Friday Movie at Bernardsville Library: "The Wizard of Oz"

Join us to watch “The Wizard of Oz” (1939), the American musical fantasy film, widely considered to be one of the greatest films in cinema history, at Bernardsville Public Library on Friday, March 23 at 2:00 pm. The movie is the best-known and most commercially successful adaptation of L. Frank Baum's 1900 children's book, "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" and stars Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale, alongside Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, Bert Lahr, Frank Morgan, Billie Burke and Margaret Hamilton.

Notable for its use of Technicolor, fantasy storytelling, musical score, and memorable characters, the film has become an icon of American popular culture. It was nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture, but lost to "Gone with the Wind." It did win in two other categories, including Best Original Song for "Over the Rainbow" and Best Original Score. While the film was considered a critical success upon release in August 1939, it failed to generate profit for MGM at that time.

The 1956 broadcast television premiere of the film on the CBS network reintroduced the film to the wider public. It was named the most-viewed motion picture on television syndication by the Library of Congress, which also included the film in its National Film Registry in its inaugural year in 1989.

Bernardsville Library's movie series is funded by gifts to the Friends of the Bernardsville Library. Future films in the Friday afternoon series range from documentaries to comedies to classics and drama and are be shown on the fourth Friday of the month at 2:00 pm. They are selected for cultural enrichment and for appeal to a wide variety of tastes and interests in the community. Ed English, a long-time filmmaker, heads the Friends' movie committee. Viewers are encouraged to linger after the films to discuss them. Books and other supporting materials are recommended during the discussions. Next month's movie will be "The Light Between Oceans" on Friday, April 27 at 2:00 pm.

There is no charge to attend the movies; advance sign-up is requested, but not required. To register online go to www.bernardsvillelibrary.org and follow the link from Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up.