The passing of Heath Ledger is one of the great tragedies of modern cinema, as it was evident that the Australian actor would have gone on to have even greater success later on in his career. Although Ledger grew very popular and was often deemed a “heartthrob,” he was also not averse to taking risks, and seemingly made it a mandate to work with as many interesting auteur directors as he could. Taking on these sorts of emotionally and physically challenging roles wasn’t just a competitive activity for Ledger, as it was evident that he had a deep and pure love of cinematic magic. Given how much of a charismatic entertainer he was, it’s not a surprise to learn that Ledger cited The Wizard of Oz as his favorite movie of all time.
Almost universally cited as a classic, The Wizard of Oz changed cinema forever when it debuted in 1939, as its depiction of magical worldbuilding, inspirational characters, and dreamlike visuals had a profound effect on the next generation of storytellers. While there are many classics that have shown their age with time, The Wizard of Oz continues to resonate with modern moviegoers. Given the personal and imaginative choices that he made throughout his career, Ledger clearly connected with the themes that have allowed The Wizard of Oz to stand the test of time.
‘The Wizard of Oz’ Is an All-Time Classic
Ledger mentioned that he “loved the magic” of The Wizard of Oz, as the film’s dynamic use of technical wizardry is an essential aspect of its legacy. Although it’s often that modern films that have copious amounts of computer-generated imagery lack a hand-crafted quality, it’s possible to recreate pure “movie magic” through the use of practical effects, real sets, polished costumes and makeup, and larger-than-life performances. Ledger often worked with massive spectacle films that had real heart to them, including The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, The Four Feathers, The Order, and The Patriot. Even if it didn’t perform very well at the box office, The Brothers Grimm did represent the same style of whimsical, self-aware fantasy adventure that The Wizard of Oz would be categorized as.
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Although all the performances in The Wizard of Oz are wonderful, Judy Garland is often singled out for showing the realistic fears and desires that a young person would go through during a tender moment in their adolescence. It may be easy to dismiss the feelings of youth as being “melodramatic,” but Ledger gave many powerful performances as younger characters who are dealing with larger-than-life issues. 10 Things I Hate About You became a romantic comedy classic because of its surprising emotional intelligence and empathy for misunderstood high school students. Later on in his career, Ledger got to play a mentor to a group of teenagers with his heartfelt performance in The Lords of Dogtown.
Heath Ledger Gave Some Truly Magical Performances
Among the most enduring aspects of The Wizard of Oz is the performance by Margaret Hamilton as the Wicked Witch of the West, a character that is often cited among the greatest villains in cinematic history. Although the Wicked Witch has continued to inspire terror for generations, Ledger added a new entrant to the “villain hall-of-fame” with his performance as the Joker in The Dark Knight, which won him a posthumous Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. While both characters are partially brought to life through the use of makeup, they are animated by the passionate performances, both of which require a deep level of immersion. Even if the Joker is a much more psychologically complex character, there are certainly instances in The Dark Knight in which Ledger gets to show the same sadistic pleasure in being evil as the Wicked Witch.
The Wizard of Oz is often cited as a transgressive work of representation, as the film emphasized the importance of diversity and understanding. Despite their outward differences, Dorothy, the Tin Man (Jack Haley), the Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr), and Scarecrow (Ray Bolger) find that they have a lot in common, and that they should not have to ask the Wizard (Frank Morgan) to change anything about them. Ledger showed the same humility and bravery in choosing roles that represented marginalized people, even when he faced potential backlash. Ledger’s emotional performance in Brokeback Mountain was a trailblazing moment in LGBTQ+ film history that earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Actor, and his haunting performance in Candy is one of the most realistic depictions of addiction on screen.
Great films can transcend their time, and the true legacy of The Wizard of Oz is how it continues to inspire and influence other artists, even if all of its cast and crew have passed on. While Ledger sadly passed too early to see the extent of his own influence, it’s evident that films like 10 Things I Hate About You, Brokeback Mountain, and The Dark Knight are now regarded as being modern classics. As much as Ledger admired the timelessness of The Wizard of Oz, it’s more than likely that there is a new generation of cinephiles who hold his work in the same regard.
