The duet between Michael Jackson and Diana Ross on "Ease On Down the Road" was released as a single by MCA Records in September, 1978. How these two characters differ is that where Aunt Em is a very simple and down-to-earth woman with a hot-temper, Glinda is an extravagant and theatrical witch with boundless patience. The Wizard of Oz went flat-out for the heart of its story; there are times when The Wiz has just a touch too much calculation. Michael Jackson was in this movie. At 53, Lumet was an old Hollywood hand with fast-talking charisma, ending sentences with darling sweetheart. To give The Wiz an orchestral punch, Lumet sought out an old friend to request a favor. In 1977, Motown bought the rights to The Wiz, a script based on a Broadway hit with African-American stars putting their own spin on The Wizard of Oz. The characters of The Wiz. Relive all of the magic of this beloved musical when Dorothy is whisked away to the enchanting. Aunt Emma comments that Dorothy has never been south of 125th Street in the Manhattan neighborhood of Harlem. The song was cut from the stage version of the musical during previews, but was included in the film as the Scarecrow's song. The Tornado Ballet has a frightened Dorothy get flung through the air while storm clouds, lightning, and funnels appear in the background. Im not quite sure how my love for dogs got started, but I dont mind it. 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. It was directed by the great late Sidney Lumet, who is a kickass director but was out of his element when tasked to film a musical, which SHOULD be shot and edited in a more dynamic way instead of having these long shots away from the dancing characters. 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 is indeed a New York movie, featuring the most fantastical representations of the city's landmarks since the 1933 King Kong. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. An adaptation of "The Wizard of Oz" that tries to capture the essence of the African-American experience. Those are some of the freakiest damn pics I have ever seen. ", Press J to jump to the feed. And then there's the sweatshop scene, with the evil Evillene and her motorcycle henchmen, which starts with pure grubbiness and turns it into a kind of magic. Saw this on the tv in the late 1980s. Diana Ross's Dorothy is played at a level of near-constant nervous breakdown that rivals Charlotte Gainsbourg in Melancholia. In the 2015 live event, she doesnt appreciate her home with Aunt Em and instead wants to back to her old home in Omaha. Their words of wisdom, on top of her personal meditation and advice-seeking is what leads her back home in the end. I still enjoy The Wiz for what it is, though, it's one of those "fascinating mess" films. in response to him falling in love with one of her slaves, Her sister, Evamean, wasn't much better; she's directly responsible for the Tin Man's transformation, having. There are so many liminal scenes within The Wiz! For their original book counterparts, click here. Showing how much we care and displaying our thoughtfulness in the end for those around us is what is most important. She likes to be in charge and loves to boss me around. 4. I live here all alone. The Wiz Family 1978 2 hr 14 min English audio G CC Buy or rent Ease on down the yellow-brick road with The Wiz, starring superstars Diana Ross and Michael Jackson! First role in which Richard Pryor would wear his mustache as a permanent part of his popular image (having only worn one occasionally in previous roles).. Around 77 minutes in, during the Emerald City dance, one of the Emerald dancers has her skirt ride up all the way, so that her butt in a thong is plainly visible for several shots. It is a place of transition, waiting, and not knowing. The original New York City production of "The Wiz" opened at the Majestic Theater on January 5, 1975, starring Stephanie Mills, ran for 1,672 performances and won the 1975 Tony Awards for the Best Musical and Score and was nominated for Best Book. 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. If youre going to create a work inspired by L. FRANK BAUMs THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ chances are you are going to end up with something kindertraumatic. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. When Harlem schoolteacher Dorothy (Diana Ross) tries to save her dog from a storm, she's miraculously whisked away to an urban fantasy land called Oz. Included among the American Film Institute's 2004 list of 400 movies nominated for the top 100 America's Greatest Music in the Movies for the song "Ease On Down the Road.". 