Film Title: Wizard of Oz (1939)

Rating: G

Type of Film: Family/fantasy/adventure/musical

Awards: 2 Oscars; best original score, best original song. Nominated for 4 other Oscars: best art direction, best cinematography, best special effects, and best picture. Additionally nominated for golden palm award at the Cannes Film Festival

Story line: Dorothy sustains the most famous of all cinematic head injuries when a window hits her on the back of the head during a tornado. She is knocked out and dreams the tornado has swept her away to the magical land, of Oz. She embarks on a journey to the wizard who can help her return home. .

Quotes: you dont need to be helped anymore, you have always had the power to go back to Kansas. Glenda the good witch to Dorothy

“Anybody can have a brain. That'’s a mediocre commodity.” The Wizard of Oz to the Scarecrow.

A heart is not judged by how much you love, but by how much you are loved by others. The wizard of Oz to the Tin Man

Accuracy: While a wonderful family film, this is not the movie to see if you want to learn anything about a head injury. In fact, this movie is a great source of misinformation about TBI. Rarely do people wake up from a prolonged state of unconsciousness due to head injury without a headache, or any other symptoms.

Unlike Dorthy's personal growth and revelations upon waking, head injured people do not awake with instantaneous great insights or a more harmonious human being. Dorothy wakes up a better, more loving person with strengthened relationships. The fact is that many people with head injury find themselves more isolated than ever. TBI puts an enormous strain on relationships, and it is often the case that marital and other serious relationships decline.


Please add your own review /comments.
How would you rate this film?

The following is a short list of Complimentary Medical Centers at various Unversity Medical Centers. Remeber a google search will direct you to 18,700,000 University Complimentary Medical Centers!

Duke University Center for Integrative Medicine.

UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Medicine.

Preventative Medicine Research Institute.

University of Arizona Integrative Medicine Program.

University of Maryland Complimetary Medicine Center.

University of Michigan Integrative Medicine Center.

With the range of symptoms that TBI sufferers live with integrative care may serve to alliviate some of them. If you have undergone treatment at a complimentary medical center or from a local provider please share your experience with us.

The following links provide an interesting film reviews & discussions of amnesia in the movies.

The first is from the British Medical Journal.
The second is from John F. Kihlstrom, A professor of Psychology at UC Berkeley.

Be sure to check our Film reviews on the TBI Blog site! We continue will to discuss TBI in films as it shapes much of the publics misunderstanding about brain injury. If there is a film you've seen (addressing TBI) recently log on and share your thoughts and comments.

The Christopher Reeves paralyze Act has passed in the US House of representatives and will go before the US Senate this fall. Visit the Christopher Reeve Foundation. for an excellent review of Bush's policy on stem cell research, the legislation before congress and how congress has voted.

The Christopher Reeve paralysis Act aims to improve and coordinate research, rehabilitation and the quality of life for the paralyzed community. They advocate for stem cell research - something the brain injury community may benefit from as
well. The site provides a direct link to representatives - an opportunity to let your representative know your position on stem cell research/treatment.

Claudia Osborn MD & TBI survivor, has a wonderful web site.
In part of it she describes the assistance her service dog provides
her. Please visit Claudia Osborn. for more
Jack has a number of conditions and concerns as of
late, that a service dog would provide relief toward. For example,
on long driving trips - the dog could ensure he stay awake, and
not run off the road!

Among basic daily functioning tasks -assistance finding things,
assistance staying focused and out of danger, service dogs also
provide companionship, which is vital as so many TBI survivors feel
isolated and alone.

There are many Google links to service dog directories. Most directories
are easily managed - with links to each state.