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Here's a behind-the-scenes look at Ray Bolger's Scarecrow dance in The Wizard of Oz (1939)
“The routine had to be worked out a step at a time,” Bolger said.
Bolger’s unique style as a performer made him perfect for the role of the Scarecrow in the 1939 film, The Wizard of Oz. A former vaudeville performer, Bolger knew just how to keep an audience’s attention. His eccentricity on the stage made him impossible to look away from, a talent that translated quite well for the actor when he transitioned to film.
Bolger’s standout moment in the MGM film came during his song and dance number “If I Only Had a Brain.”
During an interview with the Times and Democrat, Bolger explained that his performance in that scene wasn’t just a bunch of fancy moves tossed together; the routine had been carefully cultivated in order to enthrall the audience and convince viewers that they were truly watching a scarecrow who had come to life.
“The routine had to be worked out a step at a time,” Bolger said. “Throughout it was a matter of characterization. We tried to keep the scarecrow illusion always before the audience. The looseness of the costume helped give the jointless effect, which is further carried out by tricks in posture.”
Plenty of Bolger’s stunt falls were also carefully crafted to ensure the actor’s safety. “The falls are a matter of training as an acrobat trains,” said the performer.
“Most comedy acrobats can perform them. I learned them early in my stage work. Every fall has its own method and once learned can be performed without injury.”
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