''The Patchwork Girl of Oz'' (1914) is a

silent film A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, when ...

made by

L. Frank Baum Lyman Frank Baum (; May 15, 1856 – May 6, 1919) was an American author best known for his children's books, particularly ''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'' and its sequels. He wrote 14 novels in the ''Oz'' series, plus 41 other novels (not includ ...

The Oz Film Manufacturing Company The Oz Film Manufacturing Company was an independent film studio from 1914 to 1915. It was founded by L. Frank Baum (president), Louis F. Gottschalk (vice president), Harry Marston Haldeman (secretary), and Clarence R. Rundel (treasurer) as an ...

. It was based on the 1913 book ''

The Patchwork Girl of Oz ''The Patchwork Girl of Oz'' by L. Frank Baum is a children's novel, the seventh in the Oz series. Characters include the Woozy, Ojo "the Unlucky", Unc Nunkie, Dr. Pipt, Scraps (the patchwork girl), and others. The book was first published o ...

''. The film was written and produced by L. Frank Baum and directed by

J. Farrell MacDonald John Farrell MacDonald (June 6, 1875 – August 2, 1952) was an American character actor and director. He played supporting roles and occasional leads. He appeared in over 325 films over a four-decade career from 1911 to 1951, and directed fort ...

. It makes almost no use of the dialog from the book in the

intertitle In films, an intertitle, also known as a title card, is a piece of filmed, printed text edited into the midst of (i.e., ''inter-'') the photographed action at various points. Intertitles used to convey character dialogue are referred to as "dialo ...

s. While there are a number of modest special effects, the movie relies largely on dancing (or rather cavorting), slapstick, and costuming. The Patchwork Girl uses acrobatics regularly. Dr. Pipt's daughter is added for love interest, as well as an additional plot thread: her boyfriend is turned into a small statue which women find irresistible. The plot omits the Glass Cat, the Shaggy Man, and the phonograph, but also adds Mewel, a donkey, and "The Lonesome Zoop", both slapstick animals.

Production

Much of the film was shot on the grounds of the Panama-California Exposition in San Diego. Other scenes were presumably filmed at

's studio facilities in Los Angeles, located on Santa Monica Boulevard. Notable cast members, one uncredited, were future producer/director

Hal Roach Harry Eugene "Hal" Roach Sr.Randy Skretvedt, Skretvedt, Randy (2016), ''Laurel and Hardy: The Magic Behind the Movies'', Bonaventure Press. p.608. (January 14, 1892 – November 2, 1992) was an American film and television producer, director, a ...

and comedian

Harold Lloyd Harold Clayton Lloyd, Sr. (April 20, 1893 – March 8, 1971) was an American actor, comedian, and stunt performer who appeared in many silent comedy films.Obituary ''Variety'', March 10, 1971, page 55. One of the most influential film co ...

. The two of them, after meeting on this film, worked together for several years. Baum cast acrobat

Pierre Couderc Pierre Couderc (18 November 1896 – 6 October 1966) was a French screenwriter, actor, acrobat, and film producer. He wrote for 34 films between 1925 and 1930. He also appeared in ten films between 1914 and 1934. He was born in Paris, Franc ...

in the title role because, due to social restrictions, he was unable to find a woman with the level of acrobatic training to do the role.

Distribution and preservation

The movie was a commercial failure, a fact which caused distribution problems for the other Oz Film titles that followed it. This contributed to the failing of

. The movie is one of three made by the Oz Film company that have not been lost. Some versions contain uncredited narration by Jacqueline Lovell. Th
International Wizard of Oz Club
has extensive information on the production, for example in ''The Baum Bugle'', Christmas 1972. The original film was screened at the 2013 Winkie Convention of the International Wizard of Oz Club with the original Gottschalk score played live by Joe Cascone on piano from Gottschalk's original manuscripts.

Cast

Credited cast

Violet MacMillan Violet MacMillan (March 4, 1887 – December 29, 1953), was an American actress in Broadway theatre productions, vaudeville, and silent films. Early career MacMillan gained fame as the "Cinderella Girl"''New York Times'' Obituary. Dec. 30, 1 ...

Ojo Ojo may refer to: *Ōjō, a Japanese Buddhist term referring to rebirth in the Pure Land of Amitabha Buddha *Ojo, a curious red bear cub who has a wild imagination and is good friends with Treelo on ''Bear in the Big Blue House'' * ''Ojo'' (comi ...

