What did the Lion in The Wizard of Oz have to do with the movie?

Answer 1

There were differences between the original book by author and Oz series originator Lyman Frank Baum [May 15, 1856-May 5, 1919], and the posthumous 1939 film version of The Wizard of Oz. In the book, the Cowardly Lion was critical to the survival of Dorothy Gale, her pet dog Toto, the Tin Woodman, and the Scarecrow in a number of instances. For example, he courageously leaped over a deep, wide ditch three times. Each time, he carried a friend over to the other side. Later, and for similar reasons, he courageously jumped over the wall to the Dainty China Country. He singlehandedly scared off the onslaught of enslaved Winkies sent by the Wicked Witch of the West to kill the five friends. And he killed the Giant Spider in the Great Forest. In the film, the Cowardly Lion was critical to the rescue of Dorothy from the Yellow Castle of the Wicked Witch of the West. He helped the Tin Woodman and the Scarecrow to subdue the Castle guards, take their uniforms, and thereby get inside the Castle.