The Wizard of Oz- The Jitterbug (DELETED SONG)

This is the famous deleted song from the Wizard of Oz called “The Jitterbug” written by E.Y hamburg And Harold Arlen. The original film footage of this song no longer exist. The only existing materials are the pre recordings sessions and a 16mm off camera footage of a rehearsal filming only a portion of the dance. It’s been said that this song was cut out because executives felt that this jazz type of music that was very popular at the time, would ultimately Date the movie.
Editing process:
If you buy the wizard of Oz On vhs or dvd that includes bonus features, you’ll find the jitterbug deleted song with the home movie footage, but it’s not entirely synced up correctly. Instead of just uploading the dvd bonus feature I decided to enhance it with the remaining materials available on the DVD.
The song is from alternate pre recording takes of the jitterbug rather than audio that’s commonly heard. This alternate recording has Buddy Ebsen singing the Tin Man Lines. the dance segment of the Jitterbug is stereo, I created this with the Two Orchestra takes Available on the dvd, (one take on the left ear, and the second on the right) the dance steps you hear are from a recorded dance rehearsal for the song that would’ve been added later on in post production. I synced the limited dance footage with the audio of the dance steps, with the orchestra to make the illusion of this lost footage more enchanting.

[@TheGreekPianist]

When the witch said “I’ve sent a little insect ahead to take the fight out of them!”, I think this is what she meant! Makes sense

[@erika6134]

Hornets sent by government

[@revjamesaclarkjr1358]

I think the jitter bugs as they were imagined for this scene were too big and were like trees and had they been more sizable like the flying monkeys it would have made more sense visually and been clearer as was meant by the Wicked Witch of the West. at one moment there was a guy you could see in the costume which was not going to work.

[@istaythinkingabout]

It was

[@MaskedMan66]

This is exactly what she meant.

[@MaskedMan66]

@@revjamesaclarkjr1358 There was only one Jitterbug (as the Wicked Witch and the song both say), and it was to have been an animated creature. Interestingly, the four main performers were asked to contribute ideas as to what the bug should look like. Bert Lahr suggested that it should land right on the Lion's nose. 🦁 This is just someone's own camera recording the rehearsal for the sequence.

[@bubaby7867]

I love the music and the songs in the movie, they all connect, but this does not and I'm glad they cut it from the movie.

[@leopoltrambo4804]

There is some cut audio where the witch says, "Make them dance dance dance until those ruby slippers fall from her feet!" She wanted them slippers

[@brad1596]

Yes,the music and dance moves in this number take away from the movie's timeless feel - they are too clearly in the style of 1939.

[@lindsayrodriguez821]

because your world view is so narrow you can only see what's already been presented, hence you cannot think outside the box

[@ValerieJNorse]

@@lindsayrodriguez821 -- There's absolutely no reason to be rude. If you disagree with bu baby, that just means you disagree, it doesn't mean that your worldview is better than hers. By the way, I agree with her. A peppy song-and-dance scene would have eliminated the mounting dread that led up to the attack by the flying monkeys. And by the way, you know who else with a "narrow view" agreed with bu baby -- the producers of the movie. It's why the scene was cut.

[@lindsayrodriguez821]

@@ValerieJNorse cool story bro... Tell it again

[@heatherfarmerr]

I’m almost Positive Buddy Ebsen is singing this. I know he sings “we’re off to see the Wizard”. I know in some scenes it is actually Buddy and not Jack Haley. Do you know if It is Buddy in this scene?

[@superjackster0165]

According to most sources, it’s Jack Haley that appears and sings in this song

[@Segatari]

It is in fact buddy

[@Grandmaster_Dragonborn]

You honestly don’t know, it sounds like both of them at different times honesty, the first few lines Buddy, but then it sounds more like Jack. I....I don’t know 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@thomasdelvin3683]

thats a rehearsal version, joints around my knees sound like ebsen. i believe that he is in this one. also "WHO's That" sounds like him.

