The Wiz
by Sidney Lumet
Our Price: $17.99
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $3.18 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD releases
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD Cover Information
Actor: Diana Ross, Mabel King, Michael Jackson, Nipsey Russell, Ted RossDirector: Sidney Lumet
Producer: Berry Gordy
Producer: Burtt Harris
Producer: Kenneth Harper
Producer: Rob Cohen
Writer: Joel Schumacher
Writer: L. Frank Baum
Writer: William F. Brown
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 4.0; English (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 4.0
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, Letterboxed, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.85:1
Running Time: 134 minutes
DVD Release Date: 1999-04-13
Audience Rating: G (General Audience)
Studio: Universal Studios
Movie Reviews of The Wiz
Movie Review: A Wizard of Oz for the African-Americans
Summary: 5 Stars
( *I hope I didn't offend/upset anyone by the title, it's all I could come up with* ). I first saw "the Wiz" as a very young boy (somewhere around 5-8 in year 1 or 2) in Primary School, which had been taped by a teacher when it premiered on TV. I had already seen "Return to Oz" and "the Wizard of Oz" on its 50th Anniversary both on TV. I ordered this DVD for my 20th Birthday (it came a week after that, however) and watching it was so exciting. I really enjoyed the movie and DVD and the songs (alomost all of them) were fantastic. Many farmiliar parts of the story have new twists, like Glinda and the Wizard being seen earlier than the original story says, and the Yellow Brick Road appearing AFTER the Scarecrow. Of course, there were a few similarities between this Universal version and the MGM version, but only by conicidence. I also read the script of "the Wiz" 1975 Broadway Musical on a site (go to the 'Wizard of Oz Links Page' and you'll find it listed there). During the entire movie, it starngely seems to keep changing from day to night to day, and sometimes Toto even disappears from sight too.
THE MOVIE STORY: Dorothy, Toto, Aunt Em and Uncle Henry live in New York City, receiving the rest of the family to celebrate the birth of Aunt Em's daughter's baby - Dorothy feels excluded and is extremely shy. ( *Even though a lot of people hate Diana Ross as Dorothy, I think that it was good of her to play Dorothy because it's a new twist and some people can relate to Dorothy in this version, afraid to step out into the world and make a big change in her life *). Aunt Em goes about how Dorothy has to find a place for her and Toto. (This next scene I LOVE!!) After that, Toto runs outside into the swirling blizzard storm and Dorothy chases after him, resulting with them being caught up by a tornado (which has a new twist itself), and crash landing into a place where the Teenaged Munchkin Children (finally in blue outfits) thank her for killing Evermean, the Wicked witch of the East (who can be seen as a playground bully in this movie, which has a new way of Dorothy's fall killing the witch without using a house). Miss One (the Good Witch from the North) appears and thanks her also, gives her the Silver Shoes (about time they were SILVER!!) and says that the only way to get home is to The Wiz in the Emerald City by following the Yellow Brick Road ("EASE ON DOWN THE ROAD" is such a GREAT song that you'll want to sing along with the subtitles available). Dorothy saves the Scarecrow and with his help, company and companionship, find the Yellow Brick Road and follow it until they meet the TinMan and the Cowardly Lion (who has a name for the first time). But afterwards, they get attacked (in a subway) by a strange man and many subway monsters, just before Dorothy, Toto and the Lion get put to sleep by the Poisonous Poppies. After that, they finally arrive at the Emerald City (*the Big Green Apple, displaying a funny pun *) and manage in seeing the Wiz, but of course they can't get what they want unless they kill Evillene, the Wicked witch in the West (Slave-Driver to the Adult Winkies and certain other characters, dressed up to resemble her), who sends Flying Monkeys (or actually, the RIDING Monkeys, as in this movie they ride motorcycles - 'Biker Monkeys from Oz!') to capture them. Her attempt to take back the Silver Shoes fails, and Dorothy defeats her, freeing the Grown-UpWinkies (whose true colour is yellow after taking off their slave clothes) and returning to the Emerald City, only to make a very disappointing discovery - unlike other versions, the Wizard doesn't leave Emerald City. But even so, Dorothy realizes that her friends have had what they wanted all the time, and that's when Glinda, the Good Witch of the South appears, telling Dorothy that she can go home. Saying good-bye to her friends and singing about 'Home', she and Toto return home, and the movie end credits play "Ease on Down the Road", ending the movie after 2 hrs 14 minutes.
The DVD also comes with excellent Special Features such as a 13 min "Wiz on Down the Road" Making of featurette on the Movie, Production Notes (which gives a good reason to understand casting Diana Ross as Dorothy), Biographies and Film Highlights of the Actors and Director, a Theatrical Trailer and a Web Link to Universal. Much later, I found this DVD in a Sale Special with a different back cover, but the Australian version ONLY has the Theatrical Trailer.
