The Wiz | |
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Directed by | Sidney Lumet |
Screenplay by | Joel Schumacher |
Based on | |
Produced by | Rob Cohen |
Starring | |
Cinematography | Oswald Morris |
Edited by | Dede Allen |
Music by | Charlie Smalls |
Production company | |
Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
Release date |
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Running time | 133 minutes[1] |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $24 million[2] |
Box office | $21 million[3] |
The Wiz is a 1978 American musical fantasy adventure film directed by Sidney Lumet. Adapted from the 1974 Broadway musical of the same name, the film reimagines the classic children's novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum with an African-American cast. Dorothy, a 24-year old teacher from Harlem, finds herself magically transported to the urban fantasy Land of Oz. On her travels seeking help from the mysterious Wiz, Dorothy befriends a Scarecrow, a Tin Man, and a Cowardly Lion.
Produced by Universal Pictures and Motown Productions, filming took place in Queens, New York City from July to December 1977, with a cast starring Diana Ross, Michael Jackson (in his feature film debut), Nipsey Russell, Ted Ross, Mabel King, Theresa Merritt, Thelma Carpenter, Lena Horne, and Richard Pryor. The story was reworked from William F. Brown's Broadway libretto by Joel Schumacher, and Quincy Jones supervised the adaptation of songs by Charlie Smalls and Luther Vandross. A handful of new songs, written by Jones and the songwriting team of Nickolas Ashford & Valerie Simpson, were added for the project.
The Wiz was theatrically released the following year on October 24, 1978, to critical and commercial failure.[4][5][6] The film received generally negative reviews from critics, with many unfavorably comparing the film to its source material. Some critics criticized the casting of Ross as Dorothy, while others criticized the direction of Lumet who was considered a poor choice for directing a musical.[7][8][9] Despite its initial failure, the critics became more favorable in recent years, and became a cult classic among audiences, Ross's fanbase, Jackson's fanbase, and Oz enthusiasts.[10][11] The 2015 live television adaptation The Wiz Live! was influenced by the film.[12]
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was invoked but never defined (see the help page).This is a kind of blend of the Broadway musical and the movie, so it's like both of them combined.