Tribeca: “It’s Dorothy!” Follows the Yellow Brick Road of Our Hearts
Most people don’t remember the first time they were introduced to Dorothy and The Wizard of Oz. It’s a piece of our collective pop culture consciousness that seems to have always existed. Whether your first introduction was Wicked, The Wiz, The Muppets' Wizard of Oz, or maybe L. Frank Baum’s original book, there’s probably been a piece of Oz in your life for as long as you can remember. 2025 marks the 125th anniversary of this piece of pop culture, and Jeffrey McHale’s Tribeca-premiering documentary, It’s Dorothy!, reflects on the enduring legacy of one little girl from Kansas.
For those who, somehow, don't know the story of The Wizard of Oz, it’s about Dorothy, a young girl living in Kansas. She’s swept up in a tornado and crashes in the magical, colorful land of Oz. From there, she befriends a series of loners who help her find her way home. It’s Dorothy! is an expertly researched, wholly passionate documentary that takes Dorothy out of Oz and into our world. McHale interviewed numerous women who have portrayed Dorothy in some version of the story over the years. For many marginalized groups of people, Dorothy became a symbol of something far greater than a smalltown farm girl. She exemplifies an individual who is curious, who leads with kindness, and who is eternally searching for a place to call home.
courtesy of Tribeca
The amount of archival footage, audio interviews, and photographs that It’s Dorothy! displays over the course of its runtime are staggering. There are the expected clips of the 1939 musical starring Judy Garland, as well as those from the other adaptations featuring the Dorothys being interviewed. What’s even more impressive is the amount of content the filmmakers compiled that shows the permeation of this story into our global consciousness. Blue gingham and red shoes immediately make us think of Dorothy, and it’s been endlessly parodied in all types of pop culture. The effort it took to compile all these clips and edit them together in a meaningful way speaks to the passion the filmmakers have for who and what Dorothy stands for.
It’s Dorothy! recognizes that Judy Garland and the character are irrevocably intertwined. The story of Dorothy closely mirrors Garland as she grew up in the Hollywood spotlight. While not entirely focused on telling the story of Garland, it does feel unavoidable, given how synonymous she became with The Wizard of Oz. It’s Dorothy! adds another layer to Garland’s importance when it explores the connection between gay men, Judy, and Dorothy. The same goes for the importance of The Wiz in Black culture. Both of these marginalized groups see themselves in Dorothy’s journey as an outsider who just wants to find her place in the world.
As pointed out in It’s Dorothy!, Wicked will be a first introduction to the world of Oz for some. No matter the entrypoint, there’s the sensation that Dorothy will outlive us all. For as long as people feel like outsiders in what’s supposed to be their home, they will travel down the Yellow Brick Road. It’s Dorothy! is an ode to a cultural pillar and to all who added to it with their own interpretations. It has endured and inspired for 125 years with no signs of slowing down.
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