The Wiz, 1978 Movie
[Dorothy, a twenty-four-year-old kindergarten teacher born, raised, and still working in Harlem, is celebrating Thanksgiving with her extended family, but she doesn’t seem to be thankful for much in life. She lives a self-imposed sheltered life; she is shy and unfulfilled. Things change for her when she is caught in a snowstorm while chasing after her dog, Toto. They are transported to the mysterious Land of Oz, where she is informed that the only possible way to find her way back home is through the assistance of the powerful wizard in the Emerald City. As she goes searching for him, she befriends some creatures who are facing problems in life just like her. In their quest to find and get help from the wizard, they also face Evillene, the equally evil sister of Evermean, the wicked witch whom Dorothy inadvertently killed when she arrived in Oz, and who may be their biggest obstacle in achieving their goals. Written by Huggo]
The re-imagined Wiz, in 1978, was heavily scrutinized. With an all-star cast, it left a legacy of its own. The musical talents of Ross and Jackson certainly are what I remember best. However, I prefer the stage version over the movie. The Wiz 2015 television stage play stayed close to the original staging and story of the play rather than the movie version. It was well staged and used the talents of “Cirque du Soleil” performers to add some magic. The message was again the power within us all.
1978 or 2015, did it inspire or challenge you in any way?
You must be logged in to post a comment.