The Wizard Of Oz: The Rescue Of Oz

Adults who catch a glimpse of this popular morning cartoon show are going to have a feeling of deja vu. Based on the immortal 1939 MGM classic film, The Wizard of Oz (rather than Baum's books), this new animated series features music from the original movie, characters who look like the film's characters, and voices which mimic Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Burt Lahr, Ray Bolger, and Margaret Hamilton. We saw the opening episode in the two-part series pilot, which opens with Dorothy returning to Oz, where havoc reigns following the resurrection of the Wicked Witch of the West. With the Wizard banished, Dorothy and her compatriots (the Scarecrow, Tin Man, Cowardly Lion, and faithful Toto) set out to rescue the Wizard. At Fort Nutcracker, the Witch and her legion of winged monkeys do battle with the pistachio-firing Nutcracker troops who are trying to protect the Wizard and Dorothy. Briskly paced, The Wizard of Oz is better than most similar fare, and is recommended. (Available from most distributors.)