Look Back Down the Yellow Brick Road with These Behind-the-Scenes Photos from 1939's “The Wizard of Oz”

Eighty-five years ago, Judy Garland, Margaret Hamilton, Billie Burke and their castmates brought the classic story to technicolor life

The Wizard of Oz has become one of the most important and beloved films of all time. While its initial release in 1939 was not a box office smash, the movie's return to theaters over the years — and airings on television throughout the decades — has cemented the film as an American classic and one of the most influential motion pictures of all time.

The Wizard of Oz, adapted from L. Frank Baum's children's book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, established Judy Garland as one of Hollywood's brightest stars, with her song "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" becoming a standard. Dorothy's ruby slippers, Glinda's bubble, the flying monkeys and the Wicked Witch of the West's immortal line, "I'll get you, my pretty, and your little dog, too!" also became central parts of American pop culture.

Still, the creation of the movie — and what really happened on set — has remained a subject of fascination for decades. Ahead, here are some photos from behind the scenes of The Wizard of Oz that give a look into the movie's production.

Related: Priscilla Montgomery Clark Was a Munchkin in Wizard of Oz When She Was 9. Now 95, She's One of the Last Surviving Stars (Exclusive)

Judy Garland on Set

Judy Garland and Toto the dog are pictured enjoying some down time on set.

Frank Morgan's Makeup Test

Frank Morgan played the Wizard of Oz, and here he's photographed in a test for his on-camera makeup.

Judy Garland's Wardrobe Test

Though Garland's pigtails are her most iconic Wizard of Oz hairstyle, she also wears her hair half-up and half-down near the end of the film.

Ray Bolger's Makeup Test

Ray Bolger, who played the Scarecrow, is pictured here in a screen test for his makeup. He was also known for his work on Broadway and in 1961's Babes in Toyland.

Margaret Hamilton as the Wicked Witch of the West

Margaret Hamilton's look as the Wicked Witch of the West included her iconic nails.

'The Wizard of Oz' Cast

The publicity blitz for the release of The Wizard of Oz involved toys, games and lots of other merch — just like the release of Wicked in 2024.

Sneaking into the Witch's Castle

Jack Haley as the Tin Man, Bert Lahr as the Cowardly Lion and Bolger as the Scarecrow are pictured as their characters try to rescue Dorothy.

Meeting the Wizard

In the original novel of The Wizard of Oz, the Emerald City wasn't actually green. Instead, the Wizard made everyone who entered wear green-tinted glasses.

Promoting 'The Wizard of Oz'

The cast kept busy on their promotional tour, singing songs from the film together on NBC Radio in 1939.

Back in Kansas

The Wizard of Oz had almost every actor playing a double role — one person in Kansas, and another in Oz — except for Garland and Burke.

Saving Dorothy

Garland's career only picked up more after The Wizard of Oz. Meet Me in St. Louis would follow five years later.

The Witch Is Dead!

The munchkins in The Wizard of Oz were played by both little people and children.

The Witch's Demise

The flying monkeys — also known as the winged monkeys — are one of the most famous parts of the movie (and haunted many children's dreams for years). In the original book, however, the monkeys could also talk.