See answer (1) Copy. Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. Pay no attention: Critics like that wouldn't know a yellow brick road if they saw one. Synchronicity alert.I just learned today is Diana Ross B-day. The scenes in the subway, where Dorothy and her friends are chased by enormous, menacing trash bins that snap their jaws ferociously. 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. This movie was so iconic . We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Michaels a star., Lumet was harder to convince. See production, box office & company info, World Trade Center, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA. Many considered Diana Ross to old to play Dorothy, at 34, and Mills was 21. 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. Their words of wisdom, on top of her personal meditation and advice-seeking is what leads her back home in the end. Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. The original director, John Badham ( Saturday Night Fever ), withdrew once Ross was cast. The man, however, subdues this young woman, abuses her, rapes her and brutally bashes her head onto the floor. Other authors have create their own names for the witches. The moving pillars in this movie really terrified me. 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. However, seeking help from others is never showing weakness or proving not to be strong in our own abilities. Strange eh? An adaptation of "The Wizard of Oz" that tries to capture the essence of the African-American experience. 1/The Wiz/Soundtrack Version] Quincy Jones 2:33 2 Overture (Pt. All Rights Reserved. Easing Out of a Scary World in The Wiz, In 'Chicago,' Isolation Is the Key to Stardom. Sidney Lumet was chosen to direct primarily because of his reputation for finishing his pictures on time and within budget. To Aunt Em; Glinda and Aunt Em are the most wise and maternal figures in Dorothy's life throughout the course of the musical. Cohen mollified Joe by offering roughly $100,000 for Michael to play the Scarecrow. 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. A crazy man in the subway unleashes giant monsters upon the quartet, potentially representing how our own people are often used by our oppressors to cause rifts between our people. They dont judge us when they see us eating junk food that we really shouldnt; instead they just want us to share it. 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. This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator. The Snow Babies in all of the closeup shots were related to the stars of the movie. These parallels are most noticeable in the the New York City Center Encores! The Tornado Ballet has a frightened Dorothy get flung through the air while storm clouds, lightning, and funnels appear in the background. Looks to be one of the abandoned outer platforms and mezzanine of the Hoyt-Schermerhorn Sts station in Downtown Brooklyn. Where did the purse shoes come from? Sorry, cat people, but I just dont get you. 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. Fitzstephens, Jack Music Editor & Guru. UNK SEZ: Subway scene, YOU are truly insane but lest we forget, there are many freaky images to withstand in THE WIZ. Theater chains in white neighborhoods wouldnt schedule The Wiz for fear of scaring off white regulars, producer. 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. The usually exuberant Lumet became despondenta quality that came out distinctively in the film, recalls production designer Tony Walton. 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. What the Tin Man does not see in himself is the fact that he is one of the most compassionate members of the foursome, which juxtaposes his theory that he does not have a heart. 4. With that said, I always feel compelled to seek out these messages when watching or participating in a show such as this. Join me below as I. The normally bland concrete floors . Some churlish souls suggested, however, that The Wiz strains our credibility too much. Please don't list it on a work's trope example list. In the 2015 television special, Dorothy learns that home is where her family is, which is with Aunt Em in Kansas, as opposed to in Omaha, where she use to live with her deceased parents. Not because shes too old (although she is), but because she plays Dorothy the same way she played Billie Holiday, with an emaciated world-weariness, when the part, as Judy Garland had shown the world forty years earlier, called for a wide-eyed, childish wonder. 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 arrival of the baby and its family at Aunt Emme's party. .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? Obviously I relate. 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. 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. While Pepper, on the other hand, is occasionally a little mean and aggressive. Quincy Jones was skeptical of Jackson, too, but Cohen arranged a meeting, flying 19-year-old MJ to New York. 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. 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. I just finished up participating in a local show titled "The Wiz". 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. It's quite unnerving as a first impression of Oz. Theres an instrument that can make the sounds you want. In giant clown shoes, he stumbles, rolls on the ground, and knocks out his knees. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. The Wiz is indeed a New York movie, featuring the most fantastical representations of the citys landmarks since the 1933 King Kong. When Do New Episodes of 'Mandalorian' Come Out? 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. Woody Allen? This is not a black film, Gordy corrected him. Michael and Diana have terrific chemistry, but Ross is mismatched for the part. During The Wiz post-production, he called Quincy unexpectedly during a rare home hiatus from touring. It's set to return to Broadway in spring 2024. The Jackson 5's a Vegas act," the director told Cohen. In case you cant tell, the NYPL building is not actually employed for this scene, which would have been too difficult to manage. We can't see enough of him to get to know him. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Why doesn't it involve us as deeply as "The Wizard of Oz"? 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. When this movie debuted on CBS, the network trimmed several scenes to fit in a 3 hour block with commercials. Long Waits, Short Appointments, Huge Bills. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available from thestaff@tvtropes.org. 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). The Tin Man is the last of Dorothy's friends, and he is seeking something that we all seek daily: a good heart. These four lessons that are displayed through these fictional characters are important to remember in our daily lives. He wanted Jimmie J. Who doesnt love that? An adaptation of "The Wizard of Oz" that tries to capture the essence of the African-American experience. 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. All dogs. None of which was really in the script., The Wiz has its timeless qualities, especially the lovingly rendered scenes to Lumets home city, prominently showing landmarks such as Coney Island, Shea Stadium, and the Brooklyn Bridge. So I let him use it He asked me, Could I do this?and then enhanced it. Jacksons Scarecrow costume was hot and cumbersome, with a huge curly wig, a hat and vest stuffed with scraps of newspaper, not to mention a painted-on nose. I guess I should make a joke about the baseball team, but I cant think of a good one. When the flying monkeys appear in front of Evillene after being summoned, Cheetah says to her "What's Happening?" The character was changed to a 24-year-old kindergarten teacher, but by then Sidney Lumet had already replaced Badham. The simple, cheap special effects used in it actually make it eerier to me. 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. TVTropes is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. Watching this scene as a child, as a generation of black kids did, was quite an awakening. 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. 2/The Wiz/Soundtrack Version) Quincy Jones 2:00 3 The Feeling That We Have (The Wiz/Soundtrack Version) Theresa Merritt 3:30 4 Can I Go On? 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. Dance portions in the Emerald City during the Green and Red clothing. Though the future may not be certain, being strong after times of vulnerability is an alright thing. 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