The Cowardly Lion is a character from the fictional Land of Oz created by American author L. Frank Baum, in his 1900 children's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and its several sequel books writtren by Baum as well. He is a wild African Lion, but is able to speak intelligently due to coming from a fairy-region, thus interacting and communicating with humans in a civil manner.
Since lions are supposed to be "The Kings of Beasts," the Cowardly Lion believes that his fear makes him inadequate. He does not understand that courage means acting in the face of fear, which he does frequently. Only during the aftereffects of the Wizard's gift, when he is under the influence of an unknown liquid substance that the Wizard orders him to drink (perhaps gin) is he not filled with fear. He argues that the courage from the Wizard is only temporary, although he continues to do brave deeds while openly and embarrassedly fearful.
, 2h7 Directed bySam Raimi OriginUSA GenresFantastic, Fantasy, Adventure ThemesCircus films, Films about magic and magicians, Monde imaginaire, Le pays d'Oz, Witches in film, Children's films ActorsJames Franco, Mila Kunis, Michelle Pfeiffer, Rachel Weisz, Chloë Grace Moretz, Michelle Williams Rating62% In 1905 Kansas, Oscar Diggs works as a magician in a traveling circus. An inveterate womanizer, Oscar flirts with the circus strongman's wife, and the strongman threatens him. Oscar escapes in a hot air balloon, but is sucked into a tornado that takes him to the Land of Oz. There, he encounters a kind and naive witch, Theodora. She believes him to be a wizard prophesied to destroy the Wicked Witch who killed the King of Oz and take his place; the idea of being an immensely wealthy monarch makes him immediately accept. En route to the Emerald City, Theodora falls in love with Oscar, though he does not reciprocate her feelings. They encounter the flying monkey Finley, who pledges a life debt to Oscar when he saves him from a lion. Oscar reveals his deception to Finley along the way, forcing him to help maintain the lie that he is the 'Wizard', much to Finley's irritation.
, 1h28 Directed byDon Bluth, Hal Sutherland OriginUSA GenresFantasy, Musical, Animation ThemesFilms about magic and magicians, Monde imaginaire, Le pays d'Oz, Children's films ActorsMilton Berle, Herschel Bernardi, Paul Ford, Don Messick, Margaret Hamilton, Paul Lynde Rating57% After a tornado in Kansas causes a loose gate to knock Dorothy unconscious, she re-appears in the Land of Oz with Toto, and encounters a talking Signpost (voiced by Jack E. Leonard), whose three signs point in different directions, all marked "Emerald City". They later meet Pumpkinhead (voiced by Paul Lynde), the unwilling servant of antagonist Mombi. Toto chases a cat to a small cottage where Dorothy is captured by Mombi's pet crow (voiced by Mel Blanc) and Mombi (voiced by Ethel Merman) herself. Pumpkinhead sneaks into the house in Mombi's absence, and discovers her creation of green elephants, to use as her army to conquer the Emerald City. Pumpkinhead frees Dorothy, and they flee. After finding Dorothy gone, Mombi threatens that their warning the Scarecrow will not help when her green elephants "come crashing through the gate".
, 1h20 Directed byLarry Semon OriginUSA GenresComedy, Fantasy ThemesFilms about magic and magicians, Monde imaginaire, Le pays d'Oz, Children's films ActorsLarry Semon, Bryant Washburn, Dorothy Dwan, Virginia Pearson, Oliver Hardy, Charles Murray Rating49% A toymaker (Semon) reads L. Frank Baum's book to his granddaughter.
The Land of Oz is ruled by Prime Minister Kruel (Josef Swickard), aided by Ambassador Wikked (Otto Lederer), Lady Vishuss (Virginia Pearson), and the Wizard (Charles Murray), a "medicine-show hokum hustler". When the discontented people, led by Prince Kynd (Bryant Washburn), demand the return of the princess, who disappeared while a baby many years before, so she can be crowned their rightful ruler, Kruel has the Wizard distract them with a parlor trick: making a female impersonator (Frederick Ko Vert) appear out of a seemingly empty basket. Kruel sends Wikked on a mission.