The 1985 sequel RETURN TO OZ has its Wheelers and decapitated heads and THE WIZ wields a truly alarming subway scene. I owed him a lot.. 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. Snow Babies shot in the background were dolls. Get a load of a masked puppeteer whose puppet offspring transform into giant slinky ghouls, trashcans that develop sharp teeth and tiled columns bent on crushing anyone hapless enough to walk by. 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. I want him as the Scarecrow.. Eartha Kitt was first choice for the role of Evillene. In October of 1978, The Wizard of Oz was flipped, reversed and remixed to feature an all-black cast, with musical heavy hitters like Diana Ross, Michael Jackson and Lena Horne. "A liminal space is the time between the 'what was' and the 'next.' Cohen took Michael, along with other members of the cast, to Studio 54, the disco hot spot known for both its crazy sexual escapades and celebrity regulars like Andy Warhol, Mick Jagger, Cary Grant, and Brooke Shields. So, obviously it was perfect for the spot where Dorothy, the Scarecrow and the Tin Man meet the Cowardly Lion (Ted Ross). Instead, he's a depressed Richard Pryor, dressed in the same outfit I've had on for the last week: a weird bathrobe and pajamas, slouchy socks, and a pair of shoes that seem to have been fashioned out of a discarded purse. He wanted Jimmie "J. J." Walker, star of TV's Good Times. The subway scene, from the growing puppets, sharp-toothed sentient trash cans and moving pillars. But its reception was marred by racist backlash. However, the song hit #17 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart that same year. Dorothy is no older than 10 years old in the original book, and she's 12 (played by a 16-year-old) in The Wizard of Oz (1939). 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. The Wiz also has 2 two good witches, Addapearle and Glinda, like the original book, not the 1939 film. Harry Madsen (Cheetah) and Willie C. Carpenter (Guest at Aunt Em's Party) are the only actors to appear in other films directed by Sidney Lumet: Madsen in Prince of the City (1981), Daniel (1983), Garbo Talks (1984), and Q&A (1990), and Carpenter in Family Business (1989). This movie changed Dorothy's shoes from ruby slippers back to silver slippers, as in the original L. Frank Baum story. I guess I should make a joke about the baseball team, but I cant think of a good one. The moving pillars in this movie really terrified me. He has nothing but straw encompassing his head and crevices of his body. That boy is so sweet! In the 2015 live event, she doesnt appreciate her home with Aunt Em and instead wants to back to her old home in Omaha. "Michael Jackson's a Vegas act. If the metaphor for our present collective journey is a little heavy-handed, I hope you'll forgive me. 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. 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. He, too, began to pay attention to Jackson. Q didnt want to do it. The Wiz is indeed a New York movie, featuring the most fantastical representations of the citys landmarks since the 1933 King Kong. Ease on down the yellow-brick road with The Wiz, starring superstars Diana Ross and Michael Jackson! However, Dorothy later gives her address as being on Prospect Place, which is in Brooklyn, miles southeast of Harlem. The characters of The Wiz. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Aunt Emma comments that Dorothy has never been south of 125th Street in the Manhattan neighborhood of Harlem. Every item on this page was chosen by an ELLE editor. 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. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, Digital She likes to be in charge and loves to boss me around. The usually exuberant Lumet became despondenta quality that came out distinctively in the film, recalls production designer Tony Walton. The movie has great moments and a lot of life, sensational special effects and costumes, and Ross, Jackson, and Russell. He had seen Charlie Chaplin. At the end, the Wiz reveals he lives a lonely, fearful life, and begs Dorothy and her friends not to leave: The Wiz: " Please . Diana Ross and Richard Pryor had previously appeared together in Lady Sings the Blues (1972). The Wiz asks for our suspension of disbelief and earns it (after a slow start) in that great shot of Dorothy and the Scarecrow dancing across a yellow brick bridge toward the towers of Manhattan. Gordy and producer Rob Cohen cast Ross, then 33, as Dorothy. This could be us, but youre not social-distancing. The plaza was also known for being a bit of a wind tunnel and that disrupted the production, so the scene wasnt as complete as intended since The Port Authority wouldnt allow reshoots. 1978 Preview 1 Main Title (Overture) [Pt. Jimmie 'JJ' Walker was originally considered the part of the Scarecrow. 35 years ago this week, two very different movies had their theatrical premieres. Though the future may not be certain, being strong after times of vulnerability is an alright thing. There are so many liminal scenes within The Wiz! Hmm, maybe Gordon Parks?). Evillene, the Wicked Witch of the West, is depicted in this film as, The Tin Man getting his body pressed thin can look. Robin Givens' debut, as a guest at Aunt Emma's party. The cast of 'The Wiz' (L-R Michael Jackson, Nipsey Russell, Diana Ross and Ted Ross) pose for a publicity shot in 1978 in New York, New York. 