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| Tiger Haynes, who played theTin Man in the original Broadway "The Wiz" |
The film version of the musical, with Ross as Dorothy, Michael Jackson as the Scarecrow, Ted Ross (no relation) as the Cowardly Lion, and Nipsey Russell as the Tin Man was directed by Sidney Lumet and released in October 1978. Its reviews were decidedly more mixed; while nearly everyone praised the musical performances, there was a strange disconnect with the film's production values, which seemed at once too "stagey" and too underplayed. The decision to have Diana Ross play Dorothy with natural hair and minimal makeup -- and with her role changed from child to schoolteacher -- brought some criticism; the choice of Nipsey Russell -- better known at that time as a frequent game-show panelist -- irked others. The bigger problem, in retrospect, was that Hollywood in that period really didn't understand how to market a Black film; while low-budget "Blaxploitation" films did well at the box-office, the major studios had no idea either how to reach Black audiences or market the film to white viewers.
I like that they took the story of The Wizard of OZ and put their own twist on it. I enjoyed the different sets,costumes, and songs. I also really enjoyed the fact that it was a fully black cast, considering it came out in 1978, I'd say it was ahead of it's time.The costumes and makeup for the main cast were incredible, and I'm sure they were more bearable than the ones from the 1939 film. I was surprised to see Michael Jackson in the film, the makeup and prosthetics are so good I didn't notice it was him at first. His voice fit the movie well. I also really enjoyed the voice of the good witch of the north, Thelma Carpenter. Overall I really enjoyed this movie, maybe even more than the 1939 version.
ReplyDeleteI forgot to add my name!
DeleteSabrina Soler
Tess Collins
DeleteMichael Jackson's portrayal as the Scarecrow was one one of my favorite elements of The Wiz! I thought that each one of his musical numbers was so fun to watch, which can be attributed to his stellar voice and outstanding performance quality. I also had a similar experience to you - I did not even recognize Jackson at first because of his elaborate costume and make-up. It's really cool that they were able to implement such convincing prosthetics to make each of the characters come to life.
Personally, I really enjoyed "the wiz" much more than the 1939 classic. The Wiz is much more memorable and has such a unique aesthetic and interpretation of these characters and locations. Clearly, the movie isn't a masterpiece but throughout the movie they made it fun to watch and it came out to be a strong movie. The music in the movie was strong but I have to say that some of the musical numbers seemed unnecessary or overstayed. The camera work wasn't the best. With saying that, I also have to understand and appreciate the musical creativity it brought to the stage and screen. The characters were well developed, I enjoyed seeing all the embellishments and well thought out theatrical costumes. I believe there was a great display of dancing/acting/singing due to the cast such as Micheal Jackson, Nispey Russell, and Diana Ross. I believe they did a fabulous job. I also like how creative the film was in general such as the gate to emerald city was a vault door, you see flying monkeys, and Oz being very metropolitan. I also like to point out that the movie has made such a great impact with having a black/ African American cast. I thought that was really awesome to see.
ReplyDeleteSilvia Banuchi
ReplyDeleteAlthough the film quality may not be the best due to the year the movie was made, this film is undoubtedly a classic. I think it is necessary to mention the impact a movie with an all-black cast has on history. The Wiz’s abstract visuals can be unappealing but it is important to think of the symbolism of four hopeful characters, joyously singing and dancing through a dystopian environment. The Wiz is fun, and has its own unique feel. From the film’s music to its choreography, I personally find myself in awe and enjoying the aesthetics, from the yellow brick road to the evil lair of Evilene. The Wiz’s star-studded cast and artistic production is one to see. If you can get past the depressing scenery, you will enjoy this upbeat and creative story. The Wiz is a creative and abstract version of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
Tess Collins
ReplyDeleteUpon watching both film adaptations of Frank Baum’s original novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, I knew immediately that the one I wanted to do some serious reflection on was The Wiz! I’ve always adored musicals and I found this one especially lively and entertaining. The first aspect that I immediately took note of was how drastically the set designs and costumes contrasted that of the 1939 interpretation. The Wiz was set in a more modern and urbanized Oz. The hurdles that Dorothy and her companions had to overcome were not animals, creatures, or elements of nature, but rather inanimate objects come to life. For example, shortly after Dorothy meets up with the Cowardly Lion, all four friends find themselves trapped in an abandoned subway station where they get attacked by trash bins, wire boxes, and support columns. I found this take very interesting and it kept me from getting bored as it felt like an entirely new adventure.
Another notable component of The Wiz were the musical numbers. Some of my favorites were the one sung by the Munchkins upon Dorothy arriving in Munchkinland, the Scarecrow’s groovy tune that he performs for the crows, and the repeating ditty that Dorothy sings with her friends each time they travel along the Yellow Brick Road. I loved how enthusiastic and upbeat these numbers were and the choreography for each of them was wonderful and very technically advanced. Prevailingly, I found this musical to be super enjoyable! I thought that all of its redesigned elements and nuances kept it interesting and engaging and each actor did a brilliant job of portraying their individual roles.
I also found it more interesting and less boring to watch where the inanimate objects came to life rather than the other elements.
DeleteShannon Duckworth
ReplyDeleteI found myself very interested in the cast and different sets throughout the film. I also found it interesting that Dorothy seemed to be much older, I think it worked well with the path she was on and she seemed to learn a lot. I think Dianna Ross did an amazing job and I could tell she got into her role, especially at the end when she was signing and teary eyed. I was more intrigued by the lively sets and songs. I did not find the flying monkeys scary in this film as I did in the first.
Shannon Duckworth
DeleteThey did an amazing job with the costumes and I really liked when the wizard would pick a different color and all of their clothes changed. The music was very catchy.
