In this delightful film based on the L. Frank Baum modern fairy tale, Dorothy Gale and her dog Toto are caught in a tornado's path and end up in the fictitious Land of Oz. Here she meets some memorable friends and enemies in her pursuit to meet the Wizard of Oz who everybody says can help her return home and perhaps award her new friends their goals of a brain, heart and courage. This 1939 adaptation utilizes several of Harold Rosson’s cinematographic elements which highlight the explicit meaning of the film: in her mundane black and white life Dorothy dreams to escape her troubles, however while in the colorful land of Oz she attempts to find maturity through lessons to find power and her inner self.
In this scene, Rosson uses a shot/reverse shot technique, which alternates characters, which in this scene shows both sides of the conversation. Accompanying the shot/reverse shot is the technique of an eye-line match revealing whom Dorothy is talking to. The camera movement along with editing technique enables the viewers to see from both Dorothy and Oz’s point of view. The initial dolly out represents who holds power in this scene, as the camera dolly’s out from Oz we see Dorothy and her friends in a wide shot looking up to the ‘powerful’ Oz. As Dorothy tries to regain from the initial intimidation factor the camera Dolly’s out toward Oz, however upon requesting to keep his promises Oz regains power. As the conversation between Dorothy and Oz gets heated, the camera cuts to focus on Toto following by the use of a pan shot, this opens up the floor and reveals a green curtain, once Toto disappears behind the curtain the camera returns to Dorothy which then using a dolly shot turns the focus off Oz, and onto Dorothy and the curtain. Once revealed all the attention (camera) is on Oz. As Dorothy confronts Oz, she regains power backed by her friends the camera dolly’s out