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This week at Tryon Theatre we have a seminal classic of cinema, “The Wizard of Oz” (Fleming). Released in 1939, this wondrous and charming film captivated the hearts of a generation, and many more subsequent generations to come. The enduring appeal of this film is a testament to the insightful sentimentality of its story and the magical performances that so endeared the film’s characters to our hearts.

We anticipate that our audience for “The Wizard Oz” is familiar with the broad strokes of the film’s plot, if not intimately familiar with them. However, for those uninitiated in the magic of Oz, this film follows a young woman as she is suddenly and mysteriously uprooted from her home in Kansas, to later awaken in the colorful and complicated Oz. This new land is full of great wonder and many fascinating characters, at the heart of which lies The Emerald City. This city is home to a great and reclusive wizard, who may hold the key to her return home, if peril doesn’t befall her along the way.

This young woman at the center of the film is the iconic Dorothy, the hero of the story, played by the perfectly cast Judy Garland. As the narrative’s hero Dorothy does display bravery, ingenuity and grace, however, none of those classically heroic qualities are her superlative trait. Rather it is her compassion, her capacity to see the gifts in others, that elevates Dorothy to this role. In her support of her adventure’s compatriots, Dorothy facilitates each one becoming the best they could be, heroes in their own right.

Now, obviously “The Wizard of Oz” is not a Christmas film, as would be expected given this week’s proximity to the Christmas holiday. However, while choosing a film for the week of Christmas, we focused on the emotional themes of the holiday, rather than the aesthetic trappings of the holiday. And in that capacity, “The Wizard of Oz” is a perfect film for the season, rife with the themes of charity, cheer, family and the deepset comfort of returning home. We hope you will join us for this excellent film and share with us in cultivating a deeper appreciation for our loved ones during this holiday season. 

On the note of the Christmas season, our programming schedule for “The Wizard of Oz” is somewhat shortened from the usual six showtimes. In the pursuit of being home with our own families for the holiday, we will be closed Christmas Eve, Sunday, December 24. Typically we would have a matinee on Sunday afternoons. So with that in mind, “The Wizard of Oz” will play at 7 p.m. on Wednesday (12/20), 2:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Thursday (12/21), 7 p.m. on Friday (12/22), and 7 p.m. on Saturday (12/23). Both of Thursday’s showtimes are shown with subtitles on the screen. Thank you for your understanding!