Casting Dorothy

The wide-eyed Dorothy Gale is perhaps Judy Garland’s best known role, but the actress wasn’t always destined for the part. In fact, Shirley Temple was originally promised the role by 20th Century Fox, but when MGM Studios won the rights to ‘The Wizard of Oz’, the deal fell through and Garland was instead cast as Dorothy. Even so, Temple wasn’t that upset on losing the part and later said: “Sometimes, the gods know best.”