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IMDbPro

The Wiz

  • 19781978
  • GG
  • 2h 14m
IMDb RATING
5.5/10
16K
YOUR RATING
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.
IMDb RATING
5.5/10
16K
YOUR RATING
    • Sidney Lumet
    • L. Frank Baum(novel "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz")
    • William F. Brown(book of the musical "The Wiz")
    • Joel Schumacher(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Diana Ross
    • Michael Jackson
    • Nipsey Russell
    • Sidney Lumet
    • L. Frank Baum(novel "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz")
    • William F. Brown(book of the musical "The Wiz")
    • Joel Schumacher(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Diana Ross
    • Michael Jackson
    • Nipsey Russell
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 185User reviews
    • 39Critic reviews
    • 53Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 4 Oscars

    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
      • Sidney Lumet
      • L. Frank Baum(novel "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz")
      • William F. Brown(book of the musical "The Wiz")
      • Joel Schumacher(screenplay)
    • 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 reviews185

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    6/10
    Diana Ross being too old for the character of Dorothy
    I liked the movie overall. But I think that it would have been MUCH better if Stephanie Mills had done the lead of Dorothy in the movie. Don't get me wrong, Diana Ross is a accomplished singer and has done a great job in Lady sings the Blues and Mahogany but in all honesty she was just too old to play Dorothy in the Wiz considering Stephanie Mills is the one who actually put that play on the map. If it wasn't for her I probably wouldn't have heard of it much less seen it 3 times. Twice with her (Stephanie Mills).I just feel that Diana Ross just pushed her way into the lead when she wasn't capable of giving 100 percent in the vocals. If anyone has heard Stephanie Mills rendition of Home you would FEEL what I was talking about. Stephanie put her heart and soul into that song where as Diana just whined through it (which drives me insane every time I hear it coming from her). I'm just giving an opinion I know what I like and what I don't like and Diana Ross's performance in this movie to me was just average not outstanding like Lady Sings The Blues or Mahogany.
    helpful•11
    7
    • ltate5361
    • Jul 9, 2006

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 24, 1978 (United States)
      • United States
      • English
    • Also known as
    • 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
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 2 hours 14 minutes

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