The Wiz (1978)
October 24, 1978Release Date
The Wiz (1978)
October 24, 1978Release Date
Plot.
Where to Watch.
Currently The Wiz is available for streaming online, rent, buy or watch for free on: Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Amazon Video, YouTube, Microsoft Store, Showtime Apple TV Channel, Vudu, DIRECTV, AMC on Demand
Streaming in:🇺🇸 United States
Cast & Crew.
Diana Ross
Dorothy
Michael Jackson
Scarecrow
Nipsey Russell
Tinman
Ted Ross
Lion
Mabel King
Evillene
Theresa Merritt
Aunt Em
Thelma Carpenter
Miss One
Lena Horne
Glinda the Good
Richard Pryor
The Wiz (Herman Smith)
Quincy Jones
Emerald City Gold Pianist / Music Supervisor / Music Arranger
Iman
Emerald City Citizen
Stanley Greene
Uncle Henry
Clyde J. Barrett
Subway Peddler
Sidney Lumet
Director
L. Frank Baum
Writer
Harry Madsen
Cheetah
Mabel Robinson
Munchkin #2
William F. Brown
Writer
Joel Schumacher
Writer
John Jay Moore
Assistant Art Director
Rob Cohen
Producer
Burtt Harris
Associate Producer / First Assistant Director
Charlie Smalls
Composer
Kenneth Utt
Production Manager
Oswald Morris
Cinematographer
Dede Allen
Editor
Tony Walton
ProductionDesigner
Anna Hill Johnstone
Costume Coordinator
Jack Fitzstephens
Supervising Sound Editor / Supervising Music Editor
Robert Drumheller
Set Decoration
Dick Vorisek
Recording Supervision
James Sabat
Sound Mixer
Media.
Details.
Release DateOctober 24, 1978
StatusReleased
Running Time2h 14m
Content RatingG
Budget$24,000,000
Box Office$21,049,053
Genres
Wiki.
The Wiz is a 1978 American musical adventure fantasy film directed by Sidney Lumet. Adapted from the 1974 Broadway musical of the same name, the film reimagines the classic 1900 children's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum with an African-American cast. Dorothy, a twenty-four year old New York City schoolteacher 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 October 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. 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. Despite its initial failure, the film became a cult classic among audiences, Ross's fanbase, Jackson's fanbase, and Oz enthusiasts. The 2015 live television adaptation The Wiz Live! was influenced by the film.