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The Patchwork Girl of Oz
USA 1914
produced by L. Frank Baum, Thomas A. Edison, Louis F. Gottschalk, Harry Marston Haldeman (executive), Clarence R. Rundel (executive) for the Oz Film Manufacturing Company
directed by J.Farrell MacDonald
starring Violet MacMillan, Frank Moore, Raymond Russell, Leontine Dranet, Bobbie Gould, Marie Wayne, Richard Rosson, Frank Bristol, Fred Woodward, Todd Wright, Bert Glennon, Hal Roach, Andy Anderson, Jessie May Walsh, William Cook, Ben Deeley, Lon Musgrave, Pierre Couderc, Juanuita Hansen, Harold Lloyd
screenplay by L. Frank Baum, based on his novel
silent Wizard of Oz, L. Frank Baum's Oz-adaptations
review by Mike Haberfelner
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Ojo (Violet MacMillan) the Munchkin boy (who's easily recognizable as a
girl though) and his guardian Unc Nunkie (Frank Moore) pay a visit to the
magician Dr Pipt (Raymond Russell), who is in the process to bring a
patchwork girl (Pierre Couderc) his wife Margolotte (Leontine Dranet) has made to life, but
when he succeeds in doing so, he accidently puts Unc Nunkie, Margolotte
and Danx (Richard Bosson), the fiancé of his daughter Jesseva (Bobbie
Gould) into suspended animation - and to bring them back to life again, he
needs some ingredients he doesn't have, among others a six-leafed clover.
So he sends Ojo and Jesseva off to Emerald City with the Patchwork Girl to
fetch the clover, and Jesseva takes her miniaturized fiancé with her ...
On their way, Ojo and Jesseva run into Jinjur (Marie Wayne), who
immediately falls in love with miniaturized Danx, steals him from Jesseva
and reports Ojo and Jesseva to the guards for having stolen a six-leafed
clover, a big no-no in Emerald City, and soon enough they are arrested,
only the Patchwork Girl can escape, and ultimately she can fetch Dr Pipt,
bring him to Emerald City, and get Danx from Jinjur. And after Dr Pipt
explains what this was all about and brings Unc Nunkie, Margolotte and
Danx back to life, everybody is set free and only Jinjur put to trial for
having stolen Danx ... oh, and the Patchwork Girl gets the Scarecrow (Bert
Glennon) in the end.
Quite obviously, this is a rather childish film following the logic of
the fairy tale - which is ok though because the film was quite obviously
made for children. Also, some of the costumes and special effects are
rather crude, which was to be expected though considering the film is from
1914. On the plus side, some of the costumes and sets look pretty nice,
even inventive, and there are some nice stop motion sequences in this one.
Not a masterpiece, certainly, and not timeless in any way, but quite
entertaining if you are into early fantasy moviemaking.
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