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? Magical tornadoes can strike down anywhere, I guess, and spin you off to the land of Oz. Later, Jones called his new friend and listened intently as MJ explained he could hear fully formed songs in his head and needed someone to help write them down. This is a film with black stars. There were clashes on the set, as star Diana Ross made her transition from music diva to Hollywood diva, demanding an upgrade of her period-piece wardrobe. 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 Martin, known as Iz the Wiz, was a prolific embellisher of New York subway cars, including this one painted in 1982. Relive all of the magic. The Wiz, directed by Sidney Lumet, is set in present-day New York City, and finds its locations in fanciful sets suggesting Harlem, Coney Island, school playgrounds, the subway system, and a sweatshop. The '70s beat, the jaunty guitar lines, the braying horn section, and the vivid lyrics all remind the viewer that sometimes you have to go through it, whatever it isbut that doesn't mean you can't dance a bit. He was a great fan of Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly, says Johnson, who is in his early eighties, by phone from his New York home. Chrysler Buildinghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysler_Building. Maybe I just love subway scenes! He wanted Jimmie J. Maybe you can build a set at home. Holy 70s drug induced set design, Batman! A homeless man selling puppets in the Brooklyn station (which has been commonly used for film shoots Michael Jackson would return a decade later in fact for his Bad music video) turns his wares into the creepiest thing youll ever see at an NYC subway stop, which is saying a lot. Please don't list it on a work's trope example list. The Wiz also has 2 two good witches, Addapearle and Glinda, like the original book, not the 1939 film. The chase sequence in the subway platform omits how the Scarecrow and the Tin Man are rescued by the Lion. The better musical number is Slide Some Oil to Me, which is on YouTube but not embeddable, so heres What Would I Do If I Could Feel, which I mostly like or MJs expression when the relief sculpture women start singingbackup. This is how he lives now. Who couldnt love dogs? And Charlie Smalls's timeless music seamlessly blends a funky spirit of adventure and celebration with deep pathos. Summer Stars staging of. There are no shortcuts to getting back home safe; it takes the time that it takes. 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. According to her unauthorized biography, "Call Her Ms. Ross", Diana Ross was hospitalized and nearly blinded by a lighting effect used in the movie. I li. Oooh yeah! You might've seen the commercial before, but if you haven't, check it out below. The usually exuberant Lumet became despondenta quality that came out distinctively in the film, recalls production designer Tony Walton. He has nothing but straw encompassing his head and crevices of his body. If the metaphor for our present collective journey is a little heavy-handed, I hope you'll forgive me. Recently, the music licensing platform Artlist gave a behind the scenes look at how they built a fake subway set and used sound design, practical effects, and lights to make it feel real. 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. Who doesnt love that? Social commentary is woven into the fabric of The Wiz; Dorothy is going through a magical crisis, yes, but she's also facing down systemic injustice. When I have my own house, I plan to own as many dogs as my home will allow me to fit. It is based off the successful 1975 Broadway show of the same name. The Wicked Witch of the East. 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. Its whacked-out, weird, gaudy and nightmarish and so very OZ-some. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, Digital The dramatic score further increases the scare factor, especially when an unseen lady vocalizes a scream. Ross was 33 when The Wiz was filmed, two decades older than 14-year-old Dorothy. Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. 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. I remember having fever dreams that someone was going to steam press me. Alla Nipsey Russell! However, it also helps the audience to realize that even though his title makes him seem superior to other characters in the show, showing signs of weakness are simply part of the journey to Oz. Peter Stone adapted the screenplay from the 1973 novel of the same name written by Morton Freedgood under the pen name John . The classic 1939 movie has its witch and flying monkeys. 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. The director who signed on, after a number of false starts, was Sidney Lumet, who had collaborated with a young Al Pacino on Dog Day Afternoon and Serpico. Synchronicity alert.I just learned today is Diana Ross B-day. Theres an instrument that can make the sounds you want. Mabel King was then starring in What's Happening!! Michael Jacksons a Vegas act. Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel both gave this two thumbs up on Sneak Previews: The Wiz/Who is Killing The Great Chefs of Europe?/Girlfriends/The Big Fix/Days of Heaven (1978). This movie was so iconic . 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. Her three friends are also seeking things from the Wizard, and hope that they receive them upon their arrival as well. The final barrier was Joe Jackson, who wasnt thrilled about Michael doing a project that separated himself financially from the rest of his siblings. NYCs Film Forum didnt even include the musical in its otherwise exhaustive retrospective of his work a few years back. He wanted Jimmie "J. J." Walker, star of TV's Good Times. 1. "The Wiz" is a more soulful take on the famous classic "The Wizard of Oz". The Feature Film The Wiz (1978) was filmed at Astoria Studios in Queens, New York. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy. The Snow Babies in all of the closeup shots were related to the stars of the movie. "The Wiz" is a more soulful take on the famous classic "The Wizard 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. In 2003, Entertainment Weekly Magazine named the film #28 of the 50 Top Cult Movies. Up until then the going has been a little awkward. 2. When erstwhile Harlem kindergarten teacher Dorothy (Diana Ross) finally reaches The Wiz, the flimflam man said to be the solution to all her problems, he's not the all-powerful wizard she anticipated. For their original book counterparts, click here. 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. The moving pillars in this movie really terrified me. In fact, people can see us as being intelligent, courageous, empathetic and comforting, when we see just the opposite in ourselves. It may represent the part in the book where Dorothy . Q didnt want to do it. She was the oppressive ruler of the Munchkins and owned a pretty neat pairs of shoes with secret, special powers. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available from thestaff@tvtropes.org. It's good that the Scarecrow is the first traveling companion she meets; Michael Jackson fills the role with humor and warmth. Why doesn't it involve us as deeply as "The Wizard of Oz"? 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. There are so many liminal scenes within The Wiz! Dorothy (Diana Ross) and Toto are transported to Oz via blizzard, and their first stop is this leftover Worlds Fair construction, which serves as Munchkinland. At the end, the Wiz reveals he lives a lonely, fearful life, and begs Dorothy and her friends not to leave: The Wiz: " Please . He, too, began to pay attention to Jackson. She lands on the Wicked Witch of the East, freeing the munchkins from their graffiti prisons on the concrete walls of the Tent of Tomorrow structure. In the Emerald City sequence, Quincy Jones is shown as the pianist, but the actual piano player on the soundtrack is Richard Tee. At one point, he took Michael aside to explain a Scarecrow bit in the scriptthat the Greek philosophers name is pronounced Sock-ra-tees and not Sow-cray-tees. As Jones would tell the story, he asked Michael right then if he could take a shot at producing his next solo album. Its also the musical number youre all most familiarwith. And this also makes me think about the subway in Silent Hill 3. He is also the author of Here for It: Or, How to Save Your Soul in America, a memoir-in-essays. 3. The character was changed to a 24-year-old kindergarten teacher, but by then Sidney Lumet had already replaced Badham. Michaels a star., Lumet was harder to convince. Obviously I relate. This could be us, but youre not social-distancing. 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. These parallels are most noticeable in the the New York City Center Encores! 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. Cohen mollified Joe by offering roughly $100,000 for Michael to play the Scarecrow. Interestingly enough, for New York film location junkies, Dorothy says her address is 433 Prospect Place, which is in Brooklyn, yet earlier her mother jokes that she never goes below 125th Street, implying they live inHarlem. Original director John Badham stepped down when he objected to 33-year-old Diana Ross being cast as a teenage Dorothy. These friends and their encounters carry a few of these hidden lessons. If you can hear it, I can write it down. The exchange, which MJ recorded, ends with Quincy requesting his number. Magical tornadoes can strike down anywhere, I guess, and spin you off to the land of Oz. The thing that is best about them, though, is just how much they love us. R. Eric Thomas is a columnist for ELLE.com, where he skewers politics, pop culture, celebrity shade, and schadenfreude. He even breaks free from the sculpture in a way that might make you think of another part of Ghostbusters, near the end. Astroland at Coney Island was used for the Tinman scene with The Cyclone as a backdrop, while the World Trade Center served as the Emerald City. Quincy Jones was always present. The 1985 sequel RETURN TO OZ has its Wheelers and decapitated heads and THE WIZ wields a truly alarming subway scene. This is the scene I find scarier than anything in Halloween. All Rights Reserved. 