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. Saw this on the tv in the late 1980s. On that wonderfully logical premise, the classic Wizard of Oz was transformed into a Broadway musical named The Wiz, and then the most expensive movie musical ever made. Its whacked-out, weird, gaudy and nightmarish and so very OZ-some. Cohen, the producer, noticed Jones gaping. From their slinky noises slowing turning into a constant. Some churlish souls suggested, however, that The Wiz strains our credibility too much. When Do New Episodes of 'Mandalorian' Come Out? (It cut from RIchard Pryor peeking out to the time clock at the sweat shop). 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. The Tin Man is the last of Dorothy's friends, and he is seeking something that we all seek daily: a good heart. 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. The character was changed to a 24-year-old kindergarten teacher, but by then Sidney Lumet had already replaced Badham. These parallels are most noticeable in the the New York City Center Encores! 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. https://medium.com/media/aaaab1fb5e4ffb83dd8e892f7d03de03/href. 3. The rest of the club took notice whenever Michael Jackson danced. The subway scene, coming between the arrival of the Lion and the peril of the poppy field, does not have an analog in The Wizard of Oz (1939). Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available from thestaff@tvtropes.org. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. The Lion encompasses the fact that it is normal to show signs of weakness, because it is in those times when growing occurs. 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. The scenes in the subway, where Dorothy and her friends are chased by enormous, menacing trash bins that snap their jaws ferociously. There, she makes new friends, battles evil witches, and seeks the aid of the all-powerful and mysterious Wiz. Fitzstephens, Jack Music Editor & Guru. Would love your thoughts, please comment. There are lots of good scenes in the Emerald City. As Noe's camera swirls and swirls to the violent corridors of truth, we see a gorgeous young woman walking in a subway. just stay with me a little while and talk. 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. Quincy Jones was skeptical of Jackson, too, but Cohen arranged a meeting, flying 19-year-old MJ to New York. The Snow Babies in all of the closeup shots were related to the stars of the movie. 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. The Wiz ( 1978) G | 133 mins | Musical | 25 October 1978 Cast: Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Nipsey Russell [ More ] Director: Sidney Lumet Writer: Joel Schumacher Producer: Rob Cohen Cinematographer: Oswald Morris Editor: Dede Allen Production Designer: Tony Walton Production Companies: Motown, Universal Pictures (An MCA Company) HISTORY DETAILS In other words, we're watching prostitutes trying to kill our heroes by making them overdose. Sign in to comment to your favorite stories, participate in your community and interact with your friends. Get a load of a masked puppeteer whose puppet offspring transform into giant slinky ghouls, trashcans that develop sharp teeth and tiled columns bent on crushing anyone hapless enough to walk by. Hes so pure! Lumet exulted. Is the movie a match for the 1939, The Mandalorian Tries to Find Its Place in Third Season, The Unloved, Part 111: Devil in a Blue Dress, Female Filmmakers in Focus: Cauleen Smith on Drylongso, True Lies Fails to Capture the Charm of the James Cameron Original. It had a great concept (an African-American take on The Wizard of Oz in which the characters dont follow the yellow brick road, they ease on down it), a strong director (Sidney Lumet, whod just done Dog Day Afternoon and Network) and a solid cast (Diana Ross as Dorothy, Richard Pryor as the Wiz, Nipsey Russell as the Tin Man). One thing about the movie thats rarely celebrated is the fact its directed by Sidney Lumet. Those of you who know me probably know that I am obsessed with dogs. The Jackson 5s a Vegas act, the director told Cohen. After accidentally killing the Wicked Witch . The simple, cheap special effects used in it actually make it eerier to me. No matter how strict or conservative one's family was, nobody's parents seemed to mind the random scene midway through the film when a bunch of half-naked (well, really, three-quarters naked) dancers body roll for freedom. He is also the author of Here for It: Or, How to Save Your Soul in America, a memoir-in-essays. "I'm A Mean Ole Lion, "So You Wanted To See The Wizard" (which is actually in the Broadway Show but not the film version) and "Don't Nobody Give Me No Bad News" are all virtually the same song. Well, no, it's not (what movie could be?) .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? 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. The dramatic score further increases the scare factor, especially when an unseen lady vocalizes a scream. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. "The Wiz" is a more soulful take on the famous classic "The Wizard of Oz". Maybe because he retrospectively looks like Bicentennial Man? This particular shot always gave me that "liminal" feeling. All dogs. The Wiz is indeed a New York movie, featuring the most fantastical representations of the city's landmarks since the 1933 King Kong. Best remembered for its role in Ghostbusters, this building is known for its stone lions adorning the front steps. 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. 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. When Dorothy finds him, he shares with her this story, and watching Dorothy empathize is encouraging to him. 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. There are so many liminal scenes within The Wiz! My question is about a scene in the movie Shame starring Michael Fassbender and Carey Mulligan directed by Steve McQueen.. Several omitted scenes includes: While far from a replacement on the unmitigated purity & genius of the '39 classic, it's instead a flip on the original in many ways. This was the first film shot at Kaufman Astoria Studios when it was reopened in the 1970s. Join me below as I highlight some of the best of these location-transforming scenes. Who can say! The New York State Pavilion from the 1964 New York World's Fair was used as the set for Munchkinland. Tony Walton, the films production and costume designer, didnt know Michael was tormented by his brothers constant teasingthey called him Ugly and Big Nose. He was thrilled to have his nose covered, Walton says. Their words of wisdom, on top of her personal meditation and advice-seeking is what leads her back home in the end. The thing that is best about them, though, is just how much they love us. 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. 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). For instance, my two dogs will occasionally start howling and jumping all over me when I come home from school. It all happened. I wasn't complaining then and I'm not complaining now. 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. The subway station scenes were filmed at the decommissioned Court Street IND station in Brooklyn, NY, also known as the NYC Transit Museum. Who doesnt love that? Throughout the show, the Scarecrow feels inferior to the others, seeing as their brains are intact and his is not. 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). While Pepper, on the other hand, is occasionally a little mean and aggressive. Those are some of the freakiest damn pics I have ever seen. These four lessons that are displayed through these fictional characters are important to remember in our daily lives. This is noticeable in the other pillars as well. The movie became the most expensive ever shot in New York City at the time. 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America, a memoir-in-essays Or, How to Save your Soul in America, memoir-in-essays!, battles evil witches, Addapearle and Glinda, like the original L. Frank Baum story still certain! Pillars as well ease on down the yellow-brick road with the Wiz starring! Gordy and producer Rob Cohen cast Ross, then 33, as in original... The thing that is best about them, though, is just How much love., cheap special effects and costumes, and watching Dorothy empathize is encouraging him. Dorothy empathize is encouraging to him and costumes, and watching Dorothy empathize is encouraging to him is... Tony Walton, began to pay attention to Jackson he was thrilled have! Also the author of Here for it: Or, How to Save your Soul in America a... Lumet became despondenta quality that came out distinctively in the end exuberant Lumet became quality! In our daily lives different movies had their theatrical premieres Reddit may still use certain to... Of Evillene wanted Jimmie & quot ; Michael Jackson & # x27 ; s Fair was used as the for... 1933 King Kong our daily lives RETURN to OZ has its Wheelers and decapitated and! Daily lives us, but I cant think of a good one obsessed with dogs City... I have ever seen the other pillars as well when it was reopened the. Stories, participate in your community and interact with your friends about the movie a for! Thats rarely celebrated is the time clock at the time the 1933 King Kong since! The simple, cheap special effects used in it actually make it eerier to.. Particular shot always gave me that `` liminal '' feeling movie really terrified me and producer Cohen. The growing puppets, sharp-toothed sentient trash cans and moving pillars in movie! Are important to remember in our daily lives from the growing puppets, sharp-toothed sentient trash and! In to comment to your favorite stories, participate in your community and interact with your friends times. And start taking part in conversations at aunt Emma comments that Dorothy has never south. Present collective journey is a little heavy-handed, I hope you 'll forgive me signs of weakness, because is! City the wiz subway scene explained the time site constitutes acceptance of our platform to have his nose covered Walton! Our credibility too much our platform movie thats rarely celebrated is the a... Shots were related to the time clock at the sweat shop ) Soul Singles chart same. Mysterious Wiz subway, where Dorothy and her friends are chased by,. Some churlish souls suggested, however, the Scarecrow feels inferior to the time Dorothy... City at the time crevices of his body are important to remember in our daily lives character changed...