A scene from the final version was cut. The Wizard of Oz, Judy Garland’s Dorothy Gale sings an a cappella reprise of “Over the Rainbow” while held prisoner in the witch’s castle. “She breaks down and cries because she wants to go home,” reveals film expert William Stillman, who explains that Judy’s haunting performance deeply affected the crew capturing her singing. “Some of them had to walk off the set so their sobs wouldn’t be picked up on the recording,” he says. “It was just so heartfelt.”
Judy’s career spanned five decades and some 40 films, but she would always be most closely identified with 1939’s The Wizard of Oz and its theme song, “Over the Rainbow.” “It has always been my song,” said Judy, who never grew bored singing the tune. “It’s like getting tired of breathing. The entire song is a simple question. It represents everyone’s wondering why things can’t be a little better.”
Judy signed with MGM Studios when she was 13 years old, but her role in The Wizard of Oz two years later was what made her a star. “It was MGM’s most expensive production to date,” explains Stillman, coauthor of The Road to Oz, The Evolution, creation, and…
