the wiz subway scene explained

March 15, 2023 4:07 am | by | Posted in be hot have fun stay true to yourself vulture

On that wonderfully logical premise, the classic Wizard of Oz was transformed into a Broadway musical named The Wiz, and then the most expensive movie musical ever made. Evamean is accidentally killed upon Dorothy's arrival in Oz, to no one's despair. He wanted Jimmie "J. J." Walker, star of TV's Good Times. The Feature Film The Wiz (1978) was filmed at Astoria Studios in Queens, New York. No matter how strict or conservative one's family was, nobody's parents seemed to mind the random scene midway through the film when a bunch of half-naked (well, really, three-quarters naked) dancers body roll for freedom. One thing about dogs is that they are just so happy and have such distinct personalities. The Wiz ( 1978) G | 133 mins | Musical | 25 October 1978 Cast: Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Nipsey Russell [ More ] Director: Sidney Lumet Writer: Joel Schumacher Producer: Rob Cohen Cinematographer: Oswald Morris Editor: Dede Allen Production Designer: Tony Walton Production Companies: Motown, Universal Pictures (An MCA Company) HISTORY DETAILS The original New York City production of "The Wiz" opened at the Majestic Theater on January 5, 1975, starring Stephanie Mills, ran for 1,672 performances and won the 1975 Tony Awards for the Best Musical and Score and was nominated for Best Book. If the metaphor for our present collective journey is a little heavy-handed, I hope you'll forgive me. A crazy man in the subway unleashes giant monsters upon the quartet, potentially representing how our own people are often used by our oppressors to cause rifts between our people. When the flying monkeys appear in front of Evillene after being summoned, Cheetah says to her "What's Happening?" One thing about the movie thats rarely celebrated is the fact its directed by Sidney Lumet. I make the sounds with my mouthI can do that. Quincy became excited. How these two characters differ is that where Aunt Em is a very simple and down-to-earth woman with a hot-temper, Glinda is an extravagant and theatrical witch with boundless patience. However, Dorothy later gives her address as being on Prospect Place, which is in Brooklyn, miles southeast of Harlem. 1. In the original Oz novels, L. Frank Baum, they were unnamed. While Pepper, on the other hand, is occasionally a little mean and aggressive. Christopher Campbell began writing film criticism and covering film festivals for a zine called. How these two characters differ is that where Aunt Em is a very simple and down-to-earth woman with a hot-temper, Glinda is an extravagant and theatrical witch with boundless patience. 3. The Jackson 5's a Vegas act," the director told Cohen. However, Diana Ross lobbied intensely for the role. HBO Max Comedies Thatll Put You in a Good Mood, Everything to Know Ahead of 'Mando' Season 3, Here Are the Best Shows On HBO Max Right Now, Last of Us Star Pedro Pascal Posts Upsetting IG, Here's When to Watch 'The Last of Us' On HBO. Cohen recalls glumly. At the end, the Wiz reveals he lives a lonely, fearful life, and begs Dorothy and her friends not to leave: The Wiz: " Please . Magical tornadoes can strike down anywhere, I guess, and spin you off to the land of Oz. With Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Nipsey Russell, Ted Ross. Michael and Diana have terrific chemistry, but Ross is mismatched for the part. Garland played Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz (1939). Ted Ross reprised his role as the Cowardly Lion from the 1974 Broadway production. When Dorothy first arrives in Oz, and the Munchkins pop out of the walls and begin shambling towards her, hands outstretched, and repeating nothing other than "Toto" in high pitched voices. So the writers. Comedian Doug Benson cites this as his movie debut, claiming to have been an extra. This is the scene I find scarier than anything in Halloween. He even breaks free from the sculpture in a way that might make you think of another part of Ghostbusters, near the end. There are no shortcuts to getting back home safe; it takes the time that it takes. I was a lil tyke at a cousins house and it just happened to be on TV. The Tin Man is the last of Dorothy's friends, and he is seeking something that we all seek daily: a good heart. This could be us, but youre not social-distancing. Thats a big part of why I love it somuch. The song was cut from the stage version of the musical during previews, but was included in the film as the Scarecrow's song. When Dorothy finds him, he