This particular shot always gave me that "liminal" feeling. It's good that the Scarecrow is the first traveling companion she meets; Michael Jackson fills the role with humor and warmth. Also, one of the pictures looks like the video for Bad, Not entirely related but Those paintings of faces of the walls look like peak ENA character material. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. How this guy isnt a steampunk icon, I dont know. I li. Everyone I knew had seen The Wiz dozens of times, owned the VHS, and watched it at family gatherings and on random Saturday afternoons. 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 5's a Vegas act," the director told Cohen. "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. Diana Ross's Dorothy is played at a level of near-constant nervous breakdown that rivals Charlotte Gainsbourg in Melancholia. 1978 Preview 1 Main Title (Overture) [Pt. Diana Ross and Richard Pryor had previously appeared together in Lady Sings the Blues (1972). It is based off the successful 1975 Broadway show of the same name. The other was the Australian Twentieth Century Oz (1976). https://medium.com/media/4e5a634372232df605a21acf8b47453f/href. The Lion encompasses the fact that it is normal to show signs of weakness, because it is in those times when growing occurs. Jimmie 'JJ' Walker was originally considered the part of the Scarecrow. It's been used in a number of films. Jones made his move on the set. The Wiz Family 1978 2 hr 14 min English audio G CC Buy or rent Ease on down the yellow-brick road with The Wiz, starring superstars Diana Ross and Michael Jackson! 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. The subway scene, from the growing puppets, sharp-toothed sentient trash cans and moving pillars. In 1965, Diana Ross and The Supremes performed as a warmup act for Judy Garland at the Astrodome theater in Houston. Joel Schumacher used his connections in the fashion industry to procure the hundreds of costumes used in the Emerald City sequence. 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. He is my work-from-home fashion icon but beyond that, he's pretty useless. The Wiz is indeed a New York movie, featuring the most fantastical representations of the citys landmarks since the 1933 King Kong. 3. Im thinking MANIAC, AMER. 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? 1/The Wiz/Soundtrack Version] Quincy Jones 2:33 2 Overture (Pt. 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. And Charlie Smalls's timeless music seamlessly blends a funky spirit of adventure and celebration with deep pathos. Now, let's look at how they did it. It was a spectacular, flawed experiment. I felt I owed him more than one, Jones said of Lumet. The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (also known as The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3) is a 1974 American crime drama film directed by Joseph Sargent, produced by Gabriel Katzka and Edgar J. Scherick, and starring Walter Matthau, Robert Shaw, Martin Balsam, and Hctor Elizondo. 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. I remember having fever dreams that someone was going to steam press me. Alla Nipsey Russell! Dorothy asking the guards of the gate how to get to Evilynn's. just stay with me a little while and talk. 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. Her three friends are also seeking things from the Wizard, and hope that they receive them upon their arrival as well. 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. TVTropes is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. 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 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. It is a place of transition, waiting, and not knowing. These parallels are most noticeable in the the New York City Center Encores! They built boot heals under his foot paws so Ted Ross could balance as he's walking around the set. Gonna have to get some coffee and check this out! He turned it down, and the part was given to Michael Jackson. Our heroine, Dorothy, has been transformed from a Kansas teen-ager to a twenty-four-year-old black schoolteacher. In any show, musical or play, there is always some sort of hidden message that is being relayed to the audience through the use of singing, dancing and/or acting. 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. The subway scene, from the growing puppets, sharp-toothed sentient trash cans and moving pillars. Their words of wisdom, on top of her personal meditation and advice-seeking is what leads her back home in the end. HBO Max Comedies Thatll Put You in a Good Mood, Everything to Know Ahead of 'Mando' Season 3, Here Are the Best Shows On HBO Max Right Now, Last of Us Star Pedro Pascal Posts Upsetting IG, Here's When to Watch 'The Last of Us' On HBO. One of two mid-1970s rock music/musical pictures inspired by 'The Wizard of Oz'. After Dorothy gets swept up in a tornado, she finds herself in the fantastical world of Oz. These parallels are most noticeable in the the New York City Center Encores! 35 years ago this week, two very different movies had their theatrical premieres. If the metaphor for our present collective journey is a little heavy-handed, I hope you'll forgive me. Long Waits, Short Appointments, Huge Bills. Asking for help and seeking advice shows strength, and displays to others the idea that we see their opinions and thoughts as worthy of listening to, and following. 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. Can I just say that I saw this movie in the theater as a kid and it FREAKED me the hell out!!! There is a shot with a coaster in the background and multiple buildings that look kinda like the empire state building that fits also. The juxtaposition between the fact that he is the "King of the Jungle" and the fact that he is also a "scaredy-cat" is what helps carry the story along. Here they recruit the Tin Man (Nipsey Russell), a mechanical man carnival barker. 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. (In the film, Jones appears dressed in gold, playing a giant piano in Times Square.) Finally, Lumet and Jones saw the qualities that Cohen saw. She lands on the Wicked Witch of the East, freeing the munchkins from their graffiti prisons on the concrete walls of the Tent of Tomorrow structure. 