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I personally was not too intrigued of this film in the beginning but once I continued watching it goodness! I like this film rather then the 1939 Classic film, the story was changed but I believe that's what separate both films, this one was dark but yet so musical. The costumes and makeup were also very good.
ReplyDeleteforgot to add my name Marilyn Monroy
DeleteBreanna Jones
ReplyDeleteAs an absolute theatre nerd, I really loved this musical take on Wizard of Oz. From the costumes to the underscore, to the set design, The Wiz is a phenomenal work in the theatre world. To start off, the all-black cast brings diversity to the stages and screens. Having been performed in 1978, it was a huge deal for that time. With the star-studded cast, it became very popular, featuring Michael Jackson, Diane Ross, Nipsey Russell, and so many more. Next, we have the costumes. They are extremely unique in comparison to other portrayals of the characters in Wizard of Oz. The designs for the tin man and scarecrow are particularly captivating. I just can’t seem to take my eyes off them! Lastly, the musical score was just extraordinary. The soulful music breaks off from the original soundtrack of the 1939 Wizard of Oz film. In conclusion, there were many facets of The Wiz that make it a fascinating watch.
Karina Nunez
ReplyDeleteThe story line from the Wizard of Oz and The Wiz have similar similarities all with the same common goal. From the beginning of the movie i caught on to how different it was from the first film. Everyone was cheerful and welcoming except for Dorothy who didn't seem happy, oppose to the Wizard of Oz it was aunt Em and uncle Henry who were very gloom. In the Wiz the munchkins definitely had a stylish costume that makes you appreciate how much style has changed from the 70's to now. Prior to this movie being assigned i was not aware of its existence let alone that Michael Jackson played the scarecrow. It has been an enjoyable film to watch from the characters which they all played their parts extremely well to the musical and the costumes. It's enjoyable to watch a classic film being remade especially when the characters bring funk and flair. i get a kick out of watching musicals i love watching people get into character and showing their talents. Job well done and a must see.
DeleteI like that you highlighted that although the movies are different they have similarities with in the common goal.
olivia Bradstreet
ReplyDeleteI never realized how many Oz movies there were until this class, and I’m glad that I’ve had the chance to now watch some of them. I personally liked watching the “The Wiz” the best. To start, I loved that they had an all-black cast including Diana Ross and Michael Jackson who I didn’t even recognize at first. Both played their characters with such passion and dedication to the portrayal of these characters. I didn’t mind that Dorothy was older in this version either, and I loved that they kept her shoes silver instead of red. Michael Jackson was a perfect fit for the scarecrow as well, he really gave the character life and was a big part of making the movie great I believe. Nevertheless, the dedication of all the cast members was phenomenal.
Set wise, I thought the colors/lighting and the film quality wasn’t the best compared to the other versions, however, due to the year this was made, I do think the production was well done. Nonetheless, the costumes in my mind were the best out of the other films I’ve seen. I loved the tin man’s colors and design compared to plain old silver. As well as I really liked the evil witches red dress, I thought it was very detailed and fit the scene and her well. I also liked the modern aspect to the film, and that it was unique and creative for both the sets and the costumes. Not only that, but I found some scenes to be creepier than the other Oz films. For example, during the subway scene, Dorothy and the others run into some guy who is playing with two pink marionette puppets that grow into life size ones.
Lastly, I really like all the songs and choreography that went into the different scenes. I think my favorite was the “Everybody Rejoice” song near the end of the film. I thought it was powerful in its own way and tied everything together. Overall, I think everyone should see this version of Oz because there’s something for everyone in it.
Chloe Marrapese
ReplyDeleteIn 1975, when the theatrical version first opened on Broadway, it was an immediate hit. What truly made it “wickedly amusing” was that its writers had transplanted the classic story of Dorothy from Kansas into a big city setting without losing “the sense of childlike innocence nor the wonder of revisiting a durable fable.”
The movie has great moments and a lot of life, sensational special effects and costumes, and Ross, Jackson, and Russell. Why doesn't it involve us as deeply as "The Wizard of Oz"? Maybe because it hedges its bets by wanting to be sophisticated and universal, childlike and knowing, appealing to both a mass audience and to media insiders. “The Wizard of Oz” went flat-out for the heart of its story; there are times when “The Wiz” has just a touch too much calculation.
The amount of different variations of the Wizard of Oz has shocked me. So far from the information, I have gathered in this course I am interested in the different versions and all the details that make them unique and different. I first saw "The Wiz" at a high school play viewing. I did not know that there were other versions of the Wizard of Oz until that moment. I like that "The Wiz" is an all-black cast, which allows for this community to have a spot in Hollywood. Most times casts in the time are mostly wide. The actors demonstrated a passion for their job through their acting. I also feel like "The Wiz" is a mature version of the child-like original. People of all ages can enjoy this version.
ReplyDeleteThe beginning of the film was boring but then i appreciated it more as time went on in the film. It is a great film! The quality is good, i like the visuals , costumes and makeup. It is crazy how many different variations of this film was made . I like spotting out the differences between the book/films. I think people of all ages could enjoy this verrsion as it is more "mature."
ReplyDelete- Lindsay Nadeau
ReplyDeleteThis was my first time every seeing or hearing about The Wiz. I really enjoyed how they incorporated a different background to this version of the traditional Wizard of Oz. It was very cool to see it with a different cast, also an all-black cast and also to see this from a city perspective instead of a southern farm perspective. I couldn't have ever imagined the Wizard of Oz from this point of view until now but I really enjoyed it! It is not suprising that this production won seven Tony awards. The Wiz must have been an amazing Broadway show because the music and dances the actors and actresses put on were amazing. I also had no idea that Michael Jackson actually played a role in this movie! I know this film received several critiques but I think it was very interesting the way that they were able to incorporate a different aspect of the traditional film.