The Magic of Color in Cinema: A Journey Through the Academy Museum’s Latest Exhibit

The Ruby Red Slippers: A Symbol of Cinema’s Color Revolution

The world of cinema has always been a place of wonder, and few objects embody that sense of magic more than Dorothy’s ruby red slippers from The Wizard of Oz. These iconic shoes, now on display at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles, are more than just a piece of movie memorabilia—they are a testament to the groundbreaking role of color in film history. Originally described as silver shoes in Frank L. Baum’s 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the filmmakers behind the 1939 adaptation made a bold decision to change them to red. This choice was not just aesthetic; it was a technological statement. The shoes were meant to dazzle audiences as they transitioned from the sepia tones of Kansas to the vibrant Technicolor world of Oz. The sequined slippers, worn by Judy Garland, were dyed red and adorned with nearly 5,000 sequins. Today, they are one of the crown jewels of the museum’s collection, and their return to display has been met with excitement from fans worldwide.

The Unseen Heroines: Women Who Brought Color to Hollywood

While the ruby red slippers are undeniably the star of the show, the exhibit “Color in Motion: Chromatic Explorations of Cinema” also sheds light on a lesser-known chapter in Hollywood’s history—the pivotal role of women in the development of color in film. From hand-coloring and stenciling to pioneering techniques in animation, women played a crucial but often overlooked part in shaping the visual language of cinema. For example, women like Hazel Sewell, Walt Disney’s sister-in-law, led the studio’s transition to color, creating the first all-female ink and paint department in animation. Similarly, women at the French production company Pathé hand-painted films frame by frame, earning wages that, while meager, were higher than those in other professions available to them at the time. These women, though rarely recognized, laid the groundwork for the vibrant, colorful films we enjoy today.

Silent Films: A World of Color Beyond Black and White

One of the most surprising revelations in the exhibit is that silent films were not always the black-and-white affairs we often imagine. In fact, many early films were tinted or toned, meaning the entire filmstrip was bathed in a single color—often bold hues like red, blue, or yellow—to enhance mood and atmosphere. Curators at the Academy Museum have painstakingly scanned original filmstrips from archives around the world to restore these colors to their authentic glory. The result is a vivid reminder that color has been an integral part of cinema since its earliest days. The use of color in silent films was not just decorative; it was a storytelling tool, used to signal changes in setting, mood, or even the moral tone of a scene. This portion of the exhibit challenges visitors to rethink their assumptions about the history of cinema and the role of color in its evolution.

The "Leader Ladies": Hidden Figures in Film History

Another fascinating aspect of the exhibit is its exploration of the “leader ladies,” women who appeared in the lead frames of film reels to help calibrate and process color in laboratories. These women were invisible to audiences but played a vital role in ensuring that the colors on screen looked as intended. Sadly, this process was often exclusionary, as film stock was primarily developed to capture white skin tones, leaving people of color marginalized in both the industry and its output. By highlighting the stories of these unsung heroes, the exhibit not only celebrates their contributions but also acknowledges the limitations and biases of early film technology.

Pioneers of Light and Movement: The Art of Loïe Fuller

The exhibit opens with a nod to Loïe Fuller, an American dancer and innovator who revolutionized the interplay of movement and color on screen. In the early 20th century, Fuller experimented with fabric, light, and chemicals to create the Serpentine Dance, a mesmerizing performance where colored light reflected off flowing costumes, producing a kaleidoscope of hues. Her work laid the groundwork for future explorations of color in cinema, inspiring filmmakers to push the boundaries of what was possible. Fuller’s legacy serves as a reminder that the art of cinema has always been deeply intertwined with other art forms, from dance to painting.

"Body Paint": Where Movement Meets Color

The final gallery of the exhibit offers a fun and interactive way to experience the magic of color firsthand. Titled “Body Paint,” this installation by artist Memo Akten allows visitors to step in front of a screen and watch as their movements are transformed into bursts of color. Whether you’re jumping, twirling, or simply waving your arms, the camera captures your motion and translates it into a dynamic display of light and hue. This playful finale to the exhibit invites visitors to become animators themselves, bringing the story of color in cinema full circle. As Jessica Niebel, the exhibit’s curator, notes, “Now it’s time for visitors to become animators of colors themselves through their own bodies.” The result is not just a celebration of cinema’s past but a joyful ode to the power of color to connect and inspire us all.