However, Fleming wanted her cape to blow in the wind. A pipe that would produce smoke was mounted onto the broom, and Danko's cape was pinned over it to hide it. Years later, Hamilton remembered:ĭanko remembers everything going well when she rehearsed the scene with the second unit director, Buddy Gillespie, and the special effects team, but that changed when Victor Fleming got involved. To make matters worse, the green makeup covering her body was copper-based and toxic if absorbed, so Hamilton's raw, burned flesh had to be thoroughly cleaned with acetone. She suffered second-degree burns on her face and third-degree burns on her hand. Hamilton recalled him telling her, 'I want this shot done right and done right now.' In the next take, the flames and smoke came before she was safely below set. They tried the scene four times, but things kept going wrong, and Fleming was losing his patience. But after breaking for lunch, Fleming wanted another for safety. She used the same space under the set, but an elevator replaced the catapult, which Hamilton would land on and use to descend. Immediately after the famous line, 'I'll get you, my pretty, and your little dog, too,' The Wicked Witch cackles, spins on her heels, and disappears in the cloud of smoke and roaring fire.

This meant the actress had to do her own stunt. Director Victor Fleming wanted Hamilton's last line and exit to be shot together.

Witch riding broom hurt