#ted ross

[thechanelmuse]

It's the 45th anniversary of the iconic Sidney Lumet-directed film, The Wiz.

The cast. The costumes. The sequences. The set. The soundtrack. 🤌🏽

This is good news. So take it away, Evillene 🎤:

[citizenscreen]

The cast of Sidney Lumet’s THE WIZ in a publicity shot in 1978 New York City: Ted Ross, Diana Ross, Nipsey Russell, Michael Jackson and Richard Pryor.

[bubbleblowinggirl]

EASE ON DOWN, EASE ON DOWN, DOWN THE ROADDDDDDD

[mimi-0007]

[pygartheangel]

[taxi-davis]

[bonniehooper]

Endless List of My Favorite Movies

The Wiz (1978)

[onenakedfarmer]

Currently Watching

THE WIZ Sidney Lumet USA, 1978

[lascenizas]

The Last Movie I Watched...

The Wiz (1978, Dir.: Sidney Lumet)

[schlock-luster-video]

On October 24, 1978 The Wiz debuted in the United States.

[thecoparoom]

Wiz ad

Ebony, Dec 1978

[yetihideout]

[michaelvarrati]

Ease on down the road! This week, Peaches and Michael are headed to Oz in celebration of 1978’s THE WIZ! In addition to discussing the Motown majesty of the film’s power cast, our hosts delve into the impact of reframing a classic story from a different point of view. Joining the conversation is writer and STRANGELORE creator Viktor T. Kerney, whose lifetime of love for this cult phenomenon continues to inform him today. Then, filmmaker and WHAT IS QUEER’s Parker Sargent stops by to discuss her unique relationship growing up with this legendary musical and its ongoing queer resonance. From mean old lions to floating space babies, this episode has it all! Go!

[adamwatchesmovies]

The Wiz (1978)

There have been many sequel, prequels and retellings of L. Frank Baum’s The Wizard of Oz and obviously. The best is the 1939 Judy Garland version. Coming in second place is The Wiz. This sounds like faint praise, but there’s a lot to like in this all-black musical retelling.

Based on the stageplay of the same name, Dorothy Gale (Diana Ross) is a 24-year-old teacher who is whisked away to the urban fantasyland of Oz. Determined to make her way back home by meeting with the powerful and mysterious Wiz (Richard Pryor), she travels along the yellow brick road. Along the way, she encounters a Scarecrow in need of a brain (Michael Jackson), a Tin Man in need of a heart (Nipsey Russell) and a cowardly lion (Ted Ross).

The Wiz proves you can get away with a lot if you bring something new to the equation, put a genuine artistic spin on previously-established characters and legitimize your casting choice by saying something. More than a colour-swapped version of Wizard of Oz, this iteration smartly incorporates topics unique to Black culture in its narrative. When we first meet the Scarecrow, he’s articulate and stuffed with newspaper clippings (instead of straw). He has the makings of an intellectual, but a gang of crows keeps him down by repeating over and over that reading books is for suckers. Similarly, the Cowardly Lion is shown to be perfectly capable of defending his newfound friends when they’re in peril, but is also effortlessly swayed by drugs and easy women. In the settings, costumes, dance numbers and songs, this film discovers many ways to say something about the joys and trials of being Black and living in New York without beating you over the head with its message. I’ll go so far as to call it brilliant.

With that said, there’s a reason this is the #2 adaptation. The songs are ok, but not all that memorable. More than once, numbers either go on for too long or add nothing to the story. The film's antagonist, the Wicked Witch of the West (Mabel King), only appears (briefly) in two scenes. This, combined with the casting of Diana Ross makes the whole quest through Oz feel strange. You can believe a little kid would want to return home but what does the real world offer a grown woman compared to this magnificently coloured land of fantasy and wonder?

Even if you’ve never seen 1939’s The Wizard of Oz (one of the greatest films ever made), The Wiz has a few too many, unnecessary songs, it’s a bit too in love with its musical dance numbers and the performances range from great to only ok. What it does well, however is so good you can easily overlook the flaws. The costumes, the imaginative sets, the reinterpretation of a classic work make it a film worth seeking out. (On Blu-ray, July 7, 2018)

[browsethestacks]

Wildcat

Art by...

1) Alex Toth

2) Alex Ross

3) Steve Rude

4) Jim Aparo

5) Jeremy Massie

6) Mort Meskin

7) Neal Adams

8) Kerry Callen

9) Dave Watcher

10) Ramon Villalobos

[pygartheangel]