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IMDbPro

The Wiz

  • 1978
  • G
  • 2h 14m
IMDb RATING
5.5/10
16K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,471
280
The Wiz (1978)
Theatrical Trailer from Universal Pictures
Play trailer3:31
2 Videos
77 Photos
AdventureFamilyFantasy

An adaptation of "The Wizard of Oz" that tries to capture the essence of the African-American experience.An adaptation of "The Wizard of Oz" that tries to capture the essence of the African-American experience.An adaptation of "The Wizard of Oz" that tries to capture the essence of the African-American experience.

  • Director
    • Sidney Lumet
  • Writers
    • L. Frank Baum
    • William F. Brown
    • Joel Schumacher
  • Stars
    • Diana Ross
    • Michael Jackson
    • Nipsey Russell
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    5.5/10
    16K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    4,471
    280
    • Director
      • Sidney Lumet
    • Writers
      • L. Frank Baum
      • William F. Brown
      • Joel Schumacher
    • Stars
      • Diana Ross
      • Michael Jackson
      • Nipsey Russell
    • 189User reviews
    • 40Critic reviews
    • 53Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 4 Oscars
      • 2 wins & 11 nominations total

    Videos2

    The Wiz
    Trailer 3:31
    Watch The Wiz
    Sneak Previews Season 3 Episode 26
    Video 29:04
    Watch Sneak Previews Season 3 Episode 26

    Photos77

    Michael Jackson in The Wiz (1978)
    Michael Jackson in The Wiz (1978)
    Sidney Lumet, Rob Cohen, and Quincy Jones in The Wiz (1978)
    Sidney Lumet and Joel Schumacher in The Wiz (1978)
    Sidney Lumet, Joel Schumacher, and Rob Cohen in The Wiz (1978)
    Diana Ross and Coretta Scott King in The Wiz (1978)
    Joel Schumacher in The Wiz (1978)
    Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, and Ted Ross in The Wiz (1978)
    Richard Pryor in The Wiz (1978)
    Iman in The Wiz (1978)
    Michael Jackson, Richard Pryor, Diana Ross, Ted Ross, and Nipsey Russell in The Wiz (1978)
    The Wiz (1978)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Diana Ross
    Diana Ross
    • Dorothy
    Michael Jackson
    Michael Jackson
    • Scarecrow
    Nipsey Russell
    Nipsey Russell
    • Tinman
    Ted Ross
    Ted Ross
    • Lion…
    Mabel King
    Mabel King
    • Evillene
    Theresa Merritt
    Theresa Merritt
    • Aunt Em
    Thelma Carpenter
    • Miss One
    Lena Horne
    Lena Horne
    • Glinda the Good
    Richard Pryor
    Richard Pryor
    • The Wiz (Herman Smith)
    Stanley Greene
    • Uncle Henry
    Clyde J. Barrett
    • Subway Peddler
    Derrick Bell
    • The Four Crows
    Roderick-Spencer Sibert
    • The Four Crows
    Kashka Banjoko
    • The Four Crows
    Ronald 'Smokey' Stevens
    • The Four Crows
    Toney Brealond
    • Gold Footman
    • (as Tony Brealond)
    Joe Lynn
    • Gold Footman
    Clinton Jackson
    Clinton Jackson
    • Green Footman
    • Director
      • Sidney Lumet
    • Writers
      • L. Frank Baum
      • William F. Brown
      • Joel Schumacher
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Original director John Badham stepped down when he objected to 33-year-old Diana Ross being cast as a teenage Dorothy. The character was changed to a 24-year-old kindergarten teacher, but by then Sidney Lumet had already replaced Badham.
    • Goofs
      Aunt Emma comments that Dorothy has never been south of 125th Street in the Manhattan neighborhood of Harlem. However, Dorothy later gives her address as being on Prospect Place, which is in Brooklyn, miles southeast of Harlem.
    • Quotes

      Tinman: 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.

    • Crazy credits
      Fitzstephens, Jack ... Music Editor & Guru
    • Alternate versions
      When this movie debuted on CBS, the network trimmed several scenes to fit in a 3 hour block with commercials. Several omitted scenes includes:
      • The arrival of the baby and its family at Aunt Emme's party.
      • Some of the dancing and the Poms sequence with the Munchkins (it cut from them going down the stairs to some of them doing acrobatics).
      • Portions of "Mean Ole Lion".
      • The chase sequence in the subway platform omits how the Scarecrow and the Tin Man are rescued by the Lion.
      • The Poppy Girls close-up shot.
      • Dance portions in the Emerald City during the Green and Red clothing.
      • The entire Emerald City Motel sequence
      • Dorothy asking the guards of the gate how to get to Evilynn's. (It cut from RIchard Pryor peeking out to the time clock at the sweat shop).
    • Connections
      Edited into The Arrivals (2008)
    • Soundtracks
      You Can't Win, You Can't Break Even
      Written by Charlie Smalls

      Performed by Michael Jackson (uncredited) and The Four Crows (uncredited)

    User reviews189

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Just Like a Broadway Show--from the Cheap Seats
    I just watched this for the first time, I've was expecting a true spectacle of "bad" cinema. I was surprised to find there is a decent movie here.

    Some people have remarked Diana Ross was too old to play Dorothy, OK, well, so was Judy Garland. True. There's really nothing wrong with this musical--The songs are excellent, performed by some great talents. The production design is spectacular (maybe a little dated, but still something to look at). The sets are a little nightmarish looking, true, but I liked that. I reminded me of "Return of Oz", a favorite of mine too. The real problem with this movie is the damn direction and cinematography.

    What were they thinking? The Munchkin scene is not only lit horribly (too dark!), but all the musical numbers seem like they're just comprised of master shots. Very few close ups of dancers, other singers, and even main characters. During the "Ease on Down the Road" number Lumet has us staring at Diana Ross and Michael Jackson's back from far away in the distance for two minutes. It felt like I was watching this movie from the cheap seats. Thus, I always felt distanced from the characters and situations, and just couldn't get into the movie.

    I read Sidney Lumet's book "Making Movies" and I remember him writing in detail about shooting to get proper coverage. What happened here?
    helpful•31
    29
    • IconsofFright
    • Aug 28, 2004

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    Photos

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 24, 1978 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Carobnjak
    • Filming locations
      • World Trade Center, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • Universal Pictures
      • Motown Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $24,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $21,049,053
    • Gross worldwide
      • $21,049,053
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 14 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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