The Patchwork Girl of Oz (1914 film)
Encyclopedia
The Patchwork Girl of Oz (1914) is a silent film
made by L. Frank Baum
's The Oz Film Manufacturing Company
. It was based on the book The Patchwork Girl of Oz
.
The film was written and produced by L. Frank Baum and directed by J. Farrell MacDonald
. It makes almost no use of the dialog from the book in the intertitle
s. While there are a number of modest special effects, the movie relies largely on dancing (or rather cavorting), slapstick, and costuming. The Patchwork Girl uses acrobatics regularly with good effect. Dr. Pipt's daughter is added for love interest, as well as an additional plot thread: her boyfriend is turned into a small statue which women find irresistible. The plot omits the Glass Cat, the Shaggy Man, the Yoop, and the phonograph, but also adds Mewel, a donkey, and "The Lonesome Zoop", both slapstick animals.
in San Diego. Other scenes were presumably filmed at The Oz Film Manufacturing Company
's studio facilities in Los Angeles, located on Santa Monica Boulevard.
Notable cast members, one uncredited, were future producer/director Hal Roach
and comedian Harold Lloyd
. The two of them, after meeting on this film, would go on to work together for several years.
Baum cast acrobat Pierre Couderc
in the title role because he was unable to find a woman with the level of acrobatic training to do the role, due to social restrictions.
.
The movie is one of three made by the Oz Film company that have not been lost. It is available inexpensively on DVD. Grapevine Video offered it on VHS for a time. Some versions contain uncredited narration by Jacqueline Lovell. The International Wizard of Oz Club http://www.ozclub.org/default.asp has extensive information on the production, for example in The Baum Bugle, Christmas 1972.
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
made by L. Frank Baum
L. Frank Baum
Lyman Frank Baum was an American author of children's books, best known for writing The Wonderful Wizard of Oz...
's The Oz Film Manufacturing Company
The Oz Film Manufacturing Company
The Oz Film Manufacturing Company was an independent film studio from 1914-1915. It was founded by L. Frank Baum , Louis F. Gottschalk , Harry Marston Haldeman , and Clarence R. Rundel as an offshoot of Haldeman's social group, The Uplifters, that met at the Los Angeles Athletic Club...
. It was based on the book The Patchwork Girl of Oz
The Patchwork Girl of Oz
The Patchwork Girl of Oz by L. Frank Baum, is a children's novel, the seventh set in the Land of Oz. Characters include the Woozy, Ojo "the Unlucky", Unc Nunkie, Dr. Pipt, Scraps , and others. The book was first published on July 1, 1913, with illustrations by John R. Neill...
.
The film was written and produced by L. Frank Baum and directed by J. Farrell MacDonald
J. Farrell MacDonald
Joseph Farrell MacDonald was an American character actor and director. He played supporting roles and occasional leads. MacDonald, who was sometimes billed as "John Farrell Macdonald", "J.F...
. It makes almost no use of the dialog from the book in the intertitle
Intertitle
In motion pictures, an intertitle is a piece of filmed, printed text edited into the midst of the photographed action, at various points, generally to convey character dialogue, or descriptive narrative material related to, but not necessarily covered by, the material photographed.Intertitles...
s. While there are a number of modest special effects, the movie relies largely on dancing (or rather cavorting), slapstick, and costuming. The Patchwork Girl uses acrobatics regularly with good effect. Dr. Pipt's daughter is added for love interest, as well as an additional plot thread: her boyfriend is turned into a small statue which women find irresistible. The plot omits the Glass Cat, the Shaggy Man, the Yoop, and the phonograph, but also adds Mewel, a donkey, and "The Lonesome Zoop", both slapstick animals.
Production
Much of the film was shot on the grounds of the Panama-California ExpositionPanama-California Exposition (1915)
The Panama-California Exposition was an exposition held in San Diego, California between March 9, 1915 and January 1, 1917. The exposition celebrated the opening of the Panama Canal, and was meant to tout San Diego as the first U.S. port of call for ships traveling north after passing westward...
in San Diego. Other scenes were presumably filmed at The Oz Film Manufacturing Company
The Oz Film Manufacturing Company
The Oz Film Manufacturing Company was an independent film studio from 1914-1915. It was founded by L. Frank Baum , Louis F. Gottschalk , Harry Marston Haldeman , and Clarence R. Rundel as an offshoot of Haldeman's social group, The Uplifters, that met at the Los Angeles Athletic Club...
