<P> The Wizard of Oz is a 1939 American musical fantasy film produced by Metro - Goldwyn - Mayer . Widely considered to be one of the greatest films in cinema history , it is the best - known and most commercially successful adaptation of L. Frank Baum 's 1900 children 's book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz . It was directed primarily by Victor Fleming ( who left production to take over direction on the troubled Gone with the Wind production ) . It stars Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale , alongside Ray Bolger , Jack Haley , Bert Lahr , Frank Morgan , Billie Burke and Margaret Hamilton , with Charley Grapewin , Pat Walshe and Clara Blandick , Terry ( billed as Toto ) , and Singer 's Midgets as the Munchkins . </P>
<P> The Wizard of Oz is a 1939 American musical fantasy film produced by Metro - Goldwyn - Mayer . Widely considered to be one of the greatest films in cinema history , it is the best - known and most commercially successful adaptation of L. Frank Baum 's 1900 children 's book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz . It was directed primarily by Victor Fleming ( who left production to take over direction on the troubled Gone with the Wind production ) . It stars Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale , alongside Ray Bolger , Jack Haley , Bert Lahr , Frank Morgan , Billie Burke and Margaret Hamilton , with Charley Grapewin , Pat Walshe and Clara Blandick , Terry ( billed as Toto ) , and Singer 's Midgets as the Munchkins . </P>
when did the first wizard of oz come out
when did the first wizard of oz come out
1939
1939