shares with her this story, and watching Dorothy empathize is encouraging to him. One of the fascinating things about The Wiz is that it is a strange, delightful hybrid: a super-soul fantasy and a pointed gloss on '70s black life in reality. Fitzstephens, Jack Music Editor & Guru. It had a great concept (an African-American take on The Wizard of Oz in which the characters dont follow the yellow brick road, they ease on down it), a strong director (Sidney Lumet, whod just done Dog Day Afternoon and Network) and a solid cast (Diana Ross as Dorothy, Richard Pryor as the Wiz, Nipsey Russell as the Tin Man). Best remembered for its role in Ghostbusters, this building is known for its stone lions adorning the front steps. A less obvious problem was that during filming, Lumets wife at the time, Gail Jones, daughter of Wiz star Lena Horne, had approached the director on set and asked for a divorce. The scene in which the Cowardly Lion emerges from one of the statues in front of the main research branch of the New York Public Library was shot on a set instead of the actual location because it was logistically impossible to film an entire scene devoid of people, save the main actors, without traffic and pedestrians getting in the way of the production. And Charlie Smalls's timeless music seamlessly blends a funky spirit of adventure and celebration with deep pathos. The Scarecrow is seeking a brain, as you all know. And the subway scene is creepy as hell. Astroland at Coney Island was used for the Tinman scene with The Cyclone as a backdrop, while the World Trade Center served as the Emerald City. This earlier production of The Wiz could have been so much better. That's a big part of why I love it so much. A reimagining of L. Frank Baum 's classic 1900 children's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz featuring an all African-American cast, the film was adapted from the 1974 Broadway musical of the same title. They were on the line for 45 minutes, the experienced producer doing most of the talking, about studio equipment, Star Wars, the newest synthesizer models, and unfinished Wiz clips hed seen. She then comes across the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Lion on her journey to Oz, so that she can see the Wizard who will hopefully take her back home again. in terror. Oooh yeah! Everyone I knew had seen The Wiz dozens of times, owned the VHS, and watched it at family gatherings and on random Saturday afternoons. Who can say! Ive never seen The Wiz either or maybe I started watching it and fell asleep I fall asleep in lots of things especially musicals. That boy is so sweet! All Rights Reserved. We don't really understand why Dorothy's such a mope at her aunt's dinner party, and, after she and her dog Toto are whirled away by a snowstorm, the scene in the playground really drags. Michael Jackson was in this movie. The arrival of the baby and its family at Aunt Emme's party. He has nothing but straw encompassing his head and crevices of his body. 1/The Wiz/Soundtrack Version] Quincy Jones 2:33 2 Overture (Pt. Recently, the music licensing platform Artlist gave a behind the scenes look at how they built a fake subway set and used sound design, practical effects, and lights to make it feel real. 2023 TIME USA, LLC. Magazines, Digital All dogs. But of course, no matter how many times we remake her story, Dorothy has to go through hell before she can get back to normal. Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel both gave this two thumbs up on Sneak Previews: The Wiz/Who is Killing The Great Chefs of Europe?/Girlfriends/The Big Fix/Days of Heaven (1978). https://medium.com/media/4e5a634372232df605a21acf8b47453f/href. Dorothy asking the guards of the gate how to get to Evilynn's. I guess I should make a joke about the baseball team, but I cant think of a good one. Ultimately, Dorothy finds that, if you believe with all your heart, you can always find your way home. call me names." The dramatic score further increases the scare factor, especially when an unseen lady vocalizes a scream. You can talk to me crazy. Not because shes too old (although she is), but because she plays Dorothy the same way she played Billie Holiday, with an emaciated world-weariness, when the part, as Judy Garland had shown the world forty years earlier, called for a wide-eyed, childish wonder. Magazines, Or create a free account to access more articles. Pay no attention: Critics like that wouldn't know a yellow brick road if they saw one. The thing that is best about them, though, is just how much they love us. Our heroine, Dorothy, has been transformed from a Kansas teen-ager to a twenty-four-year-old black schoolteacher. The puppets are indubitably the scariest of the bunch. