How Old Was Judy Garland In The Wizard Of Oz?

At the time when The Wizard Of Oz film released in 1939, Judy Garland was only 17 years old. The Wizard Of Oz was a musical fantasy film directed by Victor Fleming and produced by Mervyn LeRoy, and is considered one of the best films ever released. Judy Garland (17 at the time) was the main protagonist of the film alongside her co-actors Jack Haley, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr, and Margaret Hamilton.

Judy Garland became a household name as this film gave her the stardom she deserved. Her character and personification of Dorothy Gale were loved by the audience and critics, and for which she won a Grammy Award. 

It is a less known fact that Shirley Temple was supposed to play Dorothy before Judy Garland came into the picture. The filmmakers went with Judy Garland and tried to make her look as young as possible. To lose weight, the makers of the film put her on an unusual daily diet of black coffee, chicken soup, amphetamines, diet pills, and 80 cigarettes. At the time of the making of The Wizard Of Oz, she was just 16 years old. This film was her very first break as the main protagonist of a story.

The Wizard Of Oz is a live-action film of The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz, an adaptation from L. Frank Baum's children's fantasy novel. The film became an instant hit and an American pop culture icon when it was released. The Wizard Of Oz is a culturally important film in American history. The film was appreciated by critics and audience alike for its use of fantastic storytelling, Technicolor, music, and characters.

The film was a commercial and critical success but earning less than the budget. The makers didn't make a profit out of the film until the re-release of the film in 1949, earning only $3.017 million on a $2.777 million budget. It is also one of the most expensive films MGM has ever produced.