Adrian Adolph Greenburg
Color, Fantasy, and Fabric
While The Women highlighted realism and sophistication, The Wizard of Oz allowed Adrian to explore color and fantasy on an entirely new level that had never been able to be achieved in cinema prior. The film’s shift from sepia to Technicolor was a milestone in cinematic history, and Adrian’s costumes played a vital role in making that transition unforgettable.
Dorothy’s blue gingham dress, Glinda’s pink bedazzled gown, and the Emerald City’s monochromatic splendor all demonstrated how fabric and color could enhance storytelling. As Perlman notes, costume in film is “not only surface but substance - an extension of emotion and environment” (Perlman, 2023). Adrian’s work embodied that belief, turning cloth into pivotal narrative moments to remember. For example, the Wicked Witch melting, with only the clothes of the witch remaining.
The original Ruby Red Slipper, designed by Adrian
