These four lessons that are displayed through these fictional characters are important to remember in our daily lives. Possible reasons include using Baum as source material, not The Wizard of Oz (1939), and silver slippers better matching Diana Ross' complexion and costuming. To his surprise, Gordy agreed. Michaels a star., Lumet was harder to convince. All Rights Reserved. And Charlie Smalls's timeless music seamlessly blends a funky spirit of adventure and celebration with deep pathos. Lastly, Dorothy is taken from her home and must find her way back with the help of some new friends. Those of you who know me probably know that I am obsessed with dogs. During The Wiz post-production, he called Quincy unexpectedly during a rare home hiatus from touring. Well, no, it's not (what movie could be?) Stephanie Mills, who starred in the Broadway production, was the top choice to play Dorothy in the movie before Diana Ross lobbied for the role. The speech delivered by Glinda the Good Witch at the end of the film, and the song "Believe in Yourself", are particularly laden with est-ian concepts. When you think about it, the story is about liminal space. This subway scene freaked me out too and for years I didnt know what movie it was from! https://medium.com/media/aaaab1fb5e4ffb83dd8e892f7d03de03/href. You might've seen the commercial before, but if you haven't, check it out below. The New York State Pavilion from the 1964 New York World's Fair was used as the set for Munchkinland. This is how he lives now. They just sit there beside you when you have had a rough day and lean over to give you a little lick on the hand just to let you know they are there. Gonna have to get some coffee and check this out! In any show, musical or play, there is always some sort of hidden message that is being relayed to the audience through the use of singing, dancing and/or acting. She was the oppressive ruler of the Munchkins and owned a pretty neat pairs of shoes with secret, special powers. "The Wiz" is a more soulful take on the famous classic "The Wizard of Oz". This particular shot always gave me that "liminal" feeling. The Wicked Witch of the East. Maybe because he retrospectively looks like Bicentennial Man? Showing how much we care and displaying our thoughtfulness in the end for those around us is what is most important. The shoots were long and grueling, lasting all day underneath the World Trade Center towers. Who doesnt love that? These parallels are most noticeable in the the New York City Center Encores! in terror. Everyone, including Motown head and ex-lover Berry Gordy believed that she was too old, but she insisted that the role of Dorothy was ageless (which it is). The CBS Television Network's eyeball logo, slightly modified with an O and a Z in the middle of the walking microphone and camera, was used in the Emerald City dancing scenes. In case you cant tell, the NYPL building is not actually employed for this scene, which would have been too difficult to manage. I want him as the Scarecrow.. When Dorothy first arrives in Oz, and the Munchkins pop out of the walls and begin shambling towards her, hands outstretched, and repeating nothing other than "Toto" in high pitched voices. Synchronicity alert.I just learned today is Diana Ross B-day. The end-product is mixed (great design with lifeless direction, fun but forgettable songs, powerful but blunt messaging), but one worth exploring& ripe for a remake. The characters of The Wiz. He wanted Jimmie J. The subway scene, from the growing puppets, sharp-toothed sentient trash cans and moving pillars. Joel Schumacher's script for The Wiz was influenced by Werner Erhard's teachings and his Erhard Seminars Training ("est") movement, as both Schumacher and Diana Ross were proponents. She is scared of everything. Our heroine, Dorothy, has been transformed from a Kansas teen-ager to a twenty-four-year-old black schoolteacher. He even breaks free from the sculpture in a way that might make you think of another part of Ghostbusters, near the end. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Many considered Diana Ross to old to play Dorothy, at 34, and Mills was 21. We don't really understand why Dorothy's such a mope at her aunt's dinner party, and, after she and her dog Toto are whirled away by a snowstorm, the scene in the playground really drags. https://medium.com/media/3e1c5a36e386d82c31c7a3c16d4f4fb7/href. Strange eh? The juxtaposition between the fact that he is the "King of the Jungle" and the fact that he is also a "scaredy-cat" is what helps carry the story along. And Diana Ross wears the same simple white frock for the entire film and projects a wide-eyed innocence that kind of grows on you. Some of the dancing and the Poms sequence with the Munchkins (it cut from them going down the stairs to some of them doing acrobatics). Ive never seen The Wiz either or maybe I started watching it and fell asleep I fall asleep in lots of things especially musicals. The Wiz Directed by Sidney Lumet Produced by Rob Cohen Screenplay by Joel Schumacher Distributed by Universal Pictures Release date October 24, 1978 The Wiz is a 1978 movie musical released by Motown Records and Universal Pictures. Comedian Doug Benson cites this as his movie debut, claiming to have been an extra. That a twenty-four-year-old schoolteacher should be too sophisticated to consort with cowardly lions and scarecrows and men made out of tin. I live here all alone. The original director, John Badham ( Saturday Night Fever ), withdrew once Ross was cast. It was like, I want him. . The Wiz: Directed by Sidney Lumet. Asking for help and seeking advice shows strength, and displays to others the idea that we see their opinions and thoughts as worthy of listening to, and following. After Dorothy meets the Scarecrow (Michael Jackson) in one of the less distinguishable set pieces, the two (plus Toto) Ease on Down the Road following the yellow bricks over an unidentified bridge probably nonexistent