero

After the flying monkeys take Dorothy away, it’s up to her friends to save her from the Wicked Witch’s grasp. Now, we saw early in the movie that Toto’s quite skilled when it comes to escaping dog-hating witches, but we really don’t give him credit for quite how smart he is. He manages to make it back to the others and leads them to the castle. And they might not have been so aware, but they were kinda on a clock, and without him, they may have never made it in time! Also, let’s not forget who actually exposes the Wizard. This really is a true tail of braverism.

#26: Does Aunt Em Not Keep a Broom in the House?

You know when Glinda tells Dorothy she’s gotta take the long trip to the Emerald City if she ever wants to get home? Hey Dorothy, you literally brought your whole house with you, you really want us to believe there isn’t a broomstick somewhere inside? Then again, she did live on a farm, so maybe they just kept it somewhere else. Perhaps Aunt Em was catching up on some sweeping while waiting out the storm. Anyway, even if she did have one, they’d probably still need to enchant it to fly, right? Sure, she might’ve had a quicker journey to the Emerald City, but it sure would’ve been a much lonelier one.

#25: Why Was There Even a Bucket of Water Lying About the Witch’s Castle?

We know, we know, “Wicked” answers this question, but that’s not strictly Baum lore. Did the Wicked Witch not know about her aversion to water? Given that she warns Dorothy not to throw it, we have to guess she had some inkling that this wouldn’t end well for her. Alternatively, was someone on her cleaning staff just a bit forgetful, or perhaps it was no accident at all? After all, her soldiers seem pretty pleased that she’s gone. Needless to say, it was a pretty careless (or careful?) move. And something tells us that on this occasion, there’s no coming back from something like that. If you know, you know.

#24: “I Think I’ll Miss You Most of All”

As Dorothy says farewell to her friends, she saves a special goodbye for the Scarecrow. Well, he is the first friend she made along the Yellow Brick Road! Rumor has it that earlier drafts of the script included a romantic storyline between Dorothy and farmhand Hank, so of course, some of those feelings transfer to his straw-stuffed Ozian counterpart. While that idea was abandoned, we guess not all the dialogue was cut; we’ll see more of that later. Speaking of love stories that didn’t last, did you know that Jack Haley’s Tin Man found his heart so his son, Jack Haley Jr., could give it (briefly) to Judy Garland’s daughter, Liza Minnelli?

#23: Pay No Attention to the Politics Behind the Curtain

This one goes back to the books. Baum’s tales have always drawn parallels with the political and social scene of the early 1900s. It’s usually seen as a populist allegory, with Dorothy and her friends standing in for the struggles of everyday Americans. At the same time, the Wizard is the politician who promises everything but delivers nothing. Some of the original parables didn’t make it into the movie, like the whole gold (Yellow Brick Road) versus silver (original slippers) thing, which got totally eclipsed by the magic of Technicolor. Others see critiques of consumerism, or Baum’s support of the suffragettes. However, you read it, this story has way more colors than a rainbow.

#22: How Did Glinda Know the Shoes Would Fit Dorothy?

Glinda’s pretty quick to make sure the ruby slippers are safely out of the Wicked Witch of the West’s clutches and on Dorothy’s feet. We do have to wonder, it’s not like she had much time to measure Dorothy’s feet before casting her spell, so how could she be so sure they wore the same shoe size? Maybe it’s just witch intuition. Or perhaps part of the magic is that the slippers are designed to fit whoever wears them. Sure, it’s a tiny, silly detail, but when you’ve watched this film as often as we have, these are the little questions that whirl around your brain like a mini tornado.

#21: The Brilliance of “If I Were King of the Forest”

As a child, this may not have been the most memorable earworm on the soundtrack. It’s only once we got a little older and started to appreciate wordplay that we realized this song truly rules. The grand, over-the-top music is hilariously dramatic, especially when you remember it’s coming from the Cowardly Lion. Plus, the lyrics, written by E. Y. Harburg, are packed with playful rhymes and genius linguistic twists. The Lion might not be the bravest, but he’s surprisingly bold with his words, and his timing and humor are perfect. His rapid-fire nonsense is a show all by itself. He might not roar with bravery, but he definitely gets the lion’s share of laughs.