[@thomasdelvin3683]

'thar she blows is definealty buddy

[@cyndimoring9389]

who is here because of Randy Rainbow's The Bunker Boy? 2020

[@deforeestwright2469]

I didn’t, but I just found it cuz you mentioned him and it’s super funny. 😂

[@deforeestwright2469]

🎶 Who is heeeeeere cuz Randy Raaaiiiinbow Made a thiiiiiing called The Bunker Boy?🎶 😂

[@TheGreekPianist]

WOW I’ve never seen this before! I really wish they had kept this song and scene. But if Dorothy and her friends were singing and dancing in the witch’s haunted forest, I think it would’ve taken away from the scene’s scary, fearful, dark tone. Lol. But I do love it 😊

[@clurkroberts2650]

Exactly, it just didnt work. From derailing the mood and story, and the song style did not fit in with the rest of the music.

[@bettyschneider5268]

Also they were under the witches evil spell ✨🌟💫 to dance the evil Jitterbug song! 🕺🏋🏌🕴🏻💃🚶🏃👯🙆🐺🤡🤖🦁🌈🌪🏞

[@calebbrown551]

Also the studio execs didn't want to feel like they were dating the movie by putting in the Jitterbug style dance and music. Plus this whole mucisal sequence was allegedly the most expensive to film

[@MaskedMan66]

@Jaayde Baker That wasn't it.

[@MaskedMan66]

@@bettyschneider5268 Witch's.

[@susandemaiosmutny7298]

Thanks for reconstructing the number by syncing the audio tap dancing with the home movies! Great job!

[@PaulMcElveen]

This musical number and none of the other original song and dance numbers, footage, dialogue should have ever been deleted from the 1939 MGM Beloved, Beautiful, Brilliant, Classic, Clever, Delightful, Exceptional, Excellent, Fantastic, Grand, Iconic, Marvelous, Outstanding, Uplifting, Wonderful, Fantasy Musical Movie, The Wizard of Oz! This is my favorite movie EVER! It is in a class by itself!

[@nibora4895]

I like how you can see the guy in the tree puppet. I wonder if he even knew he was being filmed, and now is apart of the only surviving peace of the Jitterbug dance in The Wizard of Oz.

[@MaskedMan66]

This was shot from someone's personal camera, not the main cameras.

[@kurtschumacher9484]

@@MaskedMan66It can’t be. They didn’t have camcorders in 1939. I don’t think they even had TV. The studio wouldn’t have allowed that anyway.

[@MaskedMan66]

@@kurtschumacher9484 I already told you about this; Harold Arlen had a 35mm personal camera with which he filmed candid footage of the actors having fun between scenes. He probably had to get clearance, but obviously it was allowed. And who needed T.V.?

[@sailorpluto1556]

​@@kurtschumacher9484Harold Arlen, have so many videos behind the scenes of the movie

[@deforeestwright2469]

The video my family had of The Wizard of Oz when I was a kid had this segment on it and I always found it unsettling. The song itself only sort of nods at creepiness, but the grainy, found-footage, look of the clip with the references to “something hiding in the treetops” and this poor prop guy sort of half inside the tree worked on my four-year-old brain. 😂

[@bluesky6449]

I do believe in Spooks, I do believe in Spooks, I do believe in Spooks, I do I do I do!

[@mcgannahanskyjellyfetti6854]

The BEST decision EVER was eliminating this TRAIN WRECK scene... 🤨

[@mjjm5511]

Who's here after Randy Rainbow's post?

[@HAZNOSHAME]

I have watched Randy Rainbow's "Bunker Boy" several times and can't stop laughing. I feel ashamed I had to google to find what the song parody was, did not know about this song deletion from Wiz of Oz.

[@MaskedMan66]

Who?

[@geraldinewoods254]

This should had been remasted for the 80th anniversary steel book

[@shawnarm4858]

Unfortunately that footage of them dancing (In lower film quality) is from a personal 8mm film recorder, and most likely can not be restored beyond more then it already is. Someone who was on set the day of the recording was filming behind the scenes, and that's all that remains of that cut jitterbug scene. Apparently due to a fire MGM had in their film vault, and lack of outtakes being stored the way they are in modern times, the original technicolor movie quality film no longer exists (along with many other scenes that never made it into the movie).

[@geraldinewoods254]

@@shawnarm4858 I mean using heavy cgi

[@shawnarm4858]

@@geraldinewoods254 Ohh, gotcha!! Yeah, could have been cool to see!

[@themysteriouscatperson9483]

geraldine woods That’s actually a really good idea, use a lot of realistic life life cgi to recreate lost scenes, like the tin man bees scene, the jitterbug, and many more!

