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The Wiz (1978)
Dorothy Gale, a shy kindergarten teacher, is swept away to the magic land of Oz where she embarks on a quest to return home.
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Richard Schertzer
August 7, 2022
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Why ‘The Wiz’ is the Best Black Musical
The Wizard of Oz from 1939 is best known for its classic moments and unique songs that have left its mark on cinema. However, there has been one musical remake that has also stood the test of time which happens to be 1978’s The Wiz.
The story follows nearly the same plot as the 1939 film with a few changes. A young school teacher named Dorothy Gale (Diana Ross) is whisked away to the magical land of Oz after she goes after her dog Toto in a snowstorm. When she is deposited in the magical land, she inadvertently kills the Witch of the East and soon finds out that the only way to get back home is with the help of “The Wiz” (Richard Pryor).
The film, initially, received mixed reviews and was a box office disaster upon its release. However, it gained a cult following with many fans sparking a debate on whether or not it deserved the ridicule that critics gave it. Personally, it doesn't deserve the hate and here’s why.
The Wiz has some of the best staging in black theatre that has ever been put to the silver screen. Its magnificent sets are almost impossible to ignore and with each design being featured, it looks like it was hand-drawn by a top artist of 1978.
One of the most important aspects of a musical is the staging of said musical. The sets must allude and, furthermore, extend the story that it is trying to convey.
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Movie Information
Dorothy Gale, a shy kindergarten teacher, is swept away to the magic land of Oz where she embarks on a quest to return home.
Rating:G
Genre:Fantasy, Family, Adventure
Directed By:Sidney Lumet
Written By:Joel Schumacher
In Theaters:10/24/1978
Box Office:$21,049,053
Runtime:134 minutes
Studio:Motown Productions
Cast
Sidney Lumet
Director
Sidney Lumet
Director
Diana Ross
Dorothy
Michael Jackson
Scarecrow
Nipsey Russell
Tinman
Ted Ross
Lion
Mabel King
Evillene
Theresa Merritt
Aunt Em
Thelma Carpenter
Miss One
Lena Horne
Glinda the Good
Richard Pryor
The Wiz
Stanley Greene
Uncle Henry
Clyde J. Barrett
Subway Peddler