Liza Minnelli & Mickey Rooney in Journey Back to Oz (1971)

Obscurity factor: 6

This official sequel to The Wizard of Oz (1939) has many casting connections to the original. Liza Minnelli plays Dorothy, reprising her mother's role. Margaret Hamilton is also in the film, but plays Aunt Em, rather than the Wicked Witch. Mickey Rooney - another tie to Judy Garland - plays the Scarecrow. Also in the cast are Milton Berle (Cowardly Lion), Paul Lynde (Pumpkinhead), Danny Thomas (The Tin Man) and Ethel Merman (as Mombi, cousin of the Wicked Witch). The story is roughly based on Baum's second book - The Marvelous Land of Oz and finds Dorothy delivered to Oz again by a cyclone. Once there she attempts to reach the Emerald City where the Scarecrow now reigns as king. Mombi, however has it in for her because of what she did to her cousin and tries to thwart her progress. Along the way she meets Pumpkinhead, who was conjured up by Mombi, but has since gone AWOL. Of course Mombi throws every obstacle she can think of in Dorothy's way - green elephants, murderous trees, confining furniture - can Dorothy and her allies thwart her evil plans?

This film was first released on Britain in 1971, then in the US in 1974. One can only imagine Minnelli's feelings about reprising a role that was so identified with her mother so soon after she had passed away. The Wizard is conspicuously absent from this story, however in the TV release in 1976, segments were introduced by The Wizard played in live action by Bill Cosby. Listen for Mel Blanc as Mombi's crow.

This film is available on DVD though is out of print, and can be difficult to find. It's also available on YouTube in its entirety, thanks to an upload by darthranerful. The poster above is available at MoviePosterShop.com.

Obscurity factor: 6 (on DVD & YouTube, remembered by small cadre of fans)

Liza Minnelli & Ingrid Bergman in A Matter of Time (1976)

Obscurity factor: 10

This film tells the story of Nina (Liza Minnelli), a simple girl from the Italian country side who comes to Rome to work as a maid in a run down hotel. There she meets the Countess Sanziani (Ingrid Bergman), an extravagant woman at the end of a remarkable, full life. The Countess teaches Nina how to live.

 

This film has the distinction of being Vincente Minnelli's last. It's interesting to see Liza, so young and fresh and know that she had this lovely, golden opportunity to be directed by her father. Unfortunately, he wasn't in top form, and eventually lost control, and ultimately, final cut on the production, and it suffers from a skewed point of view. There are flashes of brilliance in the film and the charm of both the Minnellis shine through, as does that of Ms. Bergman. Perhaps, the most delightful aspect is the message that the Countess impresses upon young Nina - be yourself, the world worships originality. Look for Charles Boyer in a small role as the Countess' husband and Isabella Rosselini as a nun.

 

This film has yet to make it to DVD. It was released on VHS and there are copies of it floating around. You can also watch it on YouTube. Installment one is above, uploaded by BroadwaytoRio. It's rarely aired on TV, though I did catch it on TCM during a tribute to Liza Minnelli. The poster above is available at MoviePosterShop.com.

Obscurity factor: 10 (largely forgotten, not on DVD, available on YouTube and VHS)

Liza Minnelli in The Dangerous Christmas of Red Riding Hood 1965

This week on The Obscurity Factor, in honor of the season, we'll be featuring some obscure holiday television specials and movies.

Early on in her career, Liza Minnelli did this odd little holiday special for ABC. It was produced by General Electric, with rather cardboard production values and also starred veteran English actor Cyril Richard, crooner Vic Damone and, strangely enough, rock band The Animals, well cast as the wolf's cronies. The story line is the familiar fairy tale updated and set at Christmas time with new music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Bob Merrill, and the twist of it being told from the wolf's (Cyril Richard) point of view. Ms. Minnelli displays the amazing energy of youth (she was 19) and the numbers are charmingly choreographed and executed. Mr. Richard lends a comically erudite quality to the wolf that has to be seen to be believed. The Animals have only one solo song but it's lots of fun and really contrasts with the big band arrangements of all the other numbers, pointing up the tension that was mounting between the establishment and youth culture at the time.



The upload to DailyMotion from NilbogLAND is in black and white, though the original production was broadcast in color. Here's the first installment. There is also a DVD available that's in black and white as well. It was obviously thrown together to capitalize on the names involved and has received some scathing reviews on Amazon.com for it's lack of remastering. But if you're a hard core Liza fan, it might be worth it!

Obscurity factor: 7 (largely unknown, available on DVD, full version on DailyMotion)