However, even for me the movie takes a little too long and the movie could've been made shorter by cutting a few songs either out altogether or shorter, as most dance sequences go on too long and a scene could've be put in at a different place (like the Winkies taking off their slave clothes), allowing the DVD to have a 'Deleted Scenes' feature and the ending could've been better, like Dorothy and Toto going through the swirl again on their way home. Richard Pryor plays the Wiz, who later played Gus in "Superman 3". There are a few NEW songs in this movie which I belive was not in the 1975 musical and of course not all the songs (I look forward to getting the Broadway CD soon). I do think that maybe this movie could've had a few scenes shot in the New York Park to make it look natural and authentic. But I do like how Michael Jackson's Scarecrow is something of a teenager (he was 20 when he played the part!). As Diana Ross' Dorothy is a teacher in this, there is much symbolism representing herself in the movie, such as when Aunt Em talks to her and when she appears in Oz. And I do agree that although Diana Ross made a good Dorothy, an actual teenaged girl might have been better suited, but there's always still a 'someday' remake.
(* THE FOLLOWING IS QUOTED FROM "THE ANNOTATED WIZARD OF OZ, pg 69*) "In her "Secrets of a Sparrow" book, Diana Ross argued that each of her 3 companions signifies a different aspect of dorothy's essence: 1) the Scarecrow was a representation of Doorthy's hunger for knowledge, the part of her that longed to know more about life and living. 2) the TinMan personified Dorothy's craving for love, the search for her heart, the deep need in her (in all of us, for that matter) to increase her capacity to give and to receive love. 3) And the Lion, the supposedly mean old lion, was uet another part of Dorothy's psyche. His loud and aggressive roars, designed to distance people by projecting fear and rage into their hearts, was merely a cover-up of his own fears and rage, an armoring to protect the sweetness and vulnerability of his, and of course Dorothy's, gentle heart".
I have made a review about this Wiz DVD, and I have 2 more plans for "the Wiz": Send a letter to Universal Studios on making a "30th Anniversary Edition" DVD for 2008, and for me to do another movie remake combining the movie and stage for 2035, with maybe a sequel to follow afterwards.
It was a pleasure to have written this review, and see you on my next review - what will it be? We'll see.
P.S. If you think this movie of 'Oz' is bad, a Much WORSE adaptation is 1976's Australian "OZ: A Rock 'N' Roll Road Movie" (renamed "20th Century OZ" for the USA). THAT movie has no cyclone, but instead is more similar to MGM than the book, having bad language, drugs and other material only suitable for 'those' mature adults! Compared to that ("OZ", 1976), this ("Wiz") is much better!!!
Summary of The Wiz
Directed by Sidney Lumet (Serpico) and penned by Joel Schumacher (Batman and Robin), this lavish 1978 adaptation of the Broadway hit The Wiz was the biggest production filmed in New York City up to that point, utilizing the newly revamped Astoria Studios and locations around the city. Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Nipsey Russell, and Ted Ross (reprising his Tony-winning role as the Lion) star in this Academy Award-nominated musical for the whole family.The Wiz is probably the grandest take on L. Frank Baum's classic tale The Wizard of Oz. The production team created sets with a sense of urban magic and spectacle: a New York subway station literally comes to life, and the massive plaza between the World Trade Center towers is transformed into the Emerald City, featuring nearly 400 dancers with three costume changes. Like all good musicals, the Quincy Jones arrangements are highly hummable long after viewing (especially the funky "Ease On Down the Road" and the inspirational "Brand New Day"). In an era before MTV, the camera stays nearly stationary as Ross and Lena Horne vocally soar through their numbers. Their stage-like performances successfully make the leap to film, making The Wiz a testament to their singing talents and star presence. The then-thirtysomething Ross raised some eyebrows playing the traditionally teenaged Dorothy, but she and her supporting cast (including Richard Pryor as the Wiz) carry the tunes with an infectious verve that will appeal to folks of all ages. --Shannon Gee
Similar DVD Movies
Michael Jackson: MoonwalkerRelease date: 2010-01-16; DVD
Best price: $18.13
Price in other shops:
The Wizard of Oz (Two-Disc 70th Anniversary Edition)Warner Brothers; Release date: 2010-03-16; DVD
Best price: $7.89
Price in other shops:
Double PlatinumRoss; Release date: 1999-07-20; DVD
Best price: $4.38
Price in other shops:
ClaudineFox; Release date: 2003-01-14; DVD
Best price: $4.31
Price in other shops:
A Soldiers StoryIMG; Release date: 2010-12-07; DVD
Best price: $4.97
Price in other shops:
Uptown Saturday NightWarner Brothers; Release date: 2004-01-13; DVD
Best price: $4.05
Price in other shops:
SparkleWarner Brothers; Release date: 2007-01-02; DVD
Best price: $3.36
Price in other shops:
Rodgers & Hammerstein's CinderellaBuena Vista Home Video; Release date: 2003-02-04; Published: 2003-02-01; DVD
Best price: $6.96
Price in other shops:
The Wiz: Original Soundtrack (1978 Film)VARIOUS; Release date: 1997-07-29; Music CD
Best price: $15.25
Price in other shops:
The Wiz (30th Anniversary Edition w/ Bonus CD)Universal Studios; Release date: 2008-02-12; DVD
Best price: $6.98
Price in other shops: