The Wiz (1978)

Director:

Sidney Lumet

Writers:

L. Frank Baum (novel)
William F. Brown (play)
(more)

Release Date:

24 October 1978 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Family | Fantasy | Musical

Tagline:

From the book that's an American tradition...from the smash-hit Broadway show...the entertainment of the year!

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Wizard | Sadness | Teacher | African American | New York City

Awards:

Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 7 nominations

Cast

Diana Ross	...	Dorothy
Michael Jackson	...	Scarecrow
Nipsey Russell	...	Tinman
Ted Ross	...	Lion / Fleetwood Coupe de Ville
Mabel King	...	Evillene
Theresa Merritt	...	Aunt Emma
Thelma Carpenter	...	Miss One
Lena Horne	...	Glinda the Good
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
Tony Brealord	...	Gold Footman (as Tony Brealond)
Joe Lynn	...	Gold Footman
Clinton Jackson	...	Green Footman
Charles Rodriguez	...	Green Footman
Carlton Johnson	...	Head Winkie
Ted Williams	...	Munchkin #1
Mabel Robinson	...	Munchkin #2 / The Wiz Singers Adult Choir
Damon Pearce	...	Munchkin #3
Donna Patrice Ingram	...	Munchkin #4
Harry Madsen	...	Cheetah, Head of the Flying Monkeys
Glory Van Scott	...	Rolls Royce Lady
Vicki Baltimore	...	Green Lady
Carlos Cleveland	...	Guest at Aunt Emma's Party
Mariann Aalda	...	Guest at Aunt Emma's Party
Aaron Boddie	...	Guest at Aunt Emma's Party
Gay Faulkner	...	Guest at Aunt Emma's Party
Ted Butler	...	Guest at Aunt Emma's Party
T.B. Skinner	...	Guest at Aunt Emma's Party
Jamie Perry	...	Guest at Aunt Emma's Party
Daphne McWilliams	...	Guest at Aunt Emma's Party
H. Douglas Berring	...	Guest at Aunt Emma's Party (as Douglas Berring)
James Shaw	...	Guest at Aunt Emma's Party
Johnny Brown	...	Guest at Aunt Emma's Party
Gyle Waddy	...	Guest at Aunt Emma's Party
Dorothi Fox	...	Guest at Aunt Emma's Party (as Dorothy Fox)
Frances Salisbury	...	Guest at Aunt Emma's Party
Beatrice Dunmore	...	Guest at Aunt Emma's Party
Traci Core	...	Guest at Aunt Emma's Party
Donald King	...	Guest at Aunt Emma's Party
Claude Brooks	...	Guest at Aunt Emma's Party
Billie Allen	...	Guest at Aunt Emma's Party
Willie C. Carpenter	...	Guest at Aunt Emma's Party (as Willie Carpenter)
Denice Dejon	...	Guest at Aunt Emma's Party
Kevin Stockton	...	Guest at Aunt Emma's Party
Alvin Alexis	...	Guest at Aunt Emma's Party
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Adrienne Albert	...	The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Alfa K. Anderson	...	The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Joshie Armstead	...	The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Patti Austin	...	The Wiz Singers Children's Choir / The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Tom Bähler	...	The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Clare Janice Bathe	...	The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Claude Brooke	...	The Wiz Singers Children's Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Eric Butler	...	The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Vivian Cherry	...	The Wiz Singers Children's Choir / The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Kacey Cisyk	...	The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Steve Clayton	...	The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Kay Coleman	...	The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Charles Collins	...	The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Jenny Cooke	...	The Wiz Singers Children's Choir (voice) (uncredited)
T.J. Cooke	...	The Wiz Singers Children's Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Ron Dante	...	The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Billy Davis	...	The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Craig Davis	...	The Wiz Singers Children's Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Jules S. Davis	...	The Wiz Singers Children's Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Sharon Davis	...	The Wiz Singers Children's Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Christopher Dean	...	The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
William Eaton	...	The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Melvin W. Edmondson	...	The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Camille Farrell	...	The Wiz Singers Children's Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Mike Farrell	...	The Wiz Singers Children's Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Steve Feldman	...	The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Roberta Flack	...	The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Bobby Floyd	...	The Wiz Singers Children's Choir / The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Frank Floyd	...	The Wiz Singers Children's Choir / The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Antonia French	...	The Wiz Singers Children's Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Arthur French	...	The Wiz Singers Children's Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Robin Givens	...	Guest at Aunt Emma's Party (uncredited)
Bryon Gray	...	The Wiz Singers Children's Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Diva Gray	...	The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Mike Gray	...	The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Milt Grayson	...	The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Gordon Grody	...	The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Lani Groves	...	The Wiz Singers Children's Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Gwen Guthrie	...	The Wiz Singers Children's Choir / The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Susan Hamilton	...	The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Julio Herrara	...	The Wiz Singers Children's Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Jake Holmes	...	The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Cissy Houston	...	The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Rhetta Hughes	...	The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Petra Johnson	...	The Wiz Singers Children's Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Martina Jones	...	The Wiz Singers Children's Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Quincy Jones	...	Emerald City Gold Pianist (uncredited)
Kenny Karen	...	The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Jerry Keller	...	The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Christine Langner	...	The Wiz Singers Children's Choir / The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
David Lasley	...	The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Yvonne Lewis	...	The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Mary Lombardi	...	The Wiz Singers Children's Choir / The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Kim Magloire	...	The Wiz Singers Children's Choir / The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Tommy Malcolm	...	The Wiz Singers Children's Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Bill Marine	...	The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Barbara Massey	...	The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Ullanda McCullough	...	The Wiz Singers Children's Choir / The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Debbie McDuffie	...	The Wiz Singers Children's Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Chuck McGruder	...	The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
June McGruder	...	The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Helen Miles	...	The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Leslie Miller	...	The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Melanie Moore	...	The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Janice Papalos	...	The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Janice Pendarvis	...	The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Leon Pendarvis	...	The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Dennis Perren	...	The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Randy Peyton	...	The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Neil Raber	...	The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Gerrard Randall	...	The Wiz Singers Children's Choir (voice) (uncredited)
David Reed	...	The Wiz Singers Children's Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Claudia Ricks	...	The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Ermundo Russell	...	The Wiz Singers Children's Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Annette Sanders	...	The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Zachary Sanders	...	The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Ray Simpson	...	The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Raymond Simpson	...	The Wiz Singers Children's Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Tamy Smith	...	The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Renel Stafford	...	The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Fred Stark	...	The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Susan Stephenson	...	The Wiz Singers Children's Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Maeretha Stewart	...	The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Grady Tate	...	The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Jean Thomas	...	The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Mariama Thomas	...	The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Mia Thomas	...	The Wiz Singers Children's Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Duke Thorbs	...	The Wiz Singers Children's Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Alfonzo Thornton	...	The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Luther Vandross	...	The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Bill Walker	...	The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Dawn Walker	...	The Wiz Singers Children's Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Joey Ward	...	The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Brenda White	...	The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Beurice Whitehead	...	The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Kenny Williams	...	The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Mollena Williams	...	The Wiz Singers Children's Choir (voice) (uncredited)
Janet Wright	...	The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice) (uncredited)

Directed by
Sidney Lumet

Writing credits
L. Frank Baum		(novel "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz")
William F. Brown		(play)
Joel Schumacher		(screenplay)

Produced by
Rob Cohen	....	producer
Kenneth Harper	....	executive producer (as Ken Harper)
Burtt Harris	....	associate producer
Berry Gordy	....	executive producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Charlie Smalls

Cinematography by
Oswald Morris

Film Editing by
Dede Allen

Production Design by
Tony Walton

Art Direction by
Philip Rosenberg

Set Decoration by
Robert Drumheller
Edward Stewart

Costume Design by
Tony Walton
Miles White

Makeup Department
Scott Cunningham	....	makeup artist
William A. Farley	....	hair stylist (as William Farley)
Carl Fullerton	....	makeup artist
Robert Laden	....	makeup supervisor
Ted Long	....	hair stylist
Michael R. Thomas	....	makeup artist
Allen Weisinger	....	makeup artist
Stan Winston	....	special makeup designer

Production Management
Kenneth Utt	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Burtt Harris	....	first assistant director
Alan Hopkins	....	second assistant director
Lewis Gould	....	dga trainee (uncredited)

Art Department
Connie Brink	....	property master
Glen Engels	....	construction grip
Edward Garzero	....	chief scenic artist
John Jay Moore	....	assistant art director
Eugene Powell	....	chief scenic artist
Carlos Quiles	....	carpenter
Robert Shepherd	....	sets and props
Eoin Sprott	....	fantasy props
Richard Tautkus	....	fantasy props
Walter Way	....	construction chief
Jacques Godbout	....	carpenter (uncredited)
John Kasarda	....	assistant art director (uncredited)
Lawrence Miller	....	assistant art director (uncredited)
Dave Weinman	....	lead man (uncredited)

Sound Department
Stan Bochner	....	sound editor
Guy Costa	....	special sound consultant
Jack Fitzstephens	....	supervising sound editor
Marc Laub	....	sound editor (as Mark M. Laub)
Hal Levinsohn	....	sound editor
Al Nahmias	....	sound editor
Ronald Roose	....	sound editor
James Sabat	....	sound mixer (as James T. Sabat)
Dick Vorisek	....	sound re-recording supervisor
Louis Cerborino	....	sound editor (uncredited)
Ollie Cotton	....	assistant sound engineer (uncredited)
Kevin Lee	....	assistant sound editor (uncredited)
Skip Saylor	....	recording engineer: horns on "Ease on Down the Road" #1 (uncredited)
William S. Scharf	....	assistant sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Al Griswold	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Dennis Glouner	....	matte photographer
Bill Taylor	....	matte photographer
Albert Whitlock	....	special visual effects
Syd Dutton	....	assistant matte painter (uncredited)
Henry Schoessler	....	matte crew (uncredited)
Mark Whitlock	....	matte camera loader (uncredited)

Stunts
Everett Creach	....	stunt coordinator
Steve James	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
James A. Contner	....	camera operator (as J.A. Contner)
Kenneth Goss	....	key grip
Norman Leigh	....	gaffer
Hank Muller	....	first assistant camera
Jack Priestley	....	photographer: second unit
Gary Muller	....	co-first assistant camera (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Dona Granata	....	assistant costume designer
Gloria Gresham	....	costume coordinator
Anna Hill Johnstone	....	costume coordinator
Barbara Matera	....	principal costume execution
George Newman	....	wardrober
Marilyn Putnam	....	wardrober

Editorial Department
Angelo Corrao	....	assistant film editor
Marlayna Franklin	....	assistant film editor
Hal Levinsohn	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Tom Bähler	....	choir arranger (as Tom Bahler)
Mendel Balitz	....	orchestrator
Chris Boardman	....	orchestrator
Ralph Ferraro	....	orchestrator
Jack Fitzstephens	....	supervising music editor
Bob Florence	....	orchestrator
Bob Freedman	....	orchestrator
Richard Hazard	....	orchestrator (as Dick Hazard)
Quincy Jones	....	associate conductor
Quincy Jones	....	music arranger
Quincy Jones	....	music supervisor
Quincy Jones	....	orchestrator
Greig McRitchie	....	orchestrator
Pete Meyers	....	orchestrator
Frank Owens	....	associate conductor
Frank Owens	....	music arranger: dance arrangements
Wayne Robinson	....	orchestrator
Bruce Swedien	....	music recording engineer
Robert N. Tucker Jr.	....	conductor
Patti Austin	....	choral coordinator (uncredited)
John Beal	....	musician: bass (uncredited)
David Foster	....	musician: keyboards (uncredited)
Dave Grusin	....	pre-record musician: keyboards (uncredited)
Jerry Hey	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Dick Hyman	....	musician: keyboards (uncredited)
Anthony Jackson	....	musician: bass (uncredited)
Grady Tate	....	musician: drums (uncredited)
Toots Thielemans	....	musician: harmonica (uncredited)
Jeffrey Wolf	....	assistant music editor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Raymond Hartwick	....	transportation chief (as Ray Hartwick)

Other crew
Grace Blake	....	production office coordinator
Robert F. Colesberry	....	assistant production coordinator (as Robert Colesberry)
Peter Foy	....	flying rigs
Sam Goldrich	....	auditor
Kenneth Harper	....	stage producer: New York (as Ken Harper)
Carlton Johnson	....	assistant choreographer
Louis Johnson	....	choreographer
Mabel Robinson	....	assistant choreographer
Lynn Twentyman	....	script supervisor (as Lynn T. Ward)
Aaron J. Baron	....	technical coordinator (uncredited)
P. Larry Dahlstrom	....	technical engineer (uncredited)
Bernie Grundman	....	original mastering (uncredited)
Peter Maiorino	....	technician (uncredited)
Mitchell Plotkin	....	technician (uncredited)
Tom Razzano	....	location manager (uncredited)
Lynda Van Damm	....	assistant production accountant (uncredited)
George Walker	....	technician (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Universal Pictures (presents)
• Motown Productions

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1978) (USA) (theatrical)
• Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1980) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1979) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (19??) (Argentina) (VHS)
• CIC Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1980) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• DiscoVision (1981) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1993) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Universal Home Entertainment (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (1984) (Finland) (TV)

Special Effects

• Stan Winston Studio

Other Companies

• Scott Barrie  thanks: Emerald City Fashions
• Bill Blass  thanks: Emerald City Fashions
• Stephen Burrows' World  thanks: Emerald City Fashions
• Oscar de la Renta  thanks: Emerald City Fashions
• Halston  thanks: Emerald City Fashions
• Kamali  thanks: Emerald City Fashions
• Zoran  thanks: Emerald City Fashions
• Kolodzie  thanks: Emerald City Fashions
• Ralph Lauren  thanks: Emerald City Fashions
• Mary McFadden  thanks: Emerald City Fashions
• Alixandre Furs  thanks: Emerald City Fashions
• Renaldo Sanchez Furs  thanks: Emerald City Fashions
• The Louis Johnson Dance Theatre  dancers
• Dawn Animal Agency  Toto owned and trained by (as Dawn Animal Agency of N.Y.)
• Suzuki  motorcycle furnished by
• Vajra Incorporated  Lightflex equipment
• Congoleum  The Yellow Brick Road created by
• Kaufman Astoria Studios  filmed at (as The Astoria Studios)
• Astroland Park, Coney Island  filmed at: Amusement park sequence
• Cherokee Studios  music recorded at (uncredited)
• MCA Records  soundtrack (uncredited)

Runtime:

134 min | Finland:136 min (uncut version) | Finland:118 min (cut version) | UK:128 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby (35 mm prints) | 70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints)

Certification:

Finland:K-12 (uncut) (1979) | Finland:S (heavily cut) (1980) | Netherlands:6 (new rating) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | Chile:TE | UK:U | USA:G | West Germany:6 | Singapore:PG | Netherlands:AL

Filming Locations:

Astoria Studios, Astoria, Queens, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Original director John Badham was fired when he objected to Diana Ross, then 33 years old, being cast as the 14-year-old Dorothy.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The Wiz, when discovered, says that he was an Alderman in Atlantic City. Atlantic City does not and has not ever had aldermen. They had a commission form of government and now have a mayor/council form of government.

Quotes:

Scarecrow: Stay right there.
Tinman: [stuck underneath a big heavy round tin-woman] Don't worry, I wasn't planning any promenades.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Kids in America (2005)

Soundtrack:

I'm A Mean Ole Lion

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?