[March 8, 2025] I’ve always wondered why the 1939 movie, The Wizard of Oz, was my favorite, and remains so to this day. I remember watching it on our small black-and-white television set back in the late 1950s with my family. It would show once a year on the one channel we could see clearly, if the rabbit ears antenna was adjusted properly, and we couldn’t take our eyes off the set for the duration of Dorothy’s greatest adventure.
Holding onto her dog Toto, Dorothy is knocked unconscious while seeking shelter from a tornado and dreams of an adventure where she seeks to return home. That adventure is what takes her on a journey to seek the Wizard of Oz, and is what fascinated me. Dorothy goes on a dangerous quest to return home to her family in Kansas. Along the way, she finds and befriends a brainless scarecrow, a heartless tinman, and a cowardly lion. For her, the desire and responsibility to return home was the pivotal theme of this movie, and that was what made this journey her greatest adventure.
I was deeply attracted to Dorothy and wished that I could be on such an adventure where danger lurked behind every turn in the land with the Yellow Brick Road, and I could fight off those dangers. Perhaps that is what attracted me to the U.S. Army, where I would live in over 20 countries and serve in combat on battlefields far away from home. As far back as I can remember, I wanted to be in the Army.
I was fearful as a kid. I feared volcanoes, tornadoes, earthquakes, and floods, despite not knowing why. Those older men in my neighborhood seemed to lack my fears, so I wanted to be like them. I would later learn, like Dorothy, that an adventure is not about eliminating fear but becoming braver, and that bravery is not the absence of fear. Bravery is fulfilling your responsibilities, those that we adopt wholly, voluntarily, and without reservations. The link between adventure and fear is a fascinating concept.
The Wizard of Oz scared me, but not like the 1933 movie King Kong, the original, and by the way, another great adventure. I was scared of the witches and of the Wizard of Oz himself. I could see myself in the cowardly lion who ran from the wizard’s castle when the fire and sound came thundering from the wizard’s throne. I was not interested in being comfortable sleeping in my bed but to experience the thrill of the chase, the travels to places unknown, to be the man in the arena, the first to say “put me in the game, coach.”
What I was to discover was that Dorothy also had her fears and that she still put her next step forward, one foot in front of another desperately and hesitantly but nonetheless she kept moving forward. Could I do the same in her circumstances? I did not know the answer but I was willing to try. Would I run away and be a coward? These are the things I thought about. Could I stand when necessary and stare into death and danger, and not fall apart? I didn’t know the answer but I had hope I was no coward.
Later, after my Dad purchased a motorcycle for me, the. I would begin exploring the surroundings of where I lived, much like Dorothy did in her unconscious state. Eventually, Dorothy awakens from her dream/adventure and she is home. Home is always our base and while it took me many years to understand it, I always seek to be home with my family. Yet, I will also seek an adventure.
————
Please read my books:
What a great movie for all times.
Gen. Satterfield, the symbolism and patterns in our lives of us humans is remarkable and I think why this movie resonates with us. I too found the Wizard of Oz a compelling show to watch many times. As a kid when I saw it, I watched for the adventure that Dorothy took with her little dog. And then I got to thinking about it more and realized too, like you, that the link between adventure and fear in inextricably linked. And linked hard. There is no separating them. So, thanks for this article, as it hit home with me and took me back to my childhood.
“Are you a Good Witch, or a Bad Witch…?”
―Billie Burke as Glinda (1939)
“Then close your eyes, and tap your heels together three times, and think to yourself; There’s no place like home… ”
―Glinda (1939)
“Toto, I have a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore…”
― Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale (1939)
In this classic musical fantasy, Judy Garland stars as Dorothy Gale, a young Kansas farm girl who dreams of a land “somewhere over the rainbow.” Dorothy’s dream comes true when she, her dog, Toto, and her family’s house are transported by a tornado to a bright and magical world unlike anything she has seen before.
https://www.warnerbros.com/movies/wizard-oz
What a GREAT movie. They don’t make them like this any more. Today’s movies are garbage.
Nice! This is my favorite movie too. The Wizard of Oz will always have a place in my heart.
“ Are We Brave?”
Please read this article by Gen. Satterfield from about 10 years ago. He is working through the idea of “adventure “ here. You can see his idea growing. The link between fear, bravery, and adventure.
https://www.theleadermaker.com/are-we-brave/
“ No, we are not brave! This may come as a shock to many but nearly every person I’ve ever met, whether in the military or in civilian life, are cowards and so am I. We put up a good front … of course … and we do this by talking big, owning cool stuff, and belonging to respected organizations. But deep down we are a bunch on pansies waiting for some tough guy to scare the bejeebers out of us. Are we brave? I’m surprised that I even have to ask the question.” — Gen. Doug Satterfield. I can’t believe this article got zero comments. Shows how much this website has grown over the years.
Sir, same here. My fav childhood movie. There are many others with better special effects but for its tome, The Wizard of Oz tops them all. It will remain my favorite and the favorite of others too especially men. I’d like for you, sir, to give us a list of your top ten movies and why no know “adventure “ with be the theme. Please tell us why exactly. Thank you!
Good recommendation there Willie. YES, getting to know his favorite movies would be super. And, of course, he has a good eye. But, please note that Gen. Satterfield Gp has written about some movies already like 12 0’clock High.
“12 O’clock High: Lessons Not Forgotten”
https://www.theleadermaker.com/12-oclock-high-lessons-not-forgotten/
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Lester, welcome aboard and thank you for also highlighting an old article of mine.
Welcome Lester. Feel free to comment as often as you like to inject good information into the discussion at hand. We welcome warmly all those who are serious about the topic of leadership.