The Wiz: Difference between revisions
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| − | '''''The Wiz''''' is an all-black version of ''The Wizard of Oz'', starring Diana Ross, [[Michael Jackson]] Nipsey Russell, Ted Ross, and Lena Horne. |
+ | '''''The Wiz''''' is an all-black version of ''The Wizard of Oz'', starring Diana Ross, [[Michael Jackson]] Nipsey Russell, Ted Ross, and Lena Horne. Because of a limited budget, set designers made use of whatever was handy, using the decaying [[New York]] State pavilion from the 1964 New York World's Fair as the set for Munchkinland and the [[World Trade Center]] as the Emerald City. In his only motion picture appearance, Congressman Charles B. Rangel played Toto. |
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| − | Because of a limited budget, set designers made use of whatever was handy, using the decaying [[New York]] State pavilion from the 1964 New York World's Fair as the set for Munchkinland and the [[World Trade Center]] as the Emerald City. In his only motion picture appearance, Congressman Charles B. Rangel played Toto. |
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==Production== |
==Production== |
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| − | Motown acquired the rights to the successful Broadway show after a hasty bidding war with [[Nazis|Disney]]. Berry Gordy, Dear Leader of Motown, immediately set about casting. Jackson was given the role |
+ | Motown acquired the rights to the successful Broadway show after a hasty bidding war with [[Nazis|Disney]]. Berry Gordy, Dear Leader of Motown, immediately set about casting. The talented young entertainer Michael Jackson was given the role of the Scarecrow, and Diana Ross was cast as Dorothy after extensively lobbing Gordy for the role. |
==Plot, Setting, and Theme== |
==Plot, Setting, and Theme== |
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==Critical Response== |
==Critical Response== |
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| + | Adorable Judy Garland and crew may have skipped prettily down the yellow brick road, but Diane Ross, Jackson and crew |
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| − | In a rare consensus of opinion, both moviegoers and critics alike panned the film, agreeing that it was not only a waste of Motown talent, but also a waste of celluloid. A financial disaster, the movie lost $10 million and ended [[Hollywood]]'s exploitation of blacks (known, in the industry, by the code name "[[blaxploitation]]" or "keeping the darkies down"). It also ended the careers of Diana Ross, Russell, Ted Ross, and Horne, and drove Jackson to further facial mutilations and an increased interest in "friendships" and "sleep overs" with pre-adolescent [[boys]]. |
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| + | eased on down the road in style! The film was innovative, artistic, and the music was a fabulous and inspiring mixture |
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| + | of soul, blues and funk! Although the movie did not fare well financially, it may have been produced ahead of is time. |
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| + | It remains a stunning piece of film history, replete with all of the royalty of African American musicians and actors |
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Despite, or perhaps because of, moviegoers' and critics' response to the film, the cinematographer, art director, costume designer, and music director were bashed over the head with Oscars at the 1978 [[Academy Awards]] ceremony. |
Despite, or perhaps because of, moviegoers' and critics' response to the film, the cinematographer, art director, costume designer, and music director were bashed over the head with Oscars at the 1978 [[Academy Awards]] ceremony. |
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[[Image:Wiz21.jpg|thumb|300px|right|This was one of the best scenes in the movie, where the wicked witch gets flushed down the toilet.]] |
[[Image:Wiz21.jpg|thumb|300px|right|This was one of the best scenes in the movie, where the wicked witch gets flushed down the toilet.]] |
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| − | * Diana Ross - |
+ | * Diana Ross - Dorothy |
| − | * Michael Jackson - |
+ | * Michael Jackson - The Soulful Crow |
| − | * Nipsey Russell - The |
+ | * Nipsey Russell - The Tin Man |
| − | * Ted Ross - The |
+ | * Ted Ross - The Cowardly Lion |
| − | * Theresa Merritt - Auntie |
+ | * Theresa Merritt - Auntie Emm |
| − | * Lena Horne - Glinda the |
+ | * Lena Horne - Glinda the Gorgeous and Good |
| − | * Richard Pryor - The |
+ | * Richard Pryor - The Wizard |
* Martin Lawrence - Big Momma (This scene was deleted.) |
* Martin Lawrence - Big Momma (This scene was deleted.) |
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[[Samuel L. Jackson]] also made his screen debut in the role of "Dancing [[drunk|Wino]] #7". |
[[Samuel L. Jackson]] also made his screen debut in the role of "Dancing [[drunk|Wino]] #7". |
