Wizard of Oz Silent Movie from 1910

This rare archival footage presents the earliest surviving film adaptation of L. Frank Baum’s 1900 novel, "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," a 1910 American silent fantasy produced by Selig Polyscope Company without Baum’s direct involvement. Starring Bebe Daniels as Dorothy, Robert Leonard as the Scarecrow, and featuring Hobart Bosworth as the Wizard, the black-and-white film follows Dorothy’s whirlwind journey from Kansas to Oz, encountering the Wicked Witch Momba (Winifred Greenwood), the Cowardly Lion, the Rusty Woodman, and Glinda (Olive Cox). Drawing partly from the 1902 stage musical but introducing unique elements like Momba’s reign, this 13-minute silent gem—created amid Baum’s financial troubles—enchants film historians and Oz fans, offering a nostalgic glimpse into early cinema’s whimsical magic.