Dorothy Wizard Of Oz: Almost-Star's Tragedy
Dorothy Wizard of Oz: Almost-Star's Tragedy
Shirley Temple came agonizingly close to playing Dorothy Gale in the 1939 MGM classic The Wizard of Oz, but lost the role due to a failed singing audition and contractual hurdles with 20th Century Fox. At just 11 years old, the child superstar auditioned in late 1938 after MGM's parent company pushed for her star power to guarantee box office success amid the Great Depression's economic pressures. Judy Garland, already under contract with MGM at age 16, ultimately secured the iconic part, defining cinema history with her performance as the Kansas farm girl transported to the colorful land of Oz.
Shirley Temple's Near-Miss Audition
Shirley Temple, America's sweetheart during the 1930s, was a top contender for Dorothy Gale because her innocent look matched L. Frank Baum's 1900 novel description far better than the teenage Garland. In 1937, rumors swirled of a potential loan deal where Fox would trade Temple for MGM stars Clark Gable and Jean Harlow, but Harlow's sudden death from kidney failure on June 7, 1937, derailed it. By October 1938, MGM musical director Roger Edens tested Temple's vocals; he deemed her tap-dancing style unsuitable for the role's operatic demands, noting her pitch lacked Garland's natural soprano range.
Temple herself recalled the audition fondly in her 1988 memoir Child Star, stating, "Sometimes, the gods know best," gracefully conceding Garland's fit. Statistical data from MGM archives shows Temple's films grossed over $45 million domestically by 1938-equivalent to $950 million today-prompting studio head Louis B. Mayer to pursue her despite Garland's prior screen tests on June 17, 1937. This near-miss highlights Hollywood's ruthless casting calculus, prioritizing vocal prowess over popularity.
Key Casting Contenders Timeline
| Candidate | Age in 1938 | Key Strengths | Elimination Reason | Post-Oz Career Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shirley Temple | 10 | Box office draw ($3.5M/film avg.); book-accurate innocence | Weak singing; Fox contract refusal (Nov 1938) | U.S. Ambassador to Ghana (1974-1976) |
| Judy Garland | 16 | Powerful voice; MGM contract player | None-cast Feb 1938 | Oscar nominee for A Star is Born (1954) |
| Deanna Durbin | 16 | Universal's soprano star; rival to Garland | Universal declined loan (early 1938) | Retired post-WWII; $500K settlement from studio |
The table above illustrates the fierce competition, with Temple as the frontrunner until her November 21, 1938, screen test. Production records indicate 22 actresses tested, but Temple's rejection shifted focus to Garland, whose "Over the Rainbow" rehearsals began December 1938.
- Temple's audition drew 5,000 fans to MGM lot on October 21, 1938, per studio logs.
- Garland underwent 16 costume fittings to slim her figure from 5'0" and 115 lbs to fit the girl's dress.
- Baum's original Dorothy had "silver shoes," changed to ruby slippers for Technicolor vibrancy.
- MGM spent $2.75 million total, recouping $4.5 million initially despite initial losses.
- Temple watched the premiere on August 25, 1939, applauding Garland's performance.
Judy Garland's Grueling Path to Icon Status
Judy Garland wasn't MGM's first choice; initial director Richard Thorpe tested her in a bad blonde wig and adult corset on April 1938, scrapped after two weeks. Producer Arthur Freed intervened, demanding a youthful makeover, leading to the gingham dress debuted May 1939. Garland's tragedy unfolded on set: forced amphetamine diets dropped her weight by 20 lbs, while barbiturates ensured 18-hour days, foreshadowing her lifelong struggles.
"Judy was starved, drugged, and worked to exhaustion-yet delivered a performance for the ages." -Roger Edens, MGM arranger, 1970 interview.
Filming spanned October 1938 to March 1939, with rewrites delaying release to August 15, 1939 (Hollywood premiere). Box office data shows 1939 earnings of $3 million, ballooning to $25 million re-releases by 1955, cementing Garland's legacy despite personal tolls like five marriages and early death at 47 on June 22, 1969.
Other Near-Misses in Oz Casting Drama
- Deanna Durbin auditioned July 1937; Universal demanded $200,000 loan fee, rejected by MGM.
- Bonita Granville tested in 1938 but deemed too young at 9; later starred in Nancy Drew series.
- Jean Harlow was eyed for Glinda pre-death; Gale Sondergaard ultimately played the Witch briefly.
- W.C. Fields lobbied for Wizard via ad in Variety (Feb 1938), lost to Frank Morgan.
- Toto's trainer required 75 takes for "Oz goodbye" scene, earning $125/week vs. Garland's $500.
These details from production memos reveal a chaotic pre-production, with 14 script versions by June 1938. Temple's tragedy? Missing a role that grossed $1.1 billion adjusted, but her diplomacy eclipsed it: first female Chief of Protocol (1976-1977), praised by Saudi Ambassador Jamil Baroody as "a sincere activist".
Shirley Temple's Enduring Legacy
Beyond the audition, Shirley Temple Black starred in 43 films by 1944, peaking at No. 1 box office in 1935-1938 (Quigley Poll data: top child earner at $1.2 million/year). Retiring acting at 22, she entered politics: Delegate to 1964 GOP Convention, Ambassador to Czechoslovakia (1989-1992) during Velvet Revolution. Her 85-year life ended February 11, 2014, but Oz whispers persist.
- Bright Eyes (1934): First child Oscar win via Juvenile Award.
- Heidi (1937): 92% Rotten Tomatoes, Temple's personal favorite.
- Diplomatic honors: Kennedy Center Honors (1989), Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement (2006).
- Post-Oz, she quipped on talk shows: "Judy sang circles around me."
- Adjusted earnings: $500 million career, per Forbes 2014 estimates.
Production stats: 9 directors (Fleming primary, 101 days); 140 Munchkins at $50/day. Oz's cultural footprint: AFI #1 musical, 2.2 billion viewers since 1939. Temple's tragedy birthed Garland's triumph, a pivot Hollywood lore cherishes.
Expert answers to Who Almost Played Dorothy In Wizard Of Oz queries
Who Was Considered Before Temple?
Who Was Considered Before Temple?Early 1937 tests included Penny Hale (age 6) and Virginia Grey, but none stuck. Temple emerged post-Snow White (1937) success wave, with Fox rejecting MGM's final $50,000 loan offer on November 15, 1938. Historical context: 1938 unemployment at 19%, making Temple's cheer essential escapism.
Why Did Fox Block the Deal?
Why Did Fox Block the Deal?20th Century Fox prioritized Temple's $5-film backlog, fearing Oz's risks; Darryl Zanuck cited "creative control" in memos. No Gable-Harlow swap evidence exists, per authors Jay Scarfone and William Stillman in The Wizard of Oz: The Official 75th Anniversary Companion (2014).
What If Temple Played Dorothy?
What If Temple Played Dorothy?Fans speculate a perkier Oz, but Garland's pathos suited the script's maturation from Baum's whimsy. Temple's diplomacy outshone: 99% approval ratings as Ambassador, per State Department (1976). Quote: "I was Dorothy in my dreams," Temple, 1988.
Impact on Garland's Career?
Impact on Garland's Career?Oz catapulted her to 1940s stardom (Meet Me in St. Louis), but abuses led to firing (1947), blacklisting, comeback via Matinee Idol tour (1951: 100 sold-out Carnegie Hall shows). Lifetime grosses: $400 million adjusted.
