A near miss

Somewhere Over the Rainbow is now considered one of the most iconic songs in film history, yet it almost didn’t make it into The Wizard of Oz.

After production wrapped, several MGM executives, including studio head Louis B. Mayer, pushed to remove the number, worrying that it slowed the movie’s pace and felt odd for Dorothy to sing in a barnyard setting.

But producer Mervyn LeRoy and associate producer Arthur Freed fiercely defended the song, even threatening to quit if it was cut.

Thanks to their determination, Somewhere Over the Rainbow remained in the final film, and ultimately became one of Hollywood’s most enduring and beloved musical moments.