Wizard of Oz "Munchkin Suicide" Removed?

[krisstivers]

Until last night, the last home video version of Wizard of Oz that I had watched was the 30th Anniversary VHS:



Last night, I finally watched it on Blu-ray and I noticed something. The supposed "munchkin suicide" scene has been altered. I know VHS quality wasn't that great, but I think I would've noticed a large bird moving around inthe background. Now all of a sudden, it's there, clear as day. Can anyone shed some light on this? I don't know that I ever really believed the whole "munchkin suicide" rumor, but I am almost certain that the scene was different before. From what I remember of the VHS version, it looked like the backdrop moved and someone walked onto the set...then, they climbed up one of the trees...finally, you see them jump off of it, hanging from a rope and swinging from side to side...I don't know if that's what happened for sure, but that's how I remember it. This new version appears altered. It seems like it's zoomed in, the bird has been added in, and it's shorter (fades out sooner).

I don't know...Maybe it's just me...

In case you have no idea what I'm talking about, here's a clip of the scene in question:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r89z_-1by6U

I'm going to dig up my old VHS copy and compare...

[P@t_Mtl]

There never was a suicide, it's nothing more then a urban legend if want.

What people were seeing on the old TV broadcast or on VHS was nothing more then one of those big birds you see walking on the scene. All it's doing is spreading it's wing. I am not sure where this rumor of suicide ever started.

[EricJ]

As for "where", it's several of the cheapest sources for urban legends--
Oz (especially if it airs on TV a hundred times), "Decadent 30's Hollywood", and "Twisted secrets of your childhood favorites".

As for the bird, thanks to non-VHS hi-def clarity, we now get to find out it's an African crowned crane, although no word what it's doing in forest climates.
Perhaps Oz crowned cranes are different.

[P@t_Mtl]

Yes you can clearly see the bird on the DVD and well it's even more clear on the BD.

Yet I am sure many will want to now believe WB as made alteration to remove the "suicide" as some sort of huge goverment cover up of some kind

[PowellPressburger]

Great we have ANOTHER OZ thread.

I don't mean to be rude or anything but can wwe search for the main threads and then post under that thread. This is such a tired topic.

Hoepfully the MOD can merge this thread with the main OZ thread.

I find it hilarious that people would actually think this could have happened on screen. Come on think about it - you have studio workers all over the set, and you think this suicide happened, and to think ti could've happened THEN they decide not to re shoot it lol I mean it is so far fethced and we get a funny tabloid style TOPIC for this thread to catch everyones eye.

[Mr.White]

It's just a legend, just like the Pink Floyd "Dark Side of the Moon" BS that was started most likely by some stoners back in the day. Now with the benefits of high def people can now clearly see it was a crane, but I'm surpised they had those birds on the set, there aggresive as hell!

[mikem471]

Originally Posted by PowellPressburger

Great we have ANOTHER OZ thread.

I don't mean to be rude or anything but can wwe search for the main threads and then post under that thread. This is such a tired topic.

Hoepfully the MOD can merge this thread with the main OZ thread.

You'll live.

[Ernest Rister]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

Yes you can clearly see the bird on the DVD and well it's even more clear on the BD.

Yet I am sure many will want to now believe WB as made alteration to remove the "suicide" as some sort of huge goverment cover up of some kind

In the tradition of the "truthers" and "birthers", I guess we can call people who believe this story "noose-ers".

[Ernest Rister]

Originally Posted by krisstivers

Until last night, the last home video version of Wizard of Oz that I had watched was the 30th Anniversary VHS:



Last night, I finally watched it on Blu-ray and I noticed something. The supposed "munchkin suicide" scene has been altered. I know VHS quality wasn't that great, but I think I would've noticed a large bird moving around inthe background. Now all of a sudden, it's there, clear as day. Can anyone shed some light on this? I don't know that I ever really believed the whole "munchkin suicide" rumor, but I am almost certain that the scene was different before. From what I remember of the VHS version, it looked like the backdrop moved and someone walked onto the set...then, they climbed up one of the trees...finally, you see them jump off of it, hanging from a rope and swinging from side to side...I don't know if that's what happened for sure, but that's how I remember it. This new version appears altered. It seems like it's zoomed in, the bird has been added in, and it's shorter (fades out sooner).

I don't know...Maybe it's just me...

In case you have no idea what I'm talking about, here's a clip of the scene in question:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r89z_-1by6U

I'm going to dig up my old VHS copy and compare...

It was always a bird. Always. Nothing has been altered other than the resolution. This "midget suicide" is a particularly stupid urban legend, and considering how stupid most urban legends are, that's saying something. Do you seriously think someone on a major film set could climb up a fake prop tree, tie a rope to a branch, tie the rope into a noose, place the noose over his or her neck, and then leap to his or her death without any of the crew noticing? Including the actors kick-ball-dancing towards said hanging person, actors who surely would have stopped dead in their tracks over the horror in front of them?

It was always a bird.

Pay no attention to the stupid urban legend in front of the curtain.