The Wiz

"The genius who created me only took care of my dashing good looks, my razor sharp wit and my irresistible attraction to the wrong women."

Dorothy (Ross) is a shy schoolteacher, who is unhappy with her life.  She lives with Aunt Em (Merritt) and Uncle Henry (Stanley Greene) and resists change.  After Thanksgiving with the extended family, her dog Toto runs out of the apartment.  Dorothy chases him and they get caught in a blizzard, which transports them to the land of Oz.

Dorothy inadvertently kills Evermean, the wicked witch, and frees the Munchkins from her spell.  Miss One (Carpenter), a witch without power, tells Dorothy to go to the Emerald City to see the Wiz (Pryor) to find a way home.  She frees a Scarecrow (Jackson), who is stuffed with garbage and continually reciting bits of wisdom, who decides to join her quest.  Soon they help a rusted Tinman (Russell) and encounter a cowardly Lion (Ross), who also want to see the Wiz.  Their progress is tracked by Evilene (King), another wicked witch, and her motorcycle Flying Monkees.  Will they ever reach the Emerald City and gain an audience with the elusive Wiz?


In 1974 Charlie Smalls and William F. Brown reimagined L. Frank Baum's "The Wizard of Oz" in African American culture.  The show was a success and won 7 Tony Awards in 1975.  The show's success led to the plan to make a film adaptation, which would star Stephanie Mills (who starred in the Broadway show)... however, Diana Ross expressed interest in the role.  When the original producer turned her down, she went around him and was ultimately cast in the part.  Her casting led to a revamp of the story to make Dorothy older (Ross was in her 30s, so they made Dorothy 24), the director left and was replaced with Sidney Lumet, and they decided to scrap the plot of the stage show.  The result was considered a commercial and critical failure.

Despite the poor showing, the film was nominated for four Academy Awards: Art Direction, Costume Design, Original Music Score, Cinematography.  It did not win any awards.  Michael Jackson's performance as the Scarecrow was widely revered.  Nipsey Russell has good moments as the Tinman.  Ted Ross and Mabel King reprise their roles from the Broadway show as Lion and Evillene respectively.  Each gets a showstopping number.  Lena Horne is great as Glinda, but should appear in more of the film.  The only acting dud is Ross, the character is not warm or sympathetic.  She isn't horrible, but this isn't the part for her.  The film is too dark and doesn't capture the joy or enthusiasm of the stage show.

The Wiz (1978) 134 minutes
Director: Sidney Lumet
Starring: Diana Ross as Dorothy
Michael Jackson as Scarecrow
Nipsey Russell as Tinman
Ted Ross as Lion
Mabel King as Evillene
Theresa Merritt as Aunt Em
Thelma Carpenter as Miss One
Lena Horne as Glinda the Good
Richard Pryor as The Wiz