The Wiz (1978)

Release date: 1978-10-24
Country: USA
Language: English
Director: Sidney Lumet
Production Co: Universal Pictures, Motown Productions
Genre: Adventure, Family, Fantasy, Musical
Rating: 5.4/10
Length: 2h 14min

Storyline

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 Emerald City. As she goes searching for him, she befriends some creatures who are facing problems in life just as she is. 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.

Plot Keywords

wizard, graffiti, based on stage musical, witch, dog, thanksgiving, new york city, motorcycle, playground, politician, rooftop, shoe, stadium, statue, subway station, sweatshop, tap dancing, library, fraud, based on novel

Short Review

So much wit and talent and energy crowd the screen in this lavishly filmed variant of the Oz story that it is depressing to realize that the production never had a chance.