, a Munchkin Boy * Frank Moore - Unc Nunkie, Ojo's Guardian * Raymond Russell - Dr. Pipt, the Crooked Magician * Leontine Dranet - Margolotte, his wife, who makes the Patchwork Girl * Bobbie Gould - Jesseva, his daughter, betrothed to Danx * Marie Wayne -

Jinjur General Jinjur is an antagonist in ''The Marvelous Land of Oz''. She is a character in the Oz books by L. Frank Baum and his successors.Jack Snow, ''Who's Who in Oz'', Chicago, Reilly & Lee, 1954; New York, Peter Bedrick Books, 1988; pp. 109 ...

, a Maid in the Emerald City * Dick Rosson - Danx, a Noble Munchkin * Frank Bristol - The

Soldier with the Green Whiskers The Soldier with the Green Whiskers is a character from the fictional Land of Oz who appears in the classic children's series of List of Oz books, Oz books by American author L. Frank Baum and his successors. He is first introduced in ''The Wond ...

(Omby Amby) * Fred Woodward - The

Woozy Woozy may refer to: * Woozy (Oz), a fictional creature in the children's novel ''The Patchwork Girl of Oz'' * Woozy Winks, the sidekick of fictional superhero Plastic Man * "Woozy", a track by Faithless used in the soundtrack to '' The Beach'' ...

, a Quaintness / The Zoop, A Mystery / Mewel, who is Everybody's Friend *

Todd Wright Todd Wright (born in Cincinnati, Ohio) is an American sports radio personality. He founded and hosted ESPN Radio's ''AllNight with Todd Wright'', and was a part of ESPN Radio from 1996 to 2005. Wright then took his popular national show to Sporti ...

- The Wizard of Oz *

Bert Glennon Bert Lawrence Glennon (November 19, 1893 – June 29, 1967) was an American cinematographer and film director. He directed ''Syncopation'' (1929), the first film released by RKO Radio Pictures. Biography Glennon was born in Anaconda, Mont ...

- The

Scarecrow A scarecrow is a decoy or mannequin, often in the shape of a human. Humanoid scarecrows are usually dressed in old clothes and placed in open fields to discourage birds from disturbing and feeding on recently cast seed and growing crops.Lesley ...

(as Herbert Glennon) *

- The

Cowardly Lion The Cowardly Lion is a character in the fictional Land of Oz created by American author L. Frank Baum. He is depicted as an African lion, but like all animals in Oz, he can speak. Since lions are supposed to be "The Kings of Beasts," the Cowardl ...

/ Tottenhot * Andy Anderson - The

Hungry Tiger This is a list of characters in the original Oz books by American author L. Frank Baum. The majority of characters listed here unless noted otherwise have appeared in multiple books under various plotlines. ''Land of Oz, Oz'' is made up of four ...

* Jessie May Walsh - Ozma of Oz, the Ruler of the Emerald City * William Cook - The Royal Chamberlain * Ben Deeley - Rozyn, the Village Fiddler * Lon Musgrave - The

Tin Woodman Nick Chopper, the Tin Woodman, also known as the Tin Man or—mistakenly—the "Tin Woodsman," is a character in the fictional Land of Oz created by American author L. Frank Baum. Baum's Tin Woodman first appeared in his classic 1900 book ''The ...

- Scraps, the

Patchwork Girl The Patchwork Girl (a.k.a. Scraps) is a character from the fantasy Oz Book series by L. Frank Baum. She first appeared in ''The Patchwork Girl of Oz''. History Scraps is a teenaged (possibly fourteen) living rag doll made of patchwork, butto ...

(as The Marvelous Couderc)

Additional cast

* Vivian Reed - Ozma head logo (uncredited) *

Juanita Hansen Juanita Hansen (born Juanita Cecilia Hanson; March 3, 1895 – September 26, 1961) was an American actress who performed in silent films. She became one of the Sennett Bathing Beauties and appeared in a variety of serials through the late 19 ...

- Bell Ringer (uncredited) *

- Tottenhot on the Jury (uncredited) * Jacqueline Lovell - Narrator (1996 version) (voice)

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Patchwork Girl of Oz, The 1914 films American black-and-white films American silent feature films Films based on The Wizard of Oz Films directed by J. Farrell MacDonald Paramount Pictures films Works by L. Frank Baum Articles containing video clips Surviving American silent films 1910s American films Silent American fantasy films