Ruby slippers Judy Garland The image worn in the 1939 classic “The Wizard of Oz” has become as iconic as the film itself. But sharp-eyed fans have noticed one change in the upcoming film adaptation of the Broadway hit “Wicked”: Nessrose’s magic shoes are silver instead of ruby red. While this may seem like a deviation, it’s actually a faithful nod to the source material – L. Frank Baum’s 1900 novel, “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz”.
© David LivingstonOriginal Silver Slipper
In Baum’s book, the magic shoe is not ruby, but silver. This detail was changed in the 1939 film to take advantage of the new Technicolor technology, with the bright ruby slippers creating a striking contrast against the golden color of the yellow brick road. As the Smithsonian Museum explains in its exhibit of a pair of ruby slippers, this creative change was a purely aesthetic choice to maximize visual impact on screen.
Paul TazewellThe costume designer for “Wicked” explained the decision to go back to silver in an interview with People: “In the book, they had these weird little silver boots.” This creative choice not only respects Baum’s vision but also aligns with 1995 Gregory Maguire In the novel “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West”, the shoes are described as iridescent and enchanted to help Nessrose walk. In the film adaptation, Marissa BodeIts Nessarose wears silver heels adorned with swirls and sparkles, offering a fresh take while paying homage to both Baum and Maguire.
© John LamparskiSymbolism in Silver
The silver slippers of Baum’s origin story carried their cultural weight. Some literary scholars have suggested that the silver shoes associated with the Yellow Brick Road were a commentary on the gold and silver monetary debate of the late 19th century.—A layer of symbolism is lost when the ruby turns red for the film Chappal. Although “Wicked” does not fall within these economic metaphors, its return to Silver reinforces its connection to Baum’s text.
Additionally, the choice of silver is on par with other iconic footwear in the fairy tale. As Tazewell points out, “There’s the idea of Cinderella and the glass slipper, and then how we make the shoe a myth and how we incorporate that into our imaginative storytelling.”
Creative limitations and artistic freedom
The decision to use silver slippers wasn’t just a creative choice—copyright considerations also influenced it. “The Wizard of Oz” (1939) is under copyright, with its iconic ruby slippers and the distinctive spiral shape of the Yellow Brick Road. director John M. Chu confirmed in an interview with Variety that the “Wicked” team had to carefully navigate these legal boundaries.
© Screen Archives“There were boundaries on what we could mention or not,” Chu explained. “We never use ruby slippers. The Frank L. Baum books, the Gregory Maguire books, and the show have Nesser’s crystal slippers.”
Production has also changed to Yellow Brick Road. “We couldn’t do a spiral. We had to do a circle,” Chu says, ensuring the “Wicked” version maintains a unique identity while avoiding legal conflicts with the 1939 film.
