13 Movie Hoaxes That Completely Fooled Everyone

9. A Dead Munchkin Is Visible In The Wizard of Oz

The Wizard of Oz has been subject to a number of baffling urban legends over the decades, the most disturbing being the claim that a heartbroken, suicidal dwarf can be seen hanging in the background when Dorothy (Judy Garland), Scarecrow (Ray Bolger) and the Tin Man (Jack Haley) are skipping along the Yellow Brick Road and singing "We're Off to See the Wizard".

When the classic musical hit VHS, the rumour spread like wildfire, no doubt aided by the fairly low fidelity of VHS recordings, which made it difficult to conclusively distinguish the swinging black object in the background.

Once the film was released on DVD, though, the myth was debunked once and for all: the object was revealed to be a prop bird moving around. That's to say nothing of the fact that a Munchkin suicide on the movie's set, during shooting no less, would've surely been widely reported, and the scene would've consequently been re-shot.