and built in the studio towards way too many Chrysler Buildings (if there were that many the architectural masterpiece wouldnt be so exceptional) and what turns out to be the Cyclone in the way background. After Dorothy gets swept up in a tornado, she finds herself in the fantastical world of Oz. There are no shortcuts to getting back home safe; it takes the time that it takes. Maybe you can build a set at home. 4. The WIZ A remake that is different enough to stand on its own talented batch of "Pros" who make the familiar story work: Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Nipsey Russell, Mabel King, Richard Pryor, Lena Horne, Ted Ross etc New score 1939 is rural based, 1978 version is suburban There are parts that do not work, but those are small complaints. They happily oblige when we pick up their front paws and force them to dance with us around the house. His career put him on the wrong side of the law he was issued summonses on several occasions and of New Yorkers who regarded graffiti as vandalism, not art. This was the first film shot at Kaufman Astoria Studios when it was reopened in the 1970s. Oooh yeah! "The Wiz" is a more soulful take on the famous classic "The Wizard of Oz". They were on the line for 45 minutes, the experienced producer doing most of the talking, about studio equipment, Star Wars, the newest synthesizer models, and unfinished Wiz clips hed seen. To wit, Dorothy and crew famously Ease on Down the Yellow Brick Road, but they only do so after every cab they approach turns on its "Off-Duty" sign and refuses to pick them up. Jimmie 'JJ' Walker was originally considered the part of the Scarecrow. I imagine it'll be exactly like the "A Brand New Day" scene in The Wiz: After Dorothy melts Evilene (Mabel King), the Wicked Witch of the West, all the workers she imprisoned in her sweat shop (they make sweat) transform from misshapen ogres into lithe, well-moisturized ballet dancers, leaping and prancing in their underwear. One of these days Ill get around to seeing the whole flick. Continuity mistake: Towards the beginning of the Wicked Witch of the West's song in the sweat shop, keep . In the 1978 film, Dorothy is afraid of life away from her Aunt Em, but over the course of the musical, learns to be more assertive and knowledgeable of her strengths. (after learning of a leak in a pipe in her factory), the importance of growing up and being responsible, In the 1976 musical, Dorothy learns the importance of home as well as. After watching on dozens of occasions, particularly the underwear dance scene, I cannot tell you if The Wiz is good, but I am certain that it is great. Quincy Jones was always present. Lots of graffiti people, drawn on the walls, come to life and dance about like a Broadway chorus line (which, of course, they are), and then Dorothy finally finds her first yellow brick. Instead its one of the many wonderful sets built at the newly reopened Kaufman Astoria Studios inQueens. The dramatic score further increases the scare factor, especially when an unseen lady vocalizes a scream. While Pepper, on the other hand, is occasionally a little mean and aggressive. There are lots of good scenes in the Emerald City. Stanley Kubrick never directed a musical film probably because as talented as he was, musicals weren't his thing, so I wouldn't be surprised if he would end up doing Lumet's similar mistakes had he ever made one. The Scarecrow tells us however, that it is alright to have moments of silliness, moments of being confident in the abilities that we do have and to have faith in our purpose. That's a big part of why I love it so much. It may represent the part in the book where Dorothy and company are pursued by the Kalidahs, a kind of bear-tiger chimera. Chrysler Buildinghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysler_Building. When you think about it, the story is about liminal space. Well actually, everything did (especially the whole Tin Man reveal). Theres an instrument that can make the sounds you want. The 1985 sequel RETURN TO OZ has its Wheelers and decapitated heads and THE WIZ wields a truly alarming subway scene. It's quite unnerving as a first impression of Oz. Heidi is so sweet and loving, but you better not sneeze while she is the in the room because she will dart out of there. Garland played Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz (1939). Saw this on the tv in the late 1980s. (In the film, Jones appears dressed in gold, playing a giant piano in Times Square.) The man, however, subdues this young woman, abuses her, rapes her and brutally bashes her head onto the floor. Finally, at the very end of the journey, there's Richard Pryor as The Wiz, coward at heart, filled with doubts, hiding behind the electronic gadgets he uses to enslave the Emerald City and keep Evillene at bay. I guess I should make a joke about the baseball team, but I cant think of a good one. Holy 70s drug induced set design, Batman! This is based on opinion. The Wiz came along at a perfect time for Berry Gordy and Motown Records. An adaptation of "The Wizard of Oz" that tries to capture the essence of the African-American experience. .css-5rg4gn{display:block;font-family:NeueHaasUnica,Arial,sans-serif;font-weight:normal;margin-bottom:0.3125rem;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-5rg4gn:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-5rg4gn{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.3;letter-spacing:-0.02em;margin:0.75rem 0 0;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-5rg4gn{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.3;letter-spacing:0.02rem;margin:0.9375rem 0 0;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-5rg4gn{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.4;margin:0.9375rem 0 0.625rem;}}@media(min-width: 73.75rem){.css-5rg4gn{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.4;}}When Do New Episodes of 'Mandalorian' Come Out? Is the movie a match for the 1939 Judy Garland version? This could be us, but youre not social-distancing. The Wiz is a 1978 American musical adventure fantasy film directed by Sidney Lumet. I li. Sorry, cat people, but I just dont get you. The minute we can safely (key word: safely) end isolation measures, I'm rushing into the streets in my finest dancers' belt and getting my grand jet on. