The Wiz (DVD)

The Wiz (1978) was a hip, modernised, all-black version of L. Frank Baum's famous fantasy, adventure story, The Wonderful Wizard Of (first published at the dawn of the century).

We all know of course that the best version of this famous childrens story will forever be the delightful Judy Garland classic of 1939. Though brave and ambitious, The Wiz in it's favour is a diverse though failed experiment to bring the story into a more ...
...oddly (mis)cast as Dorothy with the character in this film being a rather neurotic, wet-behind-the-ears 24 year old harlem school teacher who is whisked away in a snow blizzard one night and lands in Oz.

I really wanted to like this film being such a huge fan of the diva of all diva's Diana Ross and although Ross is, as always, vocally excellent throughout each film (especially on her spine-tingling delivery of the exalting number, ... more

The Wiz (1978) was a hip, modernised, all-black version of L. Frank Baum's famous fantasy, adventure story, The Wonderful Wizard Of (first published at the dawn of the century).

We all know of course that the best version of this famous childrens story will forever be the delightful Judy Garland classic of 1939. Though brave and ambitious, The Wiz in it's favour is a diverse though failed experiment to bring the story into a more contemporary setting.

Soul music legend Diana Ross was oddly (mis)cast as Dorothy with the character in this film being a rather neurotic, wet-behind-the-ears 24 year old harlem school teacher who is whisked away in a snow blizzard one night and lands in Oz.

I really wanted to like this film being such a huge fan of the diva of all diva's Diana Ross and although Ross is, as always, vocally excellent throughout each film (especially on her spine-tingling delivery of the exalting number, Home) she just was never suited for the role as if anything she was just far too glamorous (and too old being 34 when she starred in this).

The Wiz had opened at Broadway Theatres in the mid 1970's to rave reviews and the winner of many Tony awards. Stephanie Mills took on the role of Dorothy and it was naturally assumed that Mills would go on to star in the film version but on hearing about the film adaptation, Ross was adament that she wanted to play the role much to the reluctance of her boss and mentor Berry Gordy.

Ross relentlessly pursued Gordy about the role and hesitantly let her take the role. With Ross on board (who won critical acclaim for her harrowing and powerful performance as the tortured jazz legend, Billie Holiday in Lady Sings The Blues) The Wiz was turned into a big budget extravagansa.

Joining Ross in the cast was none other than Michael Jackson as the scarecrow. Jackson hideously whinges and whines through the heavily schmaltzy dialogue but like Ross is vocally superb throughout.

Nipsey Russell assumes the role of the Tin Man which he plays to some effect whilst Ted Ross surprisingly shines in his intepretation as the cowadly lion. Funny man Richard Pryor takes on the role of the infamous and bogus Wiz (in what is possibly his worst ever film role). Mabel King takes on the role of Evileene (a total contrast to the wicked witch of the west on which the character is loosley based) where as Lena Horne pops up as Glinda The Good Witch.

With such a vastly impressive cast line-up, The Wiz looked almost certain to be a huge smash hit with the budget exceeding well over $30,000,000. It boasted a few good numbers by Ross and Jackson, a few spectacular dance routines and some fabulous set designs courtesy of Tony Walton. However Sidney Lumet's direction is flat and unappealing.

Oz is immersed in The Wiz as a dark, inner-city impressionism in comparison to the more colourful, confectionary Garland version. With the urban setting it seems rather disjointed that the scripts overdose on old fashioned cliches and what amounts too pure schmaltz. The film actually alternates between schmaltz and smart sarcasm humour which goes together like oil and water in this instance.

The Emerald City sequences are actually quite dazzlingly impressive with the dancing particularly spectacular(though is slightly over-long) where as the scene where Evileene is destroyed is another highlight of the film where the lengthy cast all join Ross for the exalting number, A Brand New Day.

The entire soundtrack was written and composed by the upmost genius and always creative Quincy Jones with one of the other highlights of the soundtrack being the fabulously funky Ease On Down The Road sung by Ross and jackson as the alternative to Follow The yellow Brick Road.

The cast all try hard but the bottom line is The Wiz was just too long, too bland and very forgetable. Though a highly ambitious production The Wiz turned out to be one of the most embarssing turkey's of all time and Ross was virtually ridiculed by critics for her performance in the film (which many solely blame her for the film's downfall).

The Wiz is interesting to look at just once to see all those great stars at work but this is a film you will NEVER want to watch again after viewing it once. Sad and embarassing!

Ian Phillips
 

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