When you think about it, the story is about liminal space. 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. Here are some other slices of WTF? One thing about the movie thats rarely celebrated is the fact its directed by Sidney Lumet. Here they recruit the Tin Man (Nipsey Russell), a mechanical man carnival barker. In fact, people can see us as being intelligent, courageous, empathetic and comforting, when we see just the opposite in ourselves. They happily oblige when we pick up their front paws and force them to dance with us around the house. In case you cant tell, the NYPL building is not actually employed for this scene, which would have been too difficult to manage. At night, the young cast went out to play in New York City. https://medium.com/media/4e5a634372232df605a21acf8b47453f/href. To his surprise, Gordy agreed. When you press play on The Wiz, the 1978 movie musical based on L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, you probably already know what's coming: A ragtag group of new friends experiences all manner of traumas while trying to protect a pair of heels, and then learn that the power to change their terrifying surroundings was inside them all along. Dogs just all have such different personalities, which might be what we love about them. It is weird a white filmmaker was at the helm for this, though his relevance as a very New York-centric director makes some sense (who else should have done it? Magazines, Digital He looked at Michael the way a jaguar looks at a goat, Cohen says. 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. I make the sounds with my mouthI can do that. Quincy became excited. 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. Who doesnt love that? When Dorothy finds him, he shares with her this story, and watching Dorothy empathize is encouraging to him. Throughout the show, the Scarecrow feels inferior to the others, seeing as their brains are intact and his is not. Revealing mistake: During the subway scene, when the first pillar breaks and starts to move towards Dorothy, the top of it is cardboard and wiggles back and forth as the pillar breaks. 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. This has been adapted from Steve Knoppers MJ: The Genius of Michael Jackson (Scribner). I li. Her reluctance to grow up in the musical; she neglects responsibilities in favor of running after Toto and. Im not quite sure how my love for dogs got started, but I dont mind it. The other was the Australian Twentieth Century Oz (1976). But the 1972 drama was a success in the end, drawing five Oscar nominations, although Ross lost Best Actress to Liza Minnelli of Cabaret. Im thinking MANIAC, AMER. 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. 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. The Feature Film The Wiz (1978) was filmed at Astoria Studios in Queens, New York. Holy 70s drug induced set design, Batman! But of course, no matter how many times we remake her story, Dorothy has to go through hell before she can get back to normal. 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. Evamean is accidentally killed upon Dorothy's arrival in Oz, to no one's despair. 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. All Rights Reserved. This particular shot always gave me that "liminal" feeling. Hes so pure! Lumet exulted. Christopher Campbell began writing film criticism and covering film festivals for a zine called. 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. (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. http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Characters/TheWiz. In the original Oz novels, L. Frank Baum, they were unnamed. With Evilene's signature song, the gospel-tinged "Don't Nobody Bring Me No Bad News," the thesis is right there in the title, so I won't belabor an explanation or too heavily underline how closely it echos the ethos of a certain national leader. For their original book counterparts, click here. If the metaphor for our present collective journey is a little heavy-handed, I hope you'll forgive me. However, the song hit #17 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart that same year. The Wiz also has 2 two good witches, Addapearle and Glinda, like the original book, not the 1939 film. However, Diana Ross lobbied intensely for the role. The gay side of the dance floor would stop, Cohen says, and the hetero side would stop., During lunch on The Wiz set, Lumet, the director, told an oblivious Michael that women around him were like ricocheting bullets all over the place.. Finally, Lumet and Jones saw the qualities that Cohen saw. Sorry, cat people, but I just dont get you. The usually exuberant Lumet became despondenta quality that came out distinctively in the film, recalls production designer Tony Walton. The Wiz cost $22 million and did not perform well at the box office. I guess I should make a joke about the baseball team, but I cant think of a good one. Woody Allen? Please don't list it on a work's trope example list. It's quite unnerving as a first impression of Oz. 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. Warder decided KING 5's Angela Poe Russell would perform in the first act of the. Diana Ross's Dorothy is played at a level of near-constant nervous breakdown that rivals Charlotte Gainsbourg in Melancholia. It was like, I want him. . 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, obviously it was perfect for the spot where Dorothy, the Scarecrow and the Tin Man meet the Cowardly Lion (Ted Ross). Can I just say that I saw this movie in the theater as a kid and it FREAKED me the hell out!!! But its reception was marred by racist backlash. Motown Productions bought the rights to the stage show, intending to cast Stephanie Mills as Dorothy. Well actually, everything did (especially the whole Tin Man reveal). 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. And this also makes me think about the subway in Silent Hill 3. An adaptation of "The Wizard of Oz" that tries to capture the essence of the African-American experience. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Best remembered for its role in Ghostbusters, this building is known for its stone lions adorning the front steps. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, Digital 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? This is noticeable in the other pillars as well. 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. After accidentally killing the Wicked Witch . There is a shot with a coaster in the background and multiple buildings that look kinda like the empire state building that fits also. 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. Aunt Emma comments that Dorothy has never been south of 125th Street in the Manhattan neighborhood of Harlem. 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. 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. This particular shot always gave me that "liminal" feeling. (In the film, Jones appears dressed in gold, playing a giant piano in Times Square.) Oooh yeah! It's full of big swings, wild interpretations, and deranged set pieces (still having nightmares about the subway scene). Thats a big part of why I love it somuch. Maybe you can build a set at home. 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. The final barrier was Joe Jackson, who wasnt thrilled about Michael doing a project that separated himself financially from the rest of his siblings. "The Wiz" is a more soulful take on the famous classic "The Wizard of Oz". The movie has become. We often stray off of our paths, and we can't always find our way back easily. In giant clown shoes, he stumbles, rolls on the ground, and knocks out his knees. During The Wiz post-production, he called Quincy unexpectedly during a rare home hiatus from touring. Originally The Wiz was supposed to be directed by the same guy who directed Saturday Night Fever, it probably would've been a better pick for a musical. The Jackson 5s a Vegas act, the director told Cohen. Ultimately, Dorothy finds that, if you believe with all your heart, you can always find your way home. 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. Quincy Jones was skeptical of Jackson, too, but Cohen arranged a meeting, flying 19-year-old MJ to New York. While Pepper, on the other hand, is occasionally a little mean and aggressive. I remember having fever dreams that someone was going to steam press me. Alla Nipsey Russell! The Tin Man is the last of Dorothy's friends, and he is seeking something that we all seek daily: a good heart. 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 puppets are indubitably the scariest of the bunch. They dont judge us when they see us eating junk food that we really shouldnt; instead they just want us to share it. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available from thestaff@tvtropes.org. 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. 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. According to her unauthorized biography, "Call Her Ms. Ross", Diana Ross was hospitalized and nearly blinded by a lighting effect used in the movie. That a twenty-four-year-old schoolteacher should be too sophisticated to consort with cowardly lions and scarecrows and men made out of tin. It all happened. See production, box office & company info, World Trade Center, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA. that someone will find out that I'm a fraud. One of two mid-1970s rock music/musical pictures inspired by 'The Wizard of Oz'. Hmm, maybe Gordon Parks?). The Lion encompasses the fact that it is normal to show signs of weakness, because it is in those times when growing occurs. Michael and Diana have terrific chemistry, but Ross is mismatched for the part. Michael Jackson was in this movie. In other words, we're watching prostitutes trying to kill our heroes by making them overdose. Maybe I just love subway scenes! Cohen mollified Joe by offering roughly $100,000 for Michael to play the Scarecrow. (The Wiz/Soundtrack Version) from the 1978 musical free of charge! 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. You can talk to me crazy. Peter Stone adapted the screenplay from the 1973 novel of the same name written by Morton Freedgood under the pen name John . She likes to be in charge and loves to boss me around. Cohen, the producer, noticed Jones gaping. Up until then the going has been a little awkward. The movie became the most expensive ever shot in New York City at the time. 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. Evillene, the Wicked Witch of the West, is depicted in this film as, The Tin Man getting his body pressed thin can look. Watching this scene as a child, as a generation of black kids did, was quite an awakening. This is how he lives now. TVTropes is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. 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. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. He wanted Jimmie "J. J." Walker, star of TV's Good Times. White films were for white audiences. 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). https://medium.com/media/33318b476db0b746825528151ced531e/href. This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator. 2. 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. 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. Who can say! To finish Lady Sings the Blues, Gordy had to sink in $2 million of his own money because Paramounts top executive, Frank Yablans, had told him the maximum a studio could spend on a black film at the time was $500,000. Not everyone was appreciative. Others see our abilities and strengths much differently than we see our own. The first song that Michael Jackson sings, "You Can't Win," was originally written for the stage version for the Winkies to sing to Dorothy about the futility of escaping from Evillene. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Cohen recalls glumly. Ted Ross reprised his role as the Cowardly Lion from the 1974 Broadway production. He is my work-from-home fashion icon but beyond that, he's pretty useless. Her three friends are also seeking things from the Wizard, and hope that they receive them upon their arrival as well. The movie. The Wiz also has 2 two good witches, Addapearle and Glinda, like the original book, not the 1939 film. She also said she would be able to guarantee Michael Jackson as the Scarecrow if she was cast. 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? When The Wiz began filming in New York, the 27-year-old producer moved Michael and La Toya into a Manhattan apartment, and Michael was on his own for the first time. Showing how much we care and displaying our thoughtfulness in the end for those around us is what is most important. R. Eric Thomas is a columnist for ELLE.com, where he skewers politics, pop culture, celebrity shade, and schadenfreude. 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. 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. This is the scene I find scarier than anything in Halloween. Lastly, Dorothy is taken from her home and must find her way back with the help of some new friends. Jimmie 'JJ' Walker was originally considered the part of the Scarecrow. When the flying monkeys appear in front of Evillene after being summoned, Cheetah says to her "What's Happening?" It's been used in a number of films. In 1965, Diana Ross and The Supremes performed as a warmup act for Judy Garland at the Astrodome theater in Houston. And the subway scene is creepy as hell. The subway scene, from the growing puppets, sharp-toothed sentient trash cans and moving pillars. This is not a black film, Gordy corrected him. He's not the hero they deserve andwell, he's not the hero they need either. Simultaneously with the release of the film, Congoleum, the flooring company that designed the look of the Yellow Brick Road for the film, also marketed the same design (also called Yellow Brick Road) for home use. They do end up in whats clearly Coney Island, complete with a major cameo appearance from the actual Cyclone. The Port Authority would not allow more time to fix mistakes. By what name was The Wiz (1978) officially released in India in English? Saw this on the tv in the late 1980s. 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. 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. 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. Jones liked only three songs from the Broadway showHome, Brand New Day, and a funky ensemble number called Ease On Down the Road. But he felt indebted to Lumet, whod hired him for many film scores in the past. 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. Diana Ross and Richard Pryor had previously appeared together in Lady Sings the Blues (1972). Saw this on the tv in the late 1980s. And Charlie Smalls's timeless music seamlessly blends a funky spirit of adventure and celebration with deep pathos. Gordy and producer Rob Cohen cast Ross, then 33, as Dorothy. 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. And their personalities are completely different. In his book "Making Movies," Sidney Lumet admits that filming the Emerald City sequence on the plaza at the World Trade Center had to be cut short because of wind and scheduling. I will be sharing them with you, to hopefully create a sense of comfort and happiness in times that you are seeking courage, feeling a bit silly or simply needing to take a trip home. Any dog. (It cut from RIchard Pryor peeking out to the time clock at the sweat shop). .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? He had seen Charlie Chaplin. If you can hear it, I can write it down. The exchange, which MJ recorded, ends with Quincy requesting his number. "The Wiz" is a more soulful take on the famous classic "The Wizard of Oz". The Wiz is a 1978 American musical adventure fantasy film directed by Sidney Lumet. However, seeking help from others is never showing weakness or proving not to be strong in our own abilities. He lived a normal life, except for a strange habit Cohen happened to discovertaking baths in Perrier water. They are always there for us, they love us unconditionally, and they treat us a whole lot better than most humans do. Along comes Miss One, the Good Witch of the North (Thelma Carpenter), who apparently runs a gambling racket. 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). 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. 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. (It's a villain singing to the audience about how threatening they are, trying to scare them). 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. All dogs. The characters of The Wiz. Those are some of the freakiest damn pics I have ever seen. 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. 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. Our heroine, Dorothy, has been transformed from a Kansas teen-ager to a twenty-four-year-old black schoolteacher. http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/NightmareFuel/TheWiz. 1. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy. 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. Dorothy asking the guards of the gate how to get to Evilynn's. She was the oppressive ruler of the Munchkins and owned a pretty neat pairs of shoes with secret, special powers. However, Dorothy later gives her address as being on Prospect Place, which is in Brooklyn, miles southeast of Harlem. NYCs Film Forum didnt even include the musical in its otherwise exhaustive retrospective of his work a few years back. 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. These friends and their encounters carry a few of these hidden lessons. When you think about it, the story is about liminal space. Quincy Jones was always present. Sign in to comment to your favorite stories, participate in your community and interact with your friends.

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