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| − | [[Viacom|And a cast of thousands in their underwear]]! |
+ | [[Viacom|And a cast of thousands in their golden underwear]]! |
==Sequel== |
==Sequel== |
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| − | Despite the artistic and financial disaster of the film, Jackson is reportedly contemplating ''The Pizz'', an all-male version that would spoof the original. In this [[parody]], Jackson says, he would again play Dorothy, a transvestite, who journeys to "an enchanted world inhabited by Munchkin boys who delight in hot chocolate and stories at bedtime." The plot, the entertainer says, would center upon Dorothy's attempt to find "meaning and fulfillment in the arms of her admirers" and "could involve a trial, with The Wiz as judge." |
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| − | Although Jackson refuses to divulge more of the plot, he did indicate that the movie would "end happily ever after, as is befitting a [[fairy tale]]," admits that he is "in discussions" with his [[lawyer]]s concerning the legality of including nude scenes that feature young boys in the movie, and says that the movie will include new songs that he has written exclusively for the film, should he go through with his plans to produce, direct, star in, distribute, and promote it. |
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| − | "Some [of the song] titles are 'The Joys of a Boy,' 'The Scarecrow's Pole,' 'What the Wiz Does Behind Closed Curtains,' 'Flying Phalli,' and 'There's No Place Like the Bedroom,'" adding, "My role in ''The Wiz'', like my whole life, has been nothing more than preparation for this, the greatest, most meaningful, and most pleasurable project of my career." |
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| − | Sadly, ''The Pizz'' will be unreleased because of the death of Michael Jackson. (This movie was supposed to be his comeback). But no fear...some of the scenes are used for his movie "This is Shit"! |
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| − | [[Category:American films]] |
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| − | [[Category:Witch]] |
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| − | [[Category:Kansas]] |
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| − | [[Category:Hallucinations]] |
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Revision as of 04:52, 15 July 2012
The Wiz is an all-black version of The Wizard of Oz, starring Diana Ross, Michael Jackson Nipsey Russell, Ted Ross, and Lena Horne. Because of a limited budget, set designers made use of whatever was handy, using the decaying New York State pavilion from the 1964 New York World's Fair as the set for Munchkinland and the World Trade Center as the Emerald City. In his only motion picture appearance, Congressman Charles B. Rangel played Toto.
Production
Motown acquired the rights to the successful Broadway show after a hasty bidding war with Disney. Berry Gordy, Dear Leader of Motown, immediately set about casting. The talented young entertainer Michael Jackson was given the role of the Scarecrow, and Diana Ross was cast as Dorothy after extensively lobbing Gordy for the role.
Plot, Setting, and Theme
In The Wiz, Dorothy is no longer a pre-teen (or even a girl per se); instead, she is a 24-year-old kindergarten teacher who is abducted from her Manhattan classroom by a blizzard (representing the white power structure of racist, capitalistic America) and spirited away to the mysterious Land of Oz, a decaying, nightmarish, metropolis that resembles New York's inner city. The story is set among the sprawling ruins of the slums and ghettos, and suggests that one may succeed in spite of the odds against him or her by embracing life as it is, crackheads, sexually transmitted diseases, poverty, prostitutes, drunks, and all, with a song in one's heart.
Critical Response
Adorable Judy Garland and crew may have skipped prettily down the yellow brick road, but Diane Ross, Jackson and crew eased on down the road in style! The film was innovative, artistic, and the music was a fabulous and inspiring mixture of soul, blues and funk! Although the movie did not fare well financially, it may have been produced ahead of is time. It remains a stunning piece of film history, replete with all of the royalty of African American musicians and actors of the time. ==Awards==
Despite, or perhaps because of, moviegoers' and critics' response to the film, the cinematographer, art director, costume designer, and music director were bashed over the head with Oscars at the 1978 Academy Awards ceremony.
Cast
- Diana Ross - Dorothy
- Michael Jackson - The Soulful Crow
- Nipsey Russell - The Tin Man
- Ted Ross - The Cowardly Lion
- Theresa Merritt - Auntie Emm
- Lena Horne - Glinda the Gorgeous and Good
- Richard Pryor - The Wizard
- Martin Lawrence - Big Momma (This scene was deleted.)
Samuel L. Jackson also made his screen debut in the role of "Dancing Wino #7".
And a cast of thousands in their golden underwear!