#20: Professor Marvel Tricks Dorothy into Going Home

Dorothy and Toto run off before Miss Gulch realizes Toto’s escaped, and they soon stumble upon Professor Marvel, where Toto wastes no time making himself at home. It doesn’t take long for the professor to figure out that Dorothy’s on the run. At first, you might’ve thought he was just a charlatan trying to trick a sweet, naive girl, or maybe you, like Dorothy, believed he was a real fortune teller. But in truth, he uses his “gift” to convince her to go back home—clearly, this isn’t his first time dealing with a runaway teen. Sure, he could’ve kept her safe from the storm, but at least he checks in on her later.

#19: Scarecrow Recites Pythagorean Theorem… Well, Not Exactly

After the Wizard gives the Scarecrow his diploma, he proudly shows off his newfound brains by quoting the Pythagorean Theorem. But the math wizzes among us will know he doesn’t get it quite right. For one thing, The Scarecrow specifically mentions isosceles triangles, whereas the theorem actually applies to right-angled ones. But hey, it’s his first day with a brain, so we’ll cut him some slack! We could’ve spent every math lesson at school covering the subject and probably still couldn’t tell you what it meant. While his newfound intelligence is impressive, his geometry skills could use some work. Then again, how often does the Pythagorean Theorem come up in a Scarecrow’s line of work?

#18: Dorothy’s Dress Has Pockets!

The perfect dress isn’t just pretty and comfortable—it has pockets! While it seems like a rare find these days, Dorothy seems to have lucked out. When the Cowardly Lion bursts into tears after Dorothy defends Toto, she reaches into her dress pocket for a tissue. As kids, we probably focused on the hilarity of this grand beast having a little cry, but as adults, we’re captivated by this unexpected detail! Also, who designed those ruby slippers? We can’t imagine taking on an epic adventure with so much walking (and skipping) in heels! And while we’re at it, does Oz’s magic also let your hair unexpectedly change length? That would save a fortune on haircuts!

#17: Where Does the Red Brick Road Lead?

Before Glinda and Dorothy part ways in Munchkinland, the good witch advises Dorothy to follow the Yellow Brick Road to reach the Emerald City and find the Wizard. However, you probably noticed that, at least at first, it’s paired with a Red Brick Road. Only before we have a chance to properly question it, we’re distracted by the Munchkin’s fun little ditty. Only, now that we think about it, where does it lead? L. Frank Baum’s stories don’t mention a red path, though in several illustrations, the map of Oz marks Quadling Country in red. Is it a warning sign—like peril ahead? It’s not like Dorothy’s trip down the Yellow Brick Road was a breezy stroll in the park.

#16: A Disney Connection

What do “The Wizard of Oz” and “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” have in common? If you said both feature Adriana Caselotti’s voice, you’re correct. You might not know her by name or face, but you’ll definitely recognize her voice. Yes, Snow White herself voices Juliet during the Tin Man’s song. The story goes that Walt Disney was so determined to keep his first full-length feature film’s princess feel real that he didn’t want her distinctive voice traced back to an actual person. Sadly this stunted Caselotti’s career. In a beautiful twist, though, without “Snow White,” “The Wizard of Oz” might never have been made. It showed studios that audiences craved family-friendly, fantastical tales.

#15: Did Dorothy Dream It All?

We’ve all had those incredibly vivid dreams that feel real until we wake up. However, even our most lifelike dreams probably aren’t as intricate or as filled with life lessons as Dorothy’s. Even when she wakes up surrounded by loved ones, she’s still not entirely sure Oz isn’t real (maybe she read the books). One Reddit user theorized that Oz might be an alternate reality rather than just a dream, given how several people from Dorothy’s real life appear there. They suggest that Dorothy had to crush the Wicked Witch of the East—her alter-ego in this realm—to avoid paradoxes. Perhaps this was Dorothy’s way of confronting her less desirable traits. Now, that’s one powerful imagination!

#14: There Are Loads of Very Quotable Life Lessons

As we said, Dorothy learns some valuable lessons in Oz. But as you grow up, you realize the movie offers even more profound moments for the audience to learn from, too. For example, “Some people without brains do an awful lot of talking” hits especially hard with age! The “Wizard of Oz” did try to warn us! You might also find yourself agreeing that “A heart is not judged by how much you love; but by how much you are loved by others.” It even gave us a great message for life’s darker periods. As the gang wanders through the “dark and creepy” forest, Scarecrow notes that “it'll get darker before it gets lighter,” which is often a true reflection of reality. Decades later, there’s still no place like “The Wizard of Oz” for those timeless takeaways.

