/b6rlXj7shaWUrNmmDzll8kVBya5.jpg
MusicFantasyAdventure

The Wiz

- The wiz! The stars! The music! Wow!

Dorothy Gale, a shy kindergarten teacher, is swept away to the magic land of Oz where she embarks on a quest to return home.

Release Date : 1978-10-24

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Motown Productions

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Diana Ross

Character Name : Dorothy

Original Name : Diana Ross

Gender : Female

Michael Jackson

Character Name : Scarecrow

Original Name : Michael Jackson

Gender : Male

Nipsey Russell

Character Name : Tinman

Original Name : Nipsey Russell

Gender : Male

Ted Ross

Character Name : Lion

Original Name : Ted Ross

Gender : Male

Mabel King

Character Name : Evillene

Original Name : Mabel King

Gender : Female

Theresa Merritt

Character Name : Aunt Em

Original Name : Theresa Merritt

Gender : Female

Thelma Carpenter

Character Name : Miss One

Original Name : Thelma Carpenter

Gender : Female

Lena Horne

Character Name : Gilda the Good

Original Name : Lena Horne

Gender : Female

Richard Pryor

Character Name : The Wiz

Original Name : Richard Pryor

Gender : Male

Stanley Greene

Character Name : Uncle Henry

Original Name : Stanley Greene

Gender : Male

Clyde J. Barrett

Character Name : Subway Peddler

Original Name : Clyde J. Barrett

Gender : Male

Derrick Bell

Character Name : Crow

Original Name : Derrick Bell

Gender : Male

Roderick-Spencer Sibert

Character Name : Crow

Original Name : Roderick-Spencer Sibert

Gender : Male

Kashka Banjoko

Character Name : Crow

Original Name : Kashka Banjoko

Gender : Male

Ronald "Smokey" Stevens

Character Name : Crow

Original Name : Ronald "Smokey" Stevens

Gender : Male

Toney Brealond

Character Name : Gold Footman

Original Name : Toney Brealond

Gender : Male

Joe Lynn

Character Name : Gold Footman

Original Name : Joe Lynn

Gender : Male

Clinton Jackson

Character Name : Green Footman

Original Name : Clinton Jackson

Gender : Male

Charles Rodriguez

Character Name : Green Footman

Original Name : Charles Rodriguez

Gender : Male

Carlton Johnson

Character Name : Head Winkie

Original Name : Carlton Johnson

Gender : Male

Ted Williams

Character Name : Munchkin #1

Original Name : Ted Williams

Gender : Male

Mabel Robinson

Character Name : Munchkin #2

Original Name : Mabel Robinson

Gender : Male

Damon Pearce

Character Name : Munchkin #3

Original Name : Damon Pearce

Gender : Male

Donna Patrice Ingram

Character Name : Munchkin #4

Original Name : Donna Patrice Ingram

Gender : Male

Harry Madsen

Character Name : Cheetah

Original Name : Harry Madsen

Gender : Male

Glory Van Scott

Character Name : Rolls Royce Lady

Original Name : Glory Van Scott

Gender : Male

Vicki Baltimore

Character Name : Green Lady

Original Name : Vicki Baltimore

Gender : Male

Iman

Character Name : Emerald City Citizen (uncredited)

Original Name : Iman

Gender : Female

Quincy Jones

Character Name : Emerald City Gold Pianist (uncredited)

Original Name : Quincy Jones

Gender : Male

Duke Thorbs

Character Name : The Wiz Singers Children's Choir (voice)

Original Name : Duke Thorbs

Gender : Male

Reviews

C

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2024-03-30

Whilst I think this really does work on stage, I really didn't much rate this African-American take on the timeless "Wizard of Oz" tale. It seems much more intent on making a political statement than it does on entertaining anyone, and given I'm not from the community it was made by and for, I felt a bit like I was not really invited to the party. The story itself sees a slightly older "Dorothy" (Diana Ross) chasing her dog through a heavy snowfall. She gets hopelessly lost and next thing she is in a mysterious land ("Oz") and must find the legendary wizard if she is ever to sing her way back to Harlem. The snag with this plot here is that her life in New York was none too enjoyable, so after a while here making new friends - including Michael Jackson's "Scarecrow", and singing and dancing her way through life, I did wonder what she actually wanted to get back for. The remainder of the story largely follows the gist of the original Baum novel, peppered with some of Quincy Jones best efforts, and so no there's not a jot of jeopardy as she plods along the yellow brick road towards a typically theatrical, power ballad, denouement. There's no question Ross can sing, but somehow nobody here ever imbues thire songs with much personality or character. They are just repetitions of the vinyl versions with little to personalise them for the big screen. It's not a bad film, and it does try to take some risks with the creativity, but for me I just didn't feel at all engaged.