Judy Garland was 16 when filming began on The Wizard of Oz in October 1938. She was 17 by the time the film premiered in 1939.
How old was Judy Garland when filming began?
Garland was 16 when filming began. The Library of Congress’s National Recording Registry essay by Walter Rimler states that she was 16 when production started in October 1938. The AFI Catalog dates the start of actual filming to October 13, 1938.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Wizard of Oz (Repackage/BD) | $11.78 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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The Wizard Of Oz - 75th Anniversary Edition [Blu-ray] [1939] | $24.96 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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The Wizard Of Oz - Blu-ray | $23.08 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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The Wizard Of Oz [4K Ultra HD] [1939] [Blu-ray] [2019] [Region Free] | $38.62 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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The Wizard of Oz | $35.00 | Buy on Amazon |
Why do some answers give her age as 17?
The age depends on which point in the film’s history you mean. Garland was born in 1922 and turned 17 on June 10, 1939. The film premiered in Hollywood on August 15, 1939, and opened nationwide on August 25, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. So she was 16 when filming began, but 17 at the premiere and release.
Garland’s role as Dorothy
The Library of Congress exhibition identifies Garland as Dorothy in the 1939 film and describes the role as her best-known and best-loved film role. The film was based on L. Frank Baum’s 1900 novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
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