The Wiz ** (1978, Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Nipsey Russell, Ted Ross, Richard Pryor, Lena Horne) – Classic Movie Review 3629

Director Sidney Lumet’s 1978 movie version of the hit Broadway show, an all-African American musical of The Wizard of Oz, is generally much maligned and unloved. It was advertised as ‘The Motown remake of The Wizard of Oz’.

The high-powered, iconic performers could have been right in Diana Ross (as an adult Dorothy), Michael Jackson (as Scarecrow) and Richard Pryor (as the Wiz), and director Lumet has a good record in bringing stage and TV shows to the screen extremely effectively.

But Ross, ideal in Lady Sings the Blues, makes surprisingly little headway as the shy Harlem schoolmarm heroine Dorothy. She is basically miscast, though she does sing very brightly. However, Pryor and Jackson are just right though and Nipsey Russell as Tin Man, Ted Ross as Lion and Lena Horne as Glinda the Good Fairy are smashing.

Also in the cast are Mabel King, Theresa Merritt, Thelma Carpenter, Stanley Greene and Clyde J Barrett.

Visually, The Wiz looks a total treat, what with the superb set designs by Tony Walton and Philip Rosenberg, lovely costume designs by Tony Walton, the special effects by Stan Winston Studio, and eye-catching cinematography by Oswald Morris. And the production numbers are truly spectacular. But, despite all the good work, you come away feeling unsatisfied and longing for Judy Garland. Where was she? Oh, somewhere over the rainbow.

The screenplay is by Joel Schumacher; the adapted score by Quincy Jones; music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls; musical book by William F Brown, adapting the novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L Frank Baum.

There were four 1979 Oscar nominations, but no wins – Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Best Costume Design, and Best Adaptation Score.

© Derek Winnert 2016 Classic Movie Review 3629
Check out more reviews on derekwinnert.com