#13: Couldn’t Glinda Tell If Dorothy Is a Good Witch or a Bad Witch?

When Glinda first meets Dorothy, she explains that she was summoned by the Munchkins to determine whether Dorothy is a good witch or a bad one. After some confusion, Dorothy seems a little offended by the question since she grew up learning that all witches are old and ugly— which is a whole other issue for another time. Anyway, Glinda gently corrects her, but wait a minute: if only bad witches are ugly, wasn’t her question to Dorothy kind of pointless? Couldn’t she just tell by looking at her? And what about Toto—what kind of witch did she think he was? She didn’t exactly lay out the rules for adorable witches!

#12: The Horse of a Different Color

After Dorothy and her friends arrive at the Emerald City, they ask a local cabbie to take them to see the Wizard. As they hop on board, Dorothy notices something unusual about the horse pulling their carriage—it changes color! As kids, the idea of a magical color-changing horse was mind-blowing. What we probably didn’t realize, though, is that “a horse of a different color” is also an idiom that means something completely different or unrelated. While there may not be a direct connection, this horse definitely lives up to the phrase! Oh, and if you’re wondering how they pulled off the effect, apparently, contrary to popular belief, it was vegetable dye.

#11: The Jitterbug

Apparently, during initial previews, producers felt the movie was too long and made some cuts, including “The Jitterbug” scene. In it, the witch sends bugs to make Dorothy and her friends dance until they drop. Sadly, the footage wasn’t preserved, but you can find rehearsal visuals and recordings of Garland singing the song. While the scene was cut for time, there’s still a reference to those bugs in the movie. When the Wicked Witch sends her flying monkeys to capture Dorothy, she tells them not to expect much of a struggle. Well, it seems those insects got lost somewhere in the forest because those flying minions faced more of a fight than promised!

#10: The Special Effects Are Super Impressive!

Kids watching today, or even 30 years ago, wouldn’t even flinch as Dorothy leaves her sepia home and enters the technicolor Munchkinland. They might have even thought the initial lack of color was just a glitch! But imagine seeing it for the first time back in 1939 – that moment Dorothy steps out her front door would’ve blown your mind. The movie was one of the frontrunners in special effects innovation, using cutting-edge technology to bring L. Frank Baum’s fantastical world to life. Apparently, it was a long process that posed plenty of challenges. However, it played a crucial role in making “The Wizard of Oz” an iconic piece of cinema history.

#9: Where Are Dorothy’s Parents?

When we first meet Dorothy Gale, she’s pretty happy living on a farm with her Uncle Henry and Aunt Em. Still, we can’t help but wonder where her parents are. They’re never mentioned in the film, so for all we know, they could be anywhere from chasing their own rainbows to no longer around. If you’ve read the books, you might remember that at one point, it’s briefly mentioned that Dorothy’s mother passed away. Still, neither the book nor the movie truly delves into how Dorothy came to live with her aunt and uncle. Also, are they biologically related, or does she just call them aunty and uncle as a term of affection?

#8: The Wicked Witch of the West’s Hygiene Habits

If it takes a mere bucket of water to melt this witch, how does she keep up with her personal cleanliness? If she’s not bathing or washing her hands, what is she doing? Has she conjured up some liquidless alternatives like the hand sanitizer gels we’ve all become dependent on these days? Or did she ask The Wizard to think up some solution? Perhaps the real reason the Munchkins fear her is because they can always smell her before they see her! Also, is she cranky because she’s always dehydrated? We admit we’ve fallen down the rabbit hole with this one, but once you think about it, it’s kind of hard to stop!

#7: Is Glinda Really All That Good?

In “Wicked,” we learn that the Wizard bestowed the title of “Good” on Glinda. However, who gave her 1939 MGM counterpart that name? We’d like to have a word! Firstly, she seems to enjoy the Munchkins’ celebratory march more than anyone else. Also, let’s not forget who put the target on Dorothy’s back, or more correctly, those shoes on her feet. She probably made Dorothy’s trip to the Emerald City that much harder! Also, if she could help Dorothy get home, was that whole “She had to learn it for herself” thing really necessary? If anything, Dorothy’s reaction in “MadTV’s” alternate ending makes far more sense! Perhaps Glinda, mistress of chaos, is more appropriate.

