Why are the slippers red in film but silver book?

In the original story, *The Wizard of Oz* by L. Frank Baum, the slippers were silver. Baum described them as "silver shoes with pointed toes." However, in the 1939 MGM film adaptation of the story, the slippers were changed to red. The reason for this change is unknown, but it is thought that the red slippers were more visually striking and would stand out better on the screen. The red slippers have since become iconic and are one of the most recognizable symbols of the film.