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, Digital In other words, we're watching prostitutes trying to kill our heroes by making them overdose. She likes to be in charge and loves to boss me around. I have to admit that The WIZ is waaaaaay too long for me & is a bit of a chore but the visuals are cool in that wonked out seventies way & that subway scene is truly nuts. call me names." Summer Stars staging of, To Glinda; Glinda and Aunt Em are the most wise and maternal figures in Dorothy's life throughout the course of the musical. Christopher Campbell began writing film criticism and covering film festivals for a zine called. He wanted Jimmie "J. J." Walker, star of TV's Good Times. Watching this scene as a child, as a generation of black kids did, was quite an awakening. If any story could use a spoiler, it's this one. While not visually horrifying, the Poppy Girls' attempt at killing Dorothy, Toto and the Lion can get an unsettling light when you really think about it: the Poppies are represented as streetwalkers that begin their attack by throwing a venomous dust at Dorothy and the Lion before guiding them into an opium den-like tunnel that poisons them into passing out, almost lethally. He looked at Michael the way a jaguar looks at a goat, Cohen says. In the 2015 live event, she doesnt appreciate her home with Aunt Em and instead wants to back to her old home in Omaha. We can't see enough of him to get to know him. It's set to return to Broadway in spring 2024. Nipsey Russell is fine as the Tin Man, too, but Ted Ross sort of disappears into his lion's costume, done in by the makeup man. Michael Martin, known as Iz the Wiz, was a prolific embellisher of New York subway cars, including this one painted in 1982. Must have been a set, no subway was that clean in 1978. By what name was The Wiz (1978) officially released in India in English? Ease on down the yellow-brick road with The Wiz, starring superstars Diana Ross and Michael Jackson! He's been sleeping even though it's the middle of the day, and he has a desperate, frantic energy about him: sad to be discovered but clearly grateful for human contact. Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. ", Press J to jump to the feed. Peter Stone adapted the screenplay from the 1973 novel of the same name written by Morton Freedgood under the pen name John . Tinman: The genius who created me only took care of my dashing good looks, my razor sharp wit and my irresistible attraction to the wrong women. Magazines, Or create a free account to access more articles. It may represent the part in the book where Dorothy . Would love your thoughts, please comment. The other was the Australian Twentieth Century Oz (1976). My love for dogs makes me do things like walk up to strangers on the street to pet their dog or cry uncontrollably when a dog dies in a movie. "Michael Jackson's a Vegas act. When this movie debuted on CBS, the network trimmed several scenes to fit in a 3 hour block with commercials. See production, box office & company info, World Trade Center, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA. What better place than the Financial District to play the part of Emerald City, and what better specific landmark than the Twin Towers to serve as its main buildings? Aunt Emma comments that Dorothy has never been south of 125th Street in the Manhattan neighborhood of Harlem. The movie. Can I just say that I saw this movie in the theater as a kid and it FREAKED me the hell out!!! Because when you think about it, it is kind of strange how we let animals that still chase other animals, lick themselves, and eat slugs (like my dog) live in our homes and sleep beside us in our beds. On the set, Michael took extremely seriously his choreography sessions with Louis Johnson, whod been a pioneering African-American ballet dancer over years of punishing Hollywood racism. He is also the author of Here for It: Or, How to Save Your Soul in America, a memoir-in-essays. In the film, Michaels most impressive steps are with Diana Ross, as he clumsily learns to walk after being imprisoned by crows on his scarecrow pole. One of two mid-1970s rock music/musical pictures inspired by 'The Wizard of Oz'. Just as black music, despite brief exceptions such as Motown and disco, had been for black radio stations and white music for white radio stations. Another major location from the film that no longer exists, this former home of the New York Mets has been destroyed and replaced by Citi Field. Eartha Kitt was first choice for the role of Evillene. Thats the Austin J. Tobin Plaza between the towers repurposed as, I guess, the Emerald City plaza, and the central orb featuring the OZ letters is the Great Spherical Caryatid sculpture (aka The Sphere), which mostly survived the 9/11 attack and now stands in Battery Park as a memorial. As big and as spectacular and as musical as it was, he says, we never got a real solid distribution. Black films, aside from Shaft, were for black audiences. And it had Michael Jackson, a year before he would start his solo career with immortal dance hits such as Dont Stop Til You Get Enough and Off the Wall. But The Wiz was most important for what happened behind the scenesveteran producer Quincy Jones, Lumets longtime film-score colleague, was musical director, and he met his future Thriller collaborator MJ by correctly pronouncing Socrates to the young singer on set. The name of the wicked witches in this version are Evilene and Evermean. With Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Nipsey Russell, Ted Ross. 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