#6: Frank Morgan Was Kept Very Busy on Set

We first see Frank Morgan as Professor Marvel, whom Dorothy meets when she runs away from home. Now, pop quiz: who is his Oz counterpart? A) The Wizard, B) Two different Emerald City guards. Or, C) The coachman of the horse of a different color? If you said D) All of the above, gold star for you! Some folks think there’s more to it than just the studio trying to save money or show off Morgan’s acting skills. In Baum’s books, the Emerald City residents seemingly wore green-lens glasses that created the illusion of this spectacular city. Likewise, Morgan’s Wizard may have embodied the various characters to keep up his charade.

#5: “Fly, Fly, My Pretties”

Remember that scene where the Wicked Witch sends her flying monkeys to capture Dorothy? Of course, you do; those flying monkeys have fueled kids’ nightmares for generations! Now, do you remember what she says as they fly by her window? Did you say, “Fly My Pretties?” Sorry to break it to you but you’ve been had by the Mandela Effect. Don’t believe us? Listen again. Why have so many of us misremembered it? Well, the Witch tends to call Dorothy “My Pretty,” so it seems we collectively just melded the two quotes together. It’s not the only misremembered line, either! Next time you watch, see if you can hear any others; here, we’ll get you started.

#4: Does Miss Gulch Ever Come Back for Toto?

The movie opens with Dorothy and Toto catching the ire of the local shrew, Miss Gulch. However, Toto manages to escape; then there’s the Twister, and so on. Fast forward to the end, Dorothy wakes up, thinking she’s been away for days, only it seems not even one day has passed— that’s one powerful subconscious! Anyway, given how things were left with Miss. Gulch, wouldn’t she come back for Toto once she realized he’d escaped? Dorothy’s guardians had obeyed the Sheriff’s order the first time. Imagine if Dorothy woke up from her dream to find her beloved pet gone. Perhaps Miss Gulch did return, but this time, Aunt Em really let her have it.

#3: Dorothy’s Shoes Are Meant to Be Silver

Baum’s fans might spot nods to the books throughout the movie. For example, see the umbrella on Miss Gulch’s bicycle? In the books, the Witch (Gulch’s Ozian alter-ego) uses an umbrella, not a broomstick, which makes sense given her water aversion. The wooden saw-horse is also a nod to a book character, and readers will recognize the Golden Gap as the tool the witch uses to control her flying monkeys. However, one significant change stands out: Dorothy’s shoes. In the books, they’re silver, but this famous pair clearly aren’t. Well, if you’d invested in the latest technicolor movie tech, wouldn’t you want to make those shoes shine? There’s no denying that ruby really pops!

#2: Who’s Glinda’s Kansas Alter-Ego?

As we’ve seen, almost everyone Dorothy meets in Oz has a Kansas counterpart. Indeed, this is teased in one of the earliest scenes where two of the farmhands advise Dorothy about her brains and courage. There was reportedly also meant to be a line about “a machine with real heart,” but it got cut. Still, one mystery remains: Who’s Dorothy’s real world Glinda? We certainly don’t meet anyone who fits the bill except maybe Aunt Em? But then, wouldn’t she be played by the same actress like all the others? Perhaps she represents Dorothy’s mother? Glinda was apparently inspired by Baum’s mother-in-law, author and advocate, Matilda Joslyn Gage. So, there’s definitely some motherly connection there.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

When Did the Scarecrow Have Time or Arm Himself?

Actually, the Better Question Is, Where Has He Been Hiding That This Whole Time?

The Coroner's Death Certificate

If You Love a Good Movie Easter Egg Hunt: The Wicked Witch of the East Died Exactly 19 Years After Her Creator

“Oil Can What?”

We’re Still Giggling at That One

Do You Tap Your Heels or Click Them?

How Long Did It Take You to Realize You’d Misremembered This Iconic Line?

#1: Wouldn’t You Be Mad If You Were in the Wicked Witch’s Shoes?

Or weren’t in them to be more accurate. Think about it: She’s just found out that her sister had been flattened by a falling house. She thinks about those ruby shoes and how she’ll fondly remember her late sister every time she clicks her heels together. Only what happens? Some meddling witch who audaciously calls herself “good” decides to take them— and who does she give them to? That’s right, the very girl who’s responsible for your sister’s demise! Sure, it wasn’t deliberate, but that’s neither here nor there right now. We’re not denying that this witch truly is wicked, but come on, don’t tell us you wouldn’t be mad, too?

What’s the weirdest, most wonderful, or wicked thing you spotted in “The Wizard of Oz” as an adult? “Follow follow follow” on down to the comments and let us know