's studio facilities in Los Angeles, located on Santa Monica Boulevard.
Notable cast members, one uncredited, were future producer/director Hal Roach
Hal Roach
Harold Eugene "Hal" Roach, Sr. was an American film and television producer and director, and from the 1910s to the 1990s.- Early life and career :Hal Roach was born in Elmira, New York...
and comedian Harold Lloyd
Harold Lloyd
Harold Clayton Lloyd, Sr. was an American film actor and producer, most famous for his silent comedies....
. The two of them, after meeting on this film, would go on to work together for several years.
Baum cast acrobat Pierre Couderc
Pierre Couderc
Pierre Couderc was a French screenwriter, actor, acrobat, and film producer. He wrote for 34 films between 1925 and 1930...
in the title role because he was unable to find a woman with the level of acrobatic training to do the role, due to social restrictions.
Distribution and Preservation
The movie was a commercial failure, a fact which caused distribution problems for the other Oz Film titles that followed it. This would also contribute to the failing of The Oz Film Manufacturing CompanyThe Oz Film Manufacturing Company
The Oz Film Manufacturing Company was an independent film studio from 1914-1915. It was founded by L. Frank Baum , Louis F. Gottschalk , Harry Marston Haldeman , and Clarence R. Rundel as an offshoot of Haldeman's social group, The Uplifters, that met at the Los Angeles Athletic Club...
.
The movie is one of three made by the Oz Film company that have not been lost. It is available inexpensively on DVD. Grapevine Video offered it on VHS for a time. Some versions contain uncredited narration by Jacqueline Lovell. The International Wizard of Oz Club http://www.ozclub.org/default.asp has extensive information on the production, for example in The Baum Bugle, Christmas 1972.
Credited cast
- Violet MacMillanViolet MacMillanViolet MacMillan , was an American actress in Broadway theatre productions, vaudeville, and silent motion pictures. She was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan.-Tiny feet:...
- Ojo, a Munchkin Boy - Frank Moore - Unc Nunkie, Ojo's Guardian
- Raymond Russell - Dr. Pipt, the Crooked Magician
- Leontine Dranet - Margolotte, his wife, who makes the Patchwork Girl
- Bobbie Gould - Jesseva, his daughter, betrothed to Danx
- Marie Wayne - Jinjur, a Maid in the Emerald City
- Dick Rosson - Danx, a Noble Munchkin
- Frank Bristol - The Soldier with the Green Whiskers (Omby Amby)
- Fred Woodward - The Woozy, a Quaintness / The Zoop, A Mystery / Mewel, who is Everybody's Friend
- Todd Wright - The Wizard of Oz
- Herbert Glennon - The Scarecrow
- Al RoachHal RoachHarold Eugene "Hal" Roach, Sr. was an American film and television producer and director, and from the 1910s to the 1990s.- Early life and career :Hal Roach was born in Elmira, New York...
- The Cowardly Lion / Tottenhot - Andy Anderson - The Hungry Tiger
- Jessie May Walsh - Ozma of Oz, the Ruler of the Emerald City
- William CookWilliam CookWilliam Cook, Will Cook, Bill Cook or Billy Cook may refer to:* William Cook , founder of the Cook Group, medical equipment manufacturer...
- The Royal Chamberlain - Ben Deeley - Rozyn, the Village Fiddler
- Lon Musgrave - The Tin Woodman
- Pierre CoudercPierre CoudercPierre Couderc was a French screenwriter, actor, acrobat, and film producer. He wrote for 34 films between 1925 and 1930...
- Scraps, the Patchwork Girl (as The Marvelous Couderc)
Additional cast
- Vivian ReedVivian Reed (silent film actress)Vivian Reed was an American actress of the silent era. She appeared in 36 films between 1914 and 1938. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Reed died in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California. She was married to director Alfred E. Green and they had three children—Douglas Green, Hilton A...
- Ozma head logo (uncredited) - Juanita HansenJuanita HansenJuanita C. Hansen was an American silent film actress. Beginning as one of the Sennett Bathing Beauties, she appeared in a variety of serials through the late 1910s. She was well known for her troubled personal life and struggle with addiction to cocaine and morphine. In 1934 she became clean and...
- Bell Ringer (uncredited) - Harold LloydHarold LloydHarold Clayton Lloyd, Sr. was an American film actor and producer, most famous for his silent comedies....
- Tottenhot on the Jury (uncredited) - Jacqueline Lovell - Narrator (1996 version) (voice)