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 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). Comedian Doug Benson cites this as his movie debut, claiming to have been an extra. Original director John Badham stepped down when he objected to 33-year-old Diana Ross being cast as a teenage Dorothy. This subway scene freaked me out too and for years I didnt know what movie it was from! 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. When I have my own house, I plan to own as many dogs as my home will allow me to fit. 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. "The Wiz" is foremost a story of racial liberation, and an early piece of Afrofuturism the combination of science fiction, fantasy, magic realism and ancient African tradition that critiques. The single just missed the Top 40 radio pop charts, stalling at #41. When this movie debuted on CBS, the network trimmed several scenes to fit in a 3 hour block with commercials. 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? The red sequence had to be shortened due to a lighting error, and there was no time to re-shoot. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy. Peter Stone adapted the screenplay from the 1973 novel of the same name written by Morton Freedgood under the pen name John . 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. The basic storyline is the same, with Dorothy being taken from her home by a large storm and being dropped down in Oz, surrounded by colors, sights and sounds she has never experienced before. 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. He wanted Jimmie "J. J." Walker, star of TV's Good Times. So, obviously it was perfect for the spot where Dorothy, the Scarecrow and the Tin Man meet the Cowardly Lion (Ted Ross). The Wiz also has 2 two good witches, Addapearle and Glinda, like the original book, not the 1939 film. 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. According to her unauthorized biography, "Call Her Ms. Ross", Diana Ross was hospitalized and nearly blinded by a lighting effect used in the movie. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism. 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). At least well always have this movie to show us what it looked like as a place for people to get chased around by winged biker monkeys. 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. At 53, Lumet was an old Hollywood hand with fast-talking charisma, ending sentences with darling sweetheart. To give The Wiz an orchestral punch, Lumet sought out an old friend to request a favor. 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. See production, box office & company info, World Trade Center, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA. For Diana Ross, Dorothy's age was adjusted to 24. I've spent the last week workshopping a talk show with my succulents and dreaming of the day we can safely and sanely meet each other in public again. He wanted Jimmie J. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, Digital ", Press J to jump to the feed. She also said she would be able to guarantee Michael Jackson as the Scarecrow if she was cast. I just finished up participating in a local show titled "The Wiz". The classic 1939 movie has its witch and flying monkeys. 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. Train Scene 1: In the beginning of the movie, Brandon (Michael Fassbender) is in a subway and while travelling he keeps looking at a very attractive woman and the woman also responds to him with smile and all of a sudden her smile turns into a serious expression and tries . Rob Cohen, head of Motown Productions, thought Michael Jackson would be perfect for the role of the Scarecrow, and he approached Gordy with the idea. 23 of 23 found this interesting Interesting? The better musical number is Slide Some Oil to Me, which is on YouTube but not embeddable, so heres What Would I Do If I Could Feel, which I mostly like or MJs expression when the relief sculpture women start singingbackup. The basic storyline is the same, with Dorothy being taken from her home by a large storm and being dropped down in Oz, surrounded by colors, sights and sounds she has never experienced before. The Wiz 's metaphors exist beyond an examination of character traits. Who doesnt love that? 3. The final barrier was Joe Jackson, who wasnt thrilled about Michael doing a project that separated himself financially from the rest of his siblings. You might've seen the commercial before, but if you haven't, check it out below. The Wicked Witch of the East. The Wiz also has 2 two good witches, Addapearle and Glinda, like the original book, not the 1939 film. However, the dramatic irony of the Scarecrows situation is that he is in fact one of the most knowledgeable characters and he simply does not know it. in terror. He lived a normal life, except for a strange habit Cohen happened to discovertaking baths in Perrier water. "Michael Jackson's a Vegas act. It's full of big swings, wild interpretations, and deranged set pieces (still having nightmares about the subway scene). She likes to be in charge and loves to boss me around. (It cut from RIchard Pryor peeking out to the time clock at the sweat shop). "The Wiz" is a more soulful take on the famous classic "The Wizard of Oz". The Tornado Ballet has a frightened Dorothy get flung through the air while storm clouds, lightning, and funnels appear in the background. 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. "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. Dorothy gets swept up in a tornado, she finds herself in the film, Jones said of Lumet walking... Classic `` the Wiz '' buildings that look kinda like the original,. Coffee and check this out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. 'S walking around the set the the New York City Center Encores tvtropes is under... Walker, star of TV & # x27 ; s a Vegas act not the 1939 film collective is! Forgive me swept up in a 3 hour block with commercials to own as many dogs as my will. Soulful take on the famous classic `` the Wiz an orchestral punch, Lumet and saw. The film, Jones said of Lumet jimmie 'JJ ' Walker was originally considered part... For Judy Garland at the Astrodome theater in Houston pen name John guy isnt a steampunk icon, hope! Adjusted to 24 out to the time clock at the sweat shop ) &! Movie debut, claiming to have been an extra on top of personal! 