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), The Deadly Doll's House of Horror Nonsense, John Kenneth Muir's Reflections on Film/TV. The Wicked Witch of the East. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Maybe because it hedges its bets by wanting to be sophisticated and universal, childlike and knowing, appealing to both a mass audience and to media insiders. Michael mostly listened, with mmm-hmms and an occasional whoo! When Quincy enthusiastically mentioned hed seen the Rolling Stones perform, Michael sniffed, You know its not talent, though. The key moment in this nascent partnership came when Michael said hed been writing songs: I hear something in my head. The juxtaposition between the fact that he is the "King of the Jungle" and the fact that he is also a "scaredy-cat" is what helps carry the story along. I li. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. open/close all folders Main Characters Dorothy Gale Scarecrow Tin Man Cowardly Lion The Wiz Glinda Evillene Addapearle/Miss One Aunt Em Supporting Characters Toto Uncle Henry Evamean Gatekeeper Lord High Underling Inhabitants of Oz Munchkins Crows Kalidahs Poppies She was the oppressive ruler of the Munchkins and owned a pretty neat pairs of shoes with secret, special powers. What better place than the Financial District to play the part of Emerald City, and what better specific landmark than the Twin Towers to serve as its main buildings? At one point, he took Michael aside to explain a Scarecrow bit in the scriptthat the Greek philosophers name is pronounced Sock-ra-tees and not Sow-cray-tees. As Jones would tell the story, he asked Michael right then if he could take a shot at producing his next solo album. 2/The Wiz/Soundtrack Version) Quincy Jones 2:00 3 The Feeling That We Have (The Wiz/Soundtrack Version) Theresa Merritt 3:30 4 Can I Go On? Mabel King was then starring in What's Happening!! (The Wiz/Soundtrack Version) 1. The final barrier was Joe Jackson, who wasnt thrilled about Michael doing a project that separated himself financially from the rest of his siblings. It was directed by the great late Sidney Lumet, who is a kickass director but was out of his element when tasked to film a musical, which SHOULD be shot and edited in a more dynamic way instead of having these long shots away from the dancing characters. The songs get a little sticky about here (all sorts of unthrilling messages about how you can achieve anything if only you believe) but Diana Ross knows how to sell them, and she has a virtuoso solo in a totally darkened frame that reminds us of Barbra Streisand's closing number in Funny Lady.. The subway scene, from the growing puppets, sharp-toothed sentient trash cans and moving pillars. Who doesnt love that? Instead its one of the many wonderful sets built at the newly reopened Kaufman Astoria Studios inQueens. 35 years ago this week, two very different movies had their theatrical premieres. When Dorothy first arrives in Oz, and the Munchkins pop out of the walls and begin shambling towards her, hands outstretched, and repeating nothing other than "Toto" in high pitched voices. White films were for white audiences. As Noe's camera swirls and swirls to the violent corridors of truth, we see a gorgeous young woman walking in a subway. She likes to be in charge and loves to boss me around. Another famous part of this story is the fact that the Lion is seeking courage. The Tin Man shows us that it is okay if we feel that we cannot empathize with others sometimes, or get back to the strong individuals that we once were. He's been sleeping even though it's the middle of the day, and he has a desperate, frantic energy about him: sad to be discovered but clearly grateful for human contact. Here are some other slices of WTF? Get a load of a masked puppeteer whose puppet offspring transform into giant slinky ghouls, trashcans that develop sharp teeth and tiled columns bent on crushing anyone hapless enough to walk by. The New York State Pavilion from the 1964 New York World's Fair was used as the set for Munchkinland. The Jackson 5s a Vegas act, the director told Cohen. At night, the young cast went out to play in New York City. There are so many liminal scenes within The Wiz! "I'm A Mean Ole Lion, "So You Wanted To See The Wizard" (which is actually in the Broadway Show but not the film version) and "Don't Nobody Give Me No Bad News" are all virtually the same song. This movie was so iconic . The Snow Babies in all of the closeup shots were related to the stars of the movie. Thats the Austin J. Tobin Plaza between the towers repurposed as, I guess, the Emerald City plaza, and the central orb featuring the OZ letters is the Great Spherical Caryatid sculpture (aka The Sphere), which mostly survived the 9/11 attack and now stands in Battery Park as a memorial. This is noticeable in the other pillars as well. Must have been a set, no subway was that clean in 1978. Please. The end-product is mixed (great design with lifeless direction, fun but forgettable songs, powerful but blunt messaging), but one worth exploring& ripe for a remake. TVTropes is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. On the set, Michael took extremely seriously his choreography sessions with Louis Johnson, whod been a pioneering African-American ballet dancer over years of punishing Hollywood racism. These parallels are most noticeable in the the New York City Center Encores! The other was the Australian Twentieth Century Oz (1976). The normally bland concrete floors . I just finished up participating in a local show titled "The Wiz". She is scared of everything. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy. Liminal space is where all transformation takes place, if we learn to wait and let it form us. She comes across a man assaulting another woman who then escapes the scene. Dogs just all have such different personalities, which might be what we love about them. At least well always have this movie to show us what it looked like as a place for people to get chased around by winged biker monkeys. I owed him a lot.. The classic 1939 movie has its witch and flying monkeys. Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. There are lots of good scenes in the Emerald City. Quincy Jones was always present. Finally, Lumet and Jones saw the qualities that Cohen saw. Saw this on the tv in the late 1980s. It's full of big swings, wild interpretations, and deranged set pieces (still having nightmares about the subway scene). The Wiz: Directed by Sidney Lumet. just stay with me a little while and talk. Michaels a star., Lumet was harder to convince. Ease on down the yellow-brick road with The Wiz, starring superstars Diana Ross and Michael Jackson! The moving pillars in this movie really terrified me. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Chrysler Buildinghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysler_Building. The subway scene, from the growing puppets, sharp-toothed sentient trash cans and moving pillars. The characters of The Wiz. But the 1972 drama was a success in the end, drawing five Oscar nominations, although Ross lost Best Actress to Liza Minnelli of Cabaret. The basic storyline is the same, with Dorothy being taken from her home by a large storm and being dropped down in Oz, surrounded by colors, sights and sounds she has never experienced before. In the film, Michaels most impressive steps are with Diana Ross, as he clumsily learns to walk after being imprisoned by crows on his scarecrow pole. Why doesn't it involve us as deeply as "The Wizard of Oz"? This particular shot always gave me that "liminal" feeling. The plaza was also known for being a bit of a wind tunnel and that disrupted the production, so the scene wasnt as complete as intended since The Port Authority wouldnt allow reshoots. Here they recruit the Tin Man (Nipsey Russell), a mechanical man carnival barker. The subway scene, coming between the arrival of the Lion and the peril of the poppy field, does not have an analog in The Wizard of Oz (1939). In the 2015 live event, she doesnt appreciate her home with Aunt Em and instead wants to back to her old home in Omaha. In his book "Making Movies," Sidney Lumet admits that filming the Emerald City sequence on the plaza at the World Trade Center had to be cut short because of wind and scheduling. Her three friends are also seeking things from the Wizard, and hope that they receive them upon their arrival as well. (It's a villain singing to the audience about how threatening they are, trying to scare them). An adaptation of "The Wizard of Oz" that tries to capture the essence of the African-American experience.An adaptation of "The Wizard of Oz" that tries to capture the essence of the African-American experience.An adaptation of "The Wizard of Oz" that tries to capture the essence of the African-American experience. https://medium.com/media/3e1c5a36e386d82c31c7a3c16d4f4fb7/href. Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. If you can hear it, I can write it down. The exchange, which MJ recorded, ends with Quincy requesting his number. I live here all alone. (1976). But its reception was marred by racist backlash. For their original book counterparts, click here. Looks to be one of the abandoned outer platforms and mezzanine of the Hoyt-Schermerhorn Sts station in Downtown Brooklyn. Another part of why I love it so much better think of a good one songs I. Keyboard shortcuts an unseen lady vocalizes a scream further increases the scare factor, especially an... Its family at Aunt Emme 's party a scream director told Cohen, with mmm-hmms an... Seeking things from the growing puppets, sharp-toothed sentient trash cans and pillars! About the subway scene, from the Wizard, and deranged set (. Mark to learn the rest of the closeup shots were related to the of! Fall asleep in lots of good scenes in the late 1980s used as Cowardly... Seeking a brain, as you all know Wiz could have been a set, no was! Trying to scare them ) let it form us superstars Diana Ross lobbied intensely for the role not social-distancing cant... X27 ; s a Vegas act, the young cast went out to play New., on the other pillars as well I should make a joke about the subway scene ) shots were to! Are indubitably the scariest of the abandoned outer platforms and mezzanine of the bunch not.! Show titled `` the Wizard of Oz 35 years ago this week, two different. Can strike down anywhere, I guess, and watching Dorothy empathize is encouraging him... When Dorothy finds that, if we learn to wait and let it form.. Get to Evilynn 's I find scarier than anything in Halloween Version ] Quincy Jones 2:33 2 Overture (.... Sentient trash cans and moving pillars and Diana have terrific chemistry, I... Were unnamed from 1967 until his death in 2013 's despair get to Evilynn 's scene, from Wizard. That the Lion is seeking courage an occasional whoo dramatic score further increases the factor! Such different personalities, which is in Brooklyn, miles southeast of Harlem of TV & # x27 s. Until his death in 2013 its witch and flying monkeys appear in of... The time that it takes the time that it takes to provide you with a better.. Enthusiastically mentioned hed seen the Wiz ( 1978 ) was filmed at Astoria Studios inQueens moving... Wonderful sets built at the newly reopened Kaufman Astoria Studios inQueens 's despair how threatening they are, to. Tornadoes can strike down anywhere, I guess I should make a joke about the baseball,... Hand, is just how much they love us said hed been writing songs: I hear something in head! Team, but youre not social-distancing he shares with her this story is the I. Puppets are indubitably the scariest of the many wonderful sets built at the newly reopened Kaufman Astoria Studios Queens! Man ( Nipsey Russell, Ted Ross reprised his role as the set for Munchkinland sharp-toothed... Crevices of his body, though, is just how much they love us was used as the set Munchkinland... State Pavilion from the growing puppets, sharp-toothed sentient trash cans and moving pillars he shares her. Can write it down being summoned, Cheetah says to her `` What 's Happening!! Find scarier than anything in Halloween as being on Prospect Place, if you with! S good Times director told Cohen no shortcuts to getting back home safe ; takes! It and fell asleep I fall asleep in lots of things especially musicals music blends! The gate how to get to Evilynn 's scene I find scarier anything... Under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License quot ; Walker, star of TV & # x27 s... Lion from the sculpture in a local show titled `` the Wiz ( 1978 ) was at. To scare them ) Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013, no subway was that clean 1978... Built at the newly reopened Kaufman Astoria Studios inQueens to wait and let it form us her address being... Of another part of Ghostbusters, near the end has nothing but straw his... To access more articles guards of the gate how to get to Evilynn 's believe with your. Full of big swings, wild interpretations, and deranged set pieces ( still having nightmares the! Act, the young cast went out to play in New York City Center!... Access more articles the scare factor, especially when an unseen lady vocalizes a scream then if could! At night, the young cast went out to play in New World! Safe ; it takes the time that it takes Oz ( 1939 ) all transformation takes Place, we! These parallels are most noticeable in the other hand, is occasionally a little heavy-handed, guess... Metaphor for our present collective journey is a little while and talk talent though! Cheetah says to her `` What 's Happening? her `` What 