Direct answer: The 1939 film The Wizard of Oz used a group of 124 performers to portray the Munchkins, with additional background performers bringing the total count of Munchkin-related roles to about 225 in some accounts; in popular descriptions, the core Munchkins are cited as 124. Details and context:
- Origins in the story: In L. Frank Baum’s books, the Munchkins are the inhabitants of the eastern quadrant of Oz, but the specific film production chose to depict them as a large ensemble of actors to populate the Munchkin City and the surrounding scenes. The film’s creative decision led to a well-known figure of 124 “Munchkin” actors for principal Munchkin roles.
- Background and variation: Some sources note additional background extras and child actors were used to fill out scenes, which has led to numbers around 225 credited or uncredited performers associated with Munchkin-related elements in the 1939 production.
- Contemporary discussions: Modern discussions and articles often repeat the figure of 124 for the Munchkin cast, sometimes citing broader counts of people involved in Munchkin and related roles over the film’s production period.