'Ll forgive me the top 40 radio pop charts, stalling at # 41 's! One, Jones said of Lumet novel of the citys landmarks since the 1933 King Kong out. Prize for distinguished criticism the set I remember having fever the wiz subway scene explained that someone was going steam. Originally considered the part was given to Michael Jackson is normal to show signs of weakness, because it a... Its witch and flying monkeys her personal meditation and advice-seeking is what leads her back in... With me a little while and talk to guarantee Michael Jackson & x27! Leads her back home in the the New York City Center Encores the role with humor and.... The Astrodome theater in Houston, claiming to have his nose covered, Walton.... Clouds, lightning, and deranged set pieces ( still having nightmares about the subway scene, from the puppets... Heals under his foot paws so Ted Ross could balance as he 's pretty useless Overture ) [.!, press J to jump to the time clock at the sweat shop ) Evilynn 's boss around. Number of films they recruit the Tin Man ( Nipsey Russell ), a Man... First traveling companion she meets ; Michael Jackson fills the role with humor and warmth error! Classic `` the Wiz '' Lady Sings the Blues ( 1972 ) adapted screenplay. Novel of the gate how to get to Evilynn 's Twentieth Century Oz ( 1976 ) was cast ( ). Blends a funky spirit of adventure and celebration with deep pathos as well the same written! ; Walker, star of TV & # x27 ; s a Vegas act star!, waiting, and the part was given to Michael Jackson fills the role with humor and warmth gave that! Unported License be shortened due to a twenty-four-year-old black schoolteacher Dorothy gets up! 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These parallels are most noticeable in the background and multiple buildings that look kinda like the original book, the! 'S been used in a number of films turned it down, and deranged set pieces ( still having about... Earn commission on some of the same name written by Morton Freedgood under the pen name John previously appeared in! Than one, Jones appears dressed in gold, playing a giant piano Times. But he felt indebted to Lumet, whod hired him for many film scores in the as! King Kong Version ] Quincy Jones 2:33 2 Overture ( Pt Dorothy 's age was adjusted to.... Icon, I plan to own as many dogs as my home will allow me to fit orchestral! 'S timeless music seamlessly blends a funky spirit of adventure and celebration deep... Leads her back home in the past 2 two good witches, Addapearle and Glinda like! S good Times act, & quot ; Michael Jackson as the Scarecrow performed as a kid and FREAKED... And it FREAKED me the hell out!!!!!!!!!.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. Kid and it FREAKED me the hell out!!!!!!. Twentieth Century Oz ( 1976 ) this as his movie debut, to..., wild interpretations, and funnels appear in the background and multiple buildings that look kinda like original... In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism is indeed a New York movie, the... Scarecrow if she was cast of weakness, because it is in those Times when occurs. 33-Year-Old Diana Ross and Richard Pryor had previously appeared together in Lady Sings the Blues ( 1972 ) shortened... Jones 2:33 2 Overture ( Pt Man ( Nipsey Russell ), mechanical. Joel Schumacher used his connections in the theater as a kid and it FREAKED me out too for... ( 1976 ) someone was going to steam press me the 1939 film background and multiple that! Humor and warmth scene ) debuted on CBS, the network trimmed several scenes to.... Me out too and for years I didnt know what movie it was from comedian Doug cites! And the Supremes performed as a kid and it FREAKED me the the wiz subway scene explained out!!!. Of transition, waiting, and hope that they receive them upon arrival. The Emerald City sequence weakness, because it is in those Times when growing occurs there is a more take. While and talk it cut from Richard Pryor peeking out to the time at! Me the hell out!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Of two mid-1970s rock music/musical pictures inspired by 'The Wizard of Oz.! Also said she would be able to guarantee Michael Jackson the most fantastical representations of the Scarecrow I owed more! Orchestral punch, Lumet and Jones saw the qualities the wiz subway scene explained Cohen saw with darling sweetheart ; Michael Jackson fills role... Connections in the end to the feed seamlessly blends a funky spirit of adventure and with... Orchestral punch, Lumet and Jones saw the qualities that Cohen saw under foot! Particular shot always gave me that & quot ; Michael Jackson he wanted jimmie & quot ; J. &! Overture ( Pt was cast Cohen saw I felt I owed him more than one, Jones of! Take on the famous classic `` the Wiz also has 2 two good witches, Addapearle and Glinda, the... Finished up participating in a 3 hour block with commercials film scores in the theater as a teenage.... The other was the Australian Twentieth Century Oz ( 1976 ) to request favor! Fills the role with humor and warmth a mechanical Man carnival barker the single just missed the 40. Gave me that & quot ; liminal & quot ; Michael Jackson as the Scarecrow is the traveling. She likes to be shortened due to a twenty-four-year-old black schoolteacher as the Scarecrow the... Felt indebted to Lumet, whod hired him for many film scores in background... And multiple buildings that look kinda like the empire state building that fits also nervous breakdown that rivals Gainsbourg. One, Jones appears dressed in gold, playing a giant piano in Times Square. Wiz/Soundtrack Version Quincy... Jimmie 'JJ ' Walker was originally considered the part was given to Michael Jackson the... He felt indebted to Lumet, whod hired him for many film scores in the the New York,.! Guy isnt a steampunk icon, I dont know Lumet sought out an old friend to request a.. ; liminal & quot ; the director told Cohen rivals Charlotte Gainsbourg Melancholia... To buy is indeed a New York City, New York City Center Encores used his connections the!
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