Product Details

• Actors: Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Nipsey Russell, Ted Ross, Mabel King
• Directors: Sidney Lumet
• Writers: Joel Schumacher, L. Frank Baum, William F. Brown
• Producers: Berry Gordy, Burtt Harris, Kenneth Harper, Rob Cohen
• Format: Color, Dolby, NTSC
• Rated: G (General Audience)
• Studio: Universal Studios
• VHS Release Date: March 1, 1992
• Run Time: 134 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (208 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 1558801235
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #124,165 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Though it may be thought of as sacrilegious to remake a classic such as The Wizard of Oz, this 1978 film directed by Sidney Lumet (The Pawnbroker, Serpico) is a vibrant and entertaining retelling of the modern fable, featuring an all black cast in the familiar story of a rural small-town girl whose dreams transport her to a magical world where the battle between good and evil gives the real world a sense of perspective. Rendered in the style of a musical (based on a successful Broadway run), the film benefits from using new contemporary music from stars Diana Ross (Mahogany, Lady Sings the Blues) as Dorothy and Michael Jackson as the shy Scarecrow, with music arranged by Quincy Jones. This visually and musically exciting film is less a remake than a reinvention that stands and dances very well on its own. --Robert Lane

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You can't win!, June 14, 2001

By 

A* (New York, N.Y. United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Wiz (DVD)

That's the song that introduces Michael Jackson's Scarecrow in The Wiz! I love this movie. It's cheesey as hell and a camp classic the songs are top notch fair and in some cases beat out the lyrics from The Wizard Of OZ! Just listen to Ms. Ross belt out "Home" or when michael and her team up for "Ease on down the road"! The plot is also fun it takes the premise of the original and places it in New York. The dialogue is great with slang and refrences to black pop culture. Lumet paints the film with a colorful glaze of magic and distress by making the colors pop off the screen and the use of glow in the dark images is astonishing. The soundtrack is also a must buy this film is a complete child's fairy tale and it's beautiful. After hearing "Don't Nobody Bring Me No Bad News" you'll be easing on down the road and humming the tunes for days!

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unbelievably Fun, June 19, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Wiz (DVD)

Boo, hiss to all the naysayers of the one and only 'Wiz'. A few of my friends got together at the DVD store the other night and out of all the available titles settled on this one, primarily for nostaligic reasons. Once we got home and popped it in, well, it was more than just simple sentimentality that carried us off to another world. This musical is awesome. The story is timeless, the songs are unforgettable and the widescreen transfer is excellent. One only wishes for more goodies on the disc.

I often scratch my head at why Sidney Lumet directed this, but knowing that he is one of the top five directors ever who understands New York City, it now makes perfect sense. The location shots are amazing, especially with the massive Albert Whitlock visuals. And as hard as it may be to watch Diana Ross play a 24 year old single woman, she achieves it with simple gestures and that pure, honey voice.

It's a huge treat to watch this movie and I look forward to repeat viewings.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars I've Changed My Mind, June 7, 2002

By 

Michael Puckett (Little Rock, AR United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Wiz (DVD)

OK, OK...I will admit that I trashed this movie over in the VHS section, but understand my only copy was one that I taped from a television showing and it had been badly butchered (edited) by the network to fit the time slot. So my most recent memory of The Wiz has been this terrible copy of this 1978 musical.

I recently decided to give it another chance to win me over. I purchased the DVD version, and I must admit this new, crisp, complete film with its remastered soundtrack, is a much more watchable and entertaining experience.

We all know the story, Dorothy goes to Oz via whirling snowstorm, meets up with band of misfits who through their harrowing experiences together learn they can all be better than they had ever imagined. And that life can be good no matter where you live.

In the past, the cropped version diminished the entire focus of the story, and made it feel dark, and claustrofobic but now
the Widescreen format greatly enhances the scope of the movie, giving it a more important feel. The color is so much brighter than before that I couldn't believe all the details I had missed that are now clearly visable. The scene where the Munchkins come alive off the Grafitti wall, is really very cool.

There are entire scenes I had forgotten about that are now included, like the one where Dorothy and others are in the OZ motel room talking about having to kill Evilene. I had not seen that one since 1978, and had forgotten it entirely.

I still have problems with some of the performances, and I still believe that it was poorly edited, but all in all I was very impressed with the brand new feel of this movie and if you have not seen it in the DVD format, do so, you will be suprised at the difference. I am now looking forward to seeing it again and again.

The extras on the DVD, are pretty standard, with Trailers and the like. There is a very dated special presentation about the making of the Wiz in which Sidney Lumet discusses his vision of this timeless tale.