[@WDI2008]

@@geraldinewoods254 That would mean getting permission from Judy Garland's estate though.

[@pattibrooks1907]

I am a huge Judy Garland fan and used to have so many of her record albums as a teenager and adult ! Now am 65 years old but will ways remember playing her record albums singing with them ! Just saw Strike Up The Band DVD Netflix and love Judy with Mickey Rooney ! Judy was very gifted and oh so very funny too !

[@arladicey]

Came here after watching Randy Rainbow's brilliant satire!

[@brianjude6789]

@Arla Dicey I was at Hawthorne Suites watching The Wizard Of Oz, before 12:00 a.m. on the little TV, while my mom’s out shopping, and I was about to get sleepy, but I’m not sleepy yet; I was STILL playing Mario Kart: Double Dash!! on the Nintendo Gamecube, since I’m gonna be able to finish playing that game.

[@Allan-et5ig]

Can see why it was cut. Cute song though...

[@brad1596]

Yes Allan,this number is done in a way which,though typical of that time,probably belonged in another movie - its dance and music style would have taken away from the "timeless" feel of this classic.

[@roberttrail7013]

I totally agree.

[@zagfan44]

Just seeing those trees and their menacing hands gave me chills again. Obviously this wasn't a finished song and dance piece, but seemed overly contrived and was rightly cut from the movie.

[@benhuether5474]

I would love it if they were able to restore this to the actual movie 🎃

[@cancerous4379]

I love your content so much! Request, can you upload the Harold Arlen home movies? They are amazing! Like your content. Anyways, I subbed!

[@PaulMcElveen]

A Fact: The speaking voice of the Tinman is actor's Buddy Ebsen not actor Jack Haley's who portrayed the Tinman. The speaking part was re-recorded by actor Jack Haley for this number before the movie's release in 1938. The actual singing of the song is actor Buddy Ebsen's!

[@superjackster0165]

I read somewhere that Jack Haley actually did record the singing for this song

[@MaskedMan66]

Any time you hear the Tin Woodman doing a solo line, that is definitely Jack Haley. It's only Ebsen in the group singing.

[@MaskedMan66]

@@superjackster0165 He did; he had to re-record all of the Tin Woodman's solo singing.

[@PaulMcElveen]

The beloved, excellent, extraordinary, fantastic, magnificent, wonderful 1939 classic MGM movie The Wizard of Oz is my favorite movie of all time! The MGM 1939 classic movie The Wizard of Oz was perfectly cast! Everyone is excellent in the movie! I can't fathom why MGM deleted this classic, wonderful song and dance number! I can' t fathom why MGM deleted any of the scenes and song and dance numbers from this classic movie! It was absurd ridiculous, and a huge mistake! Period! This is pure movie magic! I am so glad that these home movies were found and that the original soundtracks were preserved! It is to be hoped that all the actual deleted song and dance numbers and scenes will be found and put back in sequence in the movie and rereleased in movie theaters and on DVD and Blue Ray for purchase! I was born in 1978. Someone gave me the Decca Record Album with all the songs from the movie and all the songs from Disney's movie Pinocchio on the B side when I was three. I loved The Jitterbug song the first time I ever heard it! I own this on videotape, Laser Disc, DVD and Blue Ray. Thank you for posting and sharing this this excellent clip! You did a superb job in recreating this classic scene!

[@AG-ni8jm]

It's note a bad piece, but i think the Execs were right. It doesn't fit with the rest of the movie and definitely feels dated, whereas the rest of the film doesn't feel so

[@Banditt42]

Should have kept this scene and got rid of the lions awful song scene later on.

[@MaskedMan66]

Troll.

[@albertovazquezparedes457]

Deleted scene, not deleted song

[@Tomy-9878]

The song and scene was deleted from the film after the first preview.

[@heyytrell]

everyone in this is dead now.

[@MaskedMan66]

So?

[@bettyschneider5268]

The witch put an evil spell on them to dance the Jitterbug song!💃🕺🕴🏻🚶🏃👯🏋🏌🤹🤸🤼

[@MaskedMan66]

No, she just sent the Jitterbug to sting them.

[@oliviacooke3596]

i don't get why they deleted this song i love it

[@enmunate]

Olivia Cooke it made the movie too long. It was cut because it didn’t advance the narrative.

