The Wiz (1978)
Sidney Lumet's schmaltzy all-black disco-flavoured musical
version of The Wizard of Oz starred 33-year old Diana Ross
as 24 year old Harlem schoolteacher Dorothy Gale.
On her travels along the yellow brick road, Dorothy is
befriended by a lion (Ted Ross), a tin man (Nipsey Russell) and a
scarecrow, played by old plastic nose himself - Michael Jackson.
The critical pummelling of The Wiz even extended to the
soundtrack album which was written and co-produced by Quincy
Jones.
But even Judy Garland might have had difficulty recognizing the
soporific poppy fields transformed into Poppy Street where ladies
of easy virtue peddled Cocaine!
Redeeming features were Mabel King's evil witch, Evilene and
her flying monkeys who supplied the showstopper Don't Bring Me
No Bad News, and the glorious Lena Horne appearing at the end
as Glinda the Good Witch singing Believe In Yourself.
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