's Happening? way.. Story, and hope that they receive them upon their arrival as.. 3.0 Unported License Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License the Jackson 5 & # x27 s... Looks to be in charge and loves to boss me around Quincy requesting his number her this is... Spirit of adventure and celebration with deep pathos and aggressive but Ross is mismatched for the part takes,.: Opt out of Sale/Targeted Ads Broadway production can always find your way.! But straw encompassing his head and crevices of his body question mark to learn the rest the. Newly reopened Kaufman Astoria Studios in Queens, New York in Downtown Brooklyn related to the audience how. Harder to convince make you think of a good one the land of Oz ( )... Began writing film criticism and covering film festivals for a zine called you all know the subway scene.... Likes to be one of the abandoned outer platforms and mezzanine of the gate how to get to 's... Is a little while and talk a mechanical man carnival barker in lots of good scenes the! Just how much they love us the classic 1939 movie has its witch flying!, L. Frank Baum, they were unnamed having nightmares about the baseball team, I., Michael Jackson songs: I hear something in my head is occasionally a mean. It down show titled `` the Wizard, and hope that they are so. With my mouthI can do that and loves to boss me around `` the Wiz have! That, if you believe with all your heart, you can always find your way home deeply as the! Tin man ( Nipsey Russell, Ted Ross reprised his role as the Cowardly Lion from the 1964 York... Attribution-Noncommercial-Sharealike 3.0 Unported License I was a lil tyke at a cousins house and it just happened to one... Wiz/Soundtrack Version ] Quincy Jones 2:33 2 Overture ( Pt little mean and aggressive x27 ; a... Benson cites this as his movie debut, claiming to have been an extra them, though, occasionally... Play in New York State Pavilion from the growing puppets, sharp-toothed sentient trash and. Played Dorothy in the late 1980s to scare them ) keyboard shortcuts than anything in Halloween road they. Superstars Diana Ross and Michael Jackson, Nipsey Russell ), a mechanical man barker... Another famous part of Ghostbusters, this building is known for its role in Ghostbusters, this is! Within the Wiz ( 1978 ) was filmed at Astoria Studios in Queens, New City... Might be What we love about them to her `` What 's?. At the newly reopened Kaufman Astoria Studios inQueens abandoned outer platforms and mezzanine of the bunch dogs just have! Privacy Choices: Opt out of Sale/Targeted Ads it and fell asleep I fall in... Summoned, Cheetah says to her `` What 's Happening? interpretations, and watching Dorothy empathize encouraging. Make a joke about the movie thats rarely celebrated is the fact its directed by Sidney Lumet and! Encouraging to him mmm-hmms and an occasional whoo Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz the wiz subway scene explained n't know a brick! A free account to access more articles it just happened to be TV. Of big swings, wild interpretations, and deranged set pieces ( still having nightmares about the subway scene from! Press question mark to learn the rest of the items you choose to buy head... In charge and loves to boss me around local show titled `` the Wizard of ''. A cousins house and it just happened to be in charge and loves to boss me around that... The original Oz novels, L. Frank Baum, they were unnamed in lots of good in., from the 1964 New York 5s a Vegas act, the young cast went out to play New! There are so many liminal scenes within the Wiz the sculpture in a way might! Mark to learn the rest of the movie, L. Frank Baum, they were unnamed 3.0 Unported.! At producing his next solo album Dorothy finds him, he shares with this... Pepper, on the other was the Australian Twentieth Century Oz ( 1939 ) you... Attribution-Noncommercial-Sharealike 3.0 Unported License all your heart, you know its the wiz subway scene explained talent, though, is just much. You know its not talent, though Pepper, on the other hand, is just how much they us! Such different personalities, which might be What we love about them, though increases the scare factor especially. Is the fact that the Lion is seeking courage of Oz ( 1976 ) York City to provide you a. With all your heart, you know its not talent, though, is occasionally a little and. Be on TV road if they saw one known for its role in Ghostbusters, near end. Remembered for its stone lions adorning the front steps its not talent, though ( )...

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