[@brianjude6789]

I wish they’d put ALL of the deleted scenes IN that movie, Nate Bryant

[@MOI-gc4ey]

@@enmunate! Did you hear what I said?

[@lucianhartt3123]

Neither did "Over the Rainbow," but they kept that in.

[@TrangPakbaby]

Because they felt “the jitterbug” which was a popular dance at the time would date the film. I don’t feel like the number adds anything to the film but I do wish they would have kept the footage for dvd extras. I feel like the “ding dong the witch is dead reprise” was the biggest loss to the film.

[@catman3552]

Betty Hutton made a recording of this at RCA in 1939.

[@thomasdelvin3683]

its also in a n episode of the little rascals' believe it or not! i believe in the robert blake era

[@PaulMcElveen]

Excellent! It would have been wise to also use Jak Haley's speaking voice in this sequence. Great job!

[@MaskedMan66]

They would have; he re-recorded all of the Tin Woodman's solo singing.

[@RateMeClips]

How about that human dancing in that tree

[@RateMeClips]

Ikr

[@MaskedMan66]

What about him?

[@crowmigration8245]

This is like a fever dream. Why does it look like behind the scenes footage?

[@BluefireSorcererOfficial]

Because the real footage is lost to time and forever (or one day if it is found) it will be leaked I hope

[@MaskedMan66]

Because it is.

[@neilwilburn6848]

Great edit job. It's amazing what the studios "threw out"

[@ChocoLove_Draws]

Why this song was deleted？I love this song~

[@monstersrobotsmayhem]

Thank god this was deleted!!!!

[@independentpuppy7520]

I like it.

[@PaulMcElveen]

Wonderful!

[@aydenmillender396]

0:50 that sounds like the original tin man buddy Ebsen to me for some reason (it probably was)

[@brianjude6789]

@JAAYDE BAKER I was at Hawthorne Suites watching The Wizard Of Oz, before 12:00 a.m. on the little TV, while my mom’s out shopping, and I was about to get sleepy, but I’m not sleepy yet; I was STILL playing Mario Kart: Double Dash!! on the Nintendo Gamecube, since I’m gonna be able to finish playing that game. And by the way: that movie WAS after Toy Story!

[@brianjude6789]

Weren’t you listening to what I’m saying to you, @JAAYDE BAKER?

[@MOI-gc4ey]

HEY!!! @JAAYDE BAKER!!!

[@mikejohnson515]

This is great....looks just as I would imagine it!

[@ezmoney4071]

Randy Rainbow is a genius to match this song to #TheBunkerBoy BRAVO 👏👏

[@MaskedMan66]

Who?

[@martinluscombe1346]

how about a EXTENDED version of : The Wizard of Oz with ALL deleted/Extended scenes, Possibly an ALTERNATIVE ending with Dorothy dies, Also did Miss Gulch survive? there's no mention at ending , ( the Witch dies)

[@MaskedMan66]

It would have been out of place for such a tender scene to bring her up. But according to the stage version of the movie, Miss G got her leg broken by a falling telegraph pole. While she's dealing, the Gales will settle matters with the Sheriff.

[@jell-o-rama]

At 2:39 I can see the jitterbug actor and thier face a little!

[@MaskedMan66]

There was no "jitterbug actor." It was going to be an animated creature.

[@cyndykated358]

I think they were shuffling’.....lol

[@feeltheforce10]

Correct decision to delete this song - it adds nothing to the movie.

[@bobspence5322]

Agree. Way too modern for its time would've taken the whole movie down to maybe get a top 100 radio song out of it.

[@patriciajohnson3017]

Imagine the Lion dancing in a 100 lb lion fur

[@MaskedMan66]

Seventy pounds. There have been heavier costumes.

[@clurkroberts2650]

This scene just doesn’t work. It derails the mood and flow of storyline; the music is inconsistent with the rest of the film score and the performers just couldn’t perform this type of dance routine effectively in their heavy costumes. Today it is a curiosity that is really interesting to see, but it also gives insight into movie editing. Often less is more, holds true in the removal of this scene.

[@ROCKALS]

METALS

[@ROCKALS]

ROCKS

[@ROCKALS]

PUNKS

[@bowsertotheodyssey1910]

Only thing we need is the version of The Wizard of Oz without Over the Rainbow I just wanted to see how that would play out

[@degenerategamingCi]

What’s amazing is that this deleted scene/song was used in the sequel to the Tom and Jerry: Wizard of Oz movie.

