Fleming’s 1939 American film The Wizard of Oz is an early pioneer of the use of innovative techniques in camera work, music, visual and special effects in modern day movie production.  The musical-fantasy classic has also become a firm favorite among the American public and coupled with its influence in the film industry, it should be regarded as the most significant American film of all time.

Fleming’s distinctive use of sepia tone and technicolor in The Wizard of Oz was extremely influential in the making of Lang’s The Bluebird in 1940. Legendary actress Shirley Temple was initially loaned to MGM by Fox in order to play the part of Dorothy Gale. However Temple’s inability to sing the film’s songs at the necessary level resulted in Judy Garland being given the role instead.  The Bluebird was essentially 20th Century-Fox’s response to the MGM musical fantasy. Like the Oz film before it, The Bluebird reserved the use of technicolor for its dreamlike fantasy scenes while the opening and closing sequences were kept in black and white. Unfortunately the film was not a box office success and is widely considered to be Temple’s biggest flop.  However critics have earmarked it as a must have for movie collectors and strong DVD sales have seen it re-enter the frame as one of America’s classic family films.

Blockbuster.com. "Blue Bird, The (1940)." Blockbuster Website. 1 Dec. 2008 .