One of several Oz films directed by J. Farrell MacDonald and produced by Baum himself. It's no surprise then that it feels so close to the madcap spirit of the books. I haven't read any Baum stories in ages, but I recalled many of the elements here. But the film suffers from odd pacing and lengthy diversions (perhaps the results of a too-literal translation from page to screen). Some imaginative and clever effects, though.