[@MaskedMan66]

How is it amazing? It's been performed in stage versions of the show for decades.

[@ROCKALS]

SKAS

[@thomasdelvin3683]

this is not the actual audio tract from the finished film, the real one has the trees talking and grabbing toto and then Dorthey who then calls for help that the tinman chops off their limbs an d frees them. uh, the tree limbs .not the dancers. also many closeups of toto barking. this is just the dance track for filming. one of several. also there is a album and radio and juke box version without the tapping sticks to get them into the right rhythm

[@taylor3557]

Wait, how do you know all this

[@thomasdelvin3683]

@@taylor3557 there are many bits and pieces of the first preview version that private collectors. have. not all has been destroyed o r lost. any publication will bring a lawsuit to retrieve it by those who own the rights to the film. this audio has Buddy ebsen

[@taylor3557]

@@thomasdelvin3683 If this is true why dont they negotiate with Warner Bros about releasing it?

[@biggsterboy]

Thank goodness for editing. This definitely would have detracted from the movie.

[@jannak9024]

It can't be that famous if baby boomers who have been watching the film their whole lives have just now heard about it!

[@MaskedMan66]

It's in all the books about the making of the film, and of course was reported in the magazines and newspapers of the time.

[@drwisis6996]

i wish they had of left that in. great song and dance. haaaaaaaa

[@catman3552]

This looked liked behind the scenes footage of the filming of the movie. Betty Hutton recorded this for rca in 1939.

[@MaskedMan66]

She did??? I'd LOVE to hear that!

[@youtoo2233]

Well done!

[@bowsertotheodyssey1910]

I think that's Buddy Edson as the Tin Man or maybe the shot was filmed when Buddy Ebsen was still in the film but Jack Haley did a voice over

[@superjackster0165]

That’s Jack Haley

[@MaskedMan66]

Ebsen, and this was months after he left.

[@wito6998]

Nice to see this shot, but I can see why it was cut. 1) Adds little to the story, 2) the tree was in the way for most of it.

[@superjackster0165]

That tree wouldn’t have been in the way. This isn’t the actual footage. This was rehearsal footage that the composer shot as home movies

[@oliverbrownlow5615]

To clarify: Arlen's camera didn't capture the number as it would have been seen by the camera filming the number for inclusion in the film (from the front). He's evidently off to the side filming "from the wing," as one might film a live stage performance not from the audience, but from behind the proscenium (so we're getting a side view).

[@RateMeClips]

@@superjackster0165 hopefully nor becuz u can see the actor step outside the tree suit lol

[@RateMeClips]

@@oliverbrownlow5615 ok so

[@angelinaramos5870]

Amazing 🤩

[@crazedprisoner7677]

Well done

[@danielcruz8347]

It's the Great Pumpkin Cackling Bumpkin's!!

[@I_LOVE_JSCHLATT]

If you live in Forsyth GA and go to K.B. Sutton this song is different from the one we do but it’s still the jitterbug but sung different. I’m in the wizard of oz school play

[@Marcock000]

Madison Ogletree i think you’re doing the Broadway song

[@glennbeckwith5723]

I'm glad they took out The Jitterbug scene because when you are dreaming You wouldn't be singing and dancing doing the Jitterbug, it wouldn't make since to have it in their.....

[@PaulMcElveen]

Dorothy sang and danced throughout the entire movie! Your comment isn't valid! In dreams, people do everything! In the 1900 classic, children's book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Lyman Frank Baum, Dorothy and Toto actually do go to the Land of Oz! MGM was considering having Dorothy and Toto actually go to the Land of Oz! Dorothy and Toto is left up to the viewers imagination, Dorothy in the final scene insist she and Toto really do go to the Land of Oz and that it wasn't a dream! I believe what Dorothy Insists!

[@PaulMcElveen]

It is left up to the viewer's imagination whether Dorothy and Toto actually do go to the Land of Oz or if Dororthy Dreams it! Dorothy in the final scene insist that it wasn't a dream and I believe her sincerity!

[@Ihatehavingconnectionswithpeop]

I saw a play on this and then they sang this song and I loved it