American Rhetoric: Movie Speech

"The Wizard of Oz" (1939)

The Wizard's BIG Balloon Send-Off Speech    

Audio mp3 of address delivered by Frank Morgan

Oz: My friends! This is positively the finest exhibition ever to be shown -- well, eh...Well, be that as it may, I, your Wizard, per ardua ad alta,¹ am about to embark upon a hazardous and technically unexplainable journey into the outer stratosphere!

To confer, converse, and otherwise hobnob with my brother wizards. And I hereby decree that until what time, if any, that I return:

    - The Scarecrow, by virtue of his highly superior brains, shall rule in my stead;

        - Assisted by the Tin Man, by virtue of his magnificent heart;

            - And the Lion, by virtue of his courage.

                      Obey them as you would me.

Dorothy:  Oh, Toto - come back! Toto! Toto! Oh, don't go without me! I'll be right with you! TOTO!

Tin Man: Stop that dog!

Oz: This is a highly irregular procedure! This is absolutely unprecedented! Ruined my exit!

Dorothy: Oh, come back! Come back! Don't go without me! Please, come back!

Oz: I can't come back! I don't know how it works! Goodbye, folks!

¹ A misquotation, perhaps, of the Latin phrase per ardua ad astra ("Through struggle to the stars")