Wizard of Oz fans are just realising how 'magical' technique was used in iconic scene

Film enthusiasts are just now understanding the innovative filming technique used in a pivotal scene from The Wizard of Oz.

An X/Twitter account has shed light on the camera trickery employed in one of the film's most memorable scenes, 85 years after it was initially filmed.

The 1939 adaptation of L. Frank Baum's 1900 fantasy novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, utilised unique angles and stand-ins to depict Dorothy transitioning from her sepia-toned world into the Technicolour realm of Oz.

A Judy Garland lookalike, dressed in sepia attire, was used before making way for the actual Garland, clad in regular clothing, prior to Dorothy opening the door to Oz.

At the time, Technicolour was still a relatively new technology, which Wizard of Oz director Victor Fleming harnessed to bring the fantastical world of Oz to life.

The HistoricVids account detailed on X: "In the Wizard of Oz, the shot of Dorothy walking towards and opening the door was filmed in color on a set painted sepia toned and the Dorothy stand in wearing sepia clothes and make up. After she opens the door she moves out of frame and Judy Garland wearing the regular Dorothy clothes moves into frame.

"The use of Technicolor, a color film technology, allowed the filmmakers to create the vibrant and colorful world of Oz. The transition from black and white to color was a groundbreaking visual effect at the time and added to the magical experience of the film. [sic]".

X users were taken aback by this revelation, with some suggesting it might be one of the best scenes ever captured on film. One user commented: "I just love this. I love when filmmakers operate like illusionists and magicians, it's ingenious."

Another shared their admiration: "The Wizard of Oz was a milestone of cinema on so many dimensions. How did they figure that stuff out back then? Absolutely magical." A third person called the clip "one of the most iconic movie shots in cinema history."

Even viewers familiar with the transition expressed their continued amazement. A Twitter/X user confessed: "Saw this in a theatre and it really is quite a stunning moment, even knowing it was coming. By this time you've spent enough time in the dark watching sepia tones to be used to it and then the Technicolor switch happens and everything is fantastically vibrant."