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- Though the film feels dated because of old-fashioned special effects and a strong 1970s vibe, there's no doubting it's still fun to watch. With its almost steampunk, New York City-like take on Oz and supremely danceable songs, The Wiz made an impact not just because of its all-Black cast but because of the movie's unique vision.
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Magical tornadoes can strike down anywhere, I guess, and spin you off to the land of Oz. 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.
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The Wiz is a 1978 American musical fantasy adventure film directed by Sidney Lumet. Adapted from the 1974 Broadway musical of the same name, the film reimagines the classic children's novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum with an African-American cast.
After accidentally killing the Wicked Witch of the East upon her arrival, Dorothy is told about the Wiz (Richard Pryor), a wizard who can help her get back to Manhattan.
- (37)
- Sidney Lumet
- G
- Diana Ross
1970s all-Black remake has positive messages, violence. Read Common Sense Media's The Wiz review, age rating, and parents guide.
- Universal Studios
- Sidney Lumet
- The Genres
- The Set Design
- The Costume Design
- The Locations
- The Stars
- The Music
- The Witches
- Dorothy's Age
- The Character Depth
- The Themes
The Wizard of Oz is unforgettable in so many ways, such as its notable use of color to emphasize the fantastical elements. But the main attractionis simply that: fantasy. And while the 1939 movie is not necessarily one-dimensional,The Wizfurthers the fantasy to make cultural, political statements. Since The Wiz is more overtly political, it's notab...
The Wiz draws from many memorable aspects of The Wizard of Oz, but one way the films deviate from each other completely is in the set design. Visually,The Wizard of Oz had a clear goal of wowing audiences with something they'd never seen before, such as with the effervescence of Munchkinland and the Emerald City. In the case of The Wiz, however, th...
The Wizard of Oz has of the most easily recognizable costumes in the history of cinema given the film's popularity. From the ruby slippers to the green witch to the Tin Man's silver suit, there is no doubt the original film stands out in terms of its costume design. RELATED: Which Wizard Of Oz Character Are You Based On Your Zodiac Sign? While it i...
Iconically, Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz is from a farm in rural Kansas. In The Wiz, Dorothy is instead from Harlem, New York City, what could be considered a polar opposite of the character's original home. This change was done to represent urban Black communities that audiences could better relate to. The differences in locations are notable when ...
The Wizard of Oz is nearly synonymous with Judy Garland. And although Garland's fellow co-stars are to be commended for their work on the film, when asking anyone about the cast of The Wizard of Oz, the first name likely to be mentioned is Judy's. When it comes to The Wiz, the cast is memorably star-studded. It features Diana Ross, Michael Jackson,...
Another iconic name attached to The Wiz is renowned musician Quincy Jones, who is responsible for the soundtrack of the 1978 film. The Wiz is full of original songs with Motown influences that give the classic story much more soul, emotion and energy. Of course, The Wizard of Oz had plenty of great songs as well, such as the timeless tune "Over The...
In both films, Dorothy accidentally, yet notoriously, kills the Wicked Witch of the East upon her arrival to Oz, and audiences don't see much of any of the East's character because of it. In The Wizard of Oz, the main witches throughout the film are Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, and the evil Wicked Witch of the West. The Wiz features the wit...
When The Wizard of Oz was made, Judy Garland was only 16 years old. As for The Wiz, Diana Ross was more than double Garland's age at 33. Dorothy's character in The Wiz had to be aged up for Diana Ross and was portrayed as a 24-year-old teacher. The original character of Dorothy is a young girl, so Garland was closer to the right age for the role, i...
The main Oz characters in The Wizard of Oz are all counterparts of Dorothy's family and other Kansas characters as a way to emphasize that she is dreaming throughout the film. This is an essential aspect of the 1939 movie, but this isn't the case in The Wiz. Instead, The Wizreinvents the characters emotionally, giving them all more realistic backst...
The main lesson about the importance of family and friendship is in part what makes The Wizard of Oz so timeless. While those themes are also quite evident in The Wiz, the 1978 film in many ways is more about finding independence and self-love instead. The theme of family is best represented in The Wizard of Oz by Dorothy being so focused on making...
Oct 24, 2018 · To honor this classic piece of African-American film history known as The Wiz, we’re easing on down the road to rediscover 40 things we love about the film that exemplifies why it has stood the...
Oct 24, 2023 · 'The Wiz' is celebrating its 45th birthday, so we're reflecting on the how the film has withstood the test of time through the decades through its storytelling and legendary characters.