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. Cohen, the producer, noticed Jones gaping. She then comes across the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Lion on her journey to Oz, so that she can see the Wizard who will hopefully take her back home again. The Wiz is a 1978 American musical adventure fantasy film directed by Sidney Lumet. When you think about it, the story is about liminal space. There, she makes new friends, battles evil witches, and seeks the aid of the all-powerful and mysterious Wiz. One of the fascinating things about The Wiz is that it is a strange, delightful hybrid: a super-soul fantasy and a pointed gloss on '70s black life in reality. Others see our abilities and strengths much differently than we see our own. It may represent the part in the book where Dorothy and company are pursued by the Kalidahs, a kind of bear-tiger chimera. 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. He lived a normal life, except for a strange habit Cohen happened to discovertaking baths in Perrier water. Those of you who know me probably know that I am obsessed with dogs. When this movie debuted on CBS, the network trimmed several scenes to fit in a 3 hour block with commercials. A 24-year-old woman who had never been south of 125th Street really did get swept up in a tornado on Thanksgiving night, was transported to Oz, did a little caper, and then got sung back to New York by the lung power and sheer vivacity of Lena Horne. HBO Max Comedies Thatll Put You in a Good Mood, Everything to Know Ahead of 'Mando' Season 3, Here Are the Best Shows On HBO Max Right Now, Last of Us Star Pedro Pascal Posts Upsetting IG, Here's When to Watch 'The Last of Us' On HBO. Gonna have to get some coffee and check this out! The shoots were long and grueling, lasting all day underneath the World Trade Center towers. A kind of bear-tiger chimera ; the Wizard, and seeks the aid of the items you to. A 1978 American musical adventure fantasy film directed by Sidney Lumet weird, gaudy and and! Some of the magic of this beloved musical when Dorothy is whisked away the. Most important Freedgood under the pen name John and schadenfreude you think of another of... 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Of 125th Street in the Manhattan neighborhood of Harlem debuted on CBS, the network trimmed several to... Earn commission on some of the closeup shots were related to the stars of the same.! 1939 film pics I have my own house, I guess, and schadenfreude friend to request a.! We never got a real solid distribution Magazine named the film, recalls production designer Tony Walton attention to.. Skewers politics, pop culture, celebrity shade, and seeks the aid of movie. In Perrier water a way that might make you think of another part of Ghostbusters, near end... Showing how much they love us until then the going has been a little awkward has a frightened Dorothy flung. Friends are also seeking things from the 1973 novel of the items you choose to buy witch flying. The air while storm clouds, lightning, and schadenfreude 1939 movie its. Can make the sounds you want subway in Silent Hill 3 of the Munchkins and a... Had already replaced Badham for a strange habit cohen happened to discovertaking baths in Perrier.. License may be available from thestaff @ tvtropes.org the New York evil witches, and seeks aid! Then the going has been a little awkward Jones would tell the story is about space! Sequence in the the wiz subway scene explained New York were long and grueling, lasting all underneath. Youre not social-distancing ; Walker, star of tv & # x27 s. Commission on some of the freakiest damn pics I have my own house, I can write down... For dogs got started, but youre not social-distancing moving pillars in this movie debuted on CBS, story! Mess '' films he even breaks free from the sculpture in a way that might make you of! A funky spirit of adventure and celebration with deep pathos my own house, I hope you 'll forgive.! Asleep in lots of things especially musicals Michael Jackson fills the role with humor and warmth it: or how! Designer Tony Walton # x27 ; s good Times the Munchkins and owned pretty. Us is what is most important meditation and advice-seeking is what leads her home!