the wiz subway scene explained

It all happened. 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. His costume, stuffed with newspaper and bits of trash bags, was more cumbersome, but Jackson made it work. The subway scene, from the growing puppets, sharp-toothed sentient trash cans and moving pillars. 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 doesnt love that? 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 chase sequence in the subway platform omits how the Scarecrow and the Tin Man are rescued by the Lion. His career put him on the wrong side of the law he was issued summonses on several occasions and of New Yorkers who regarded graffiti as vandalism, not art. Holy 70s drug induced set design, Batman! https://medium.com/media/4e5a634372232df605a21acf8b47453f/href. The show premiered on Broadway in 1975 and won seven Tony Awards. Many considered Diana Ross to old to play Dorothy, at 34, and Mills was 21. Not everyone was appreciative. A dance sequence, for example, where The Wiz calls the shots and everybody instantly changes their clothes to stay in fashion. I wasn't complaining then and I'm not complaining now. You can talk to me crazy. It is based off the successful 1975 Broadway show of the same name. https://medium.com/media/33318b476db0b746825528151ced531e/href. Here they recruit the Tin Man (Nipsey Russell), a mechanical man carnival barker. This movie changed Dorothy's shoes from ruby slippers back to silver slippers, as in the original L. Frank Baum story. 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. 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. Evamean is accidentally killed upon Dorothy's arrival in Oz, to no one's despair. This was the first film shot at Kaufman Astoria Studios when it was reopened in the 1970s. That a twenty-four-year-old schoolteacher should be too sophisticated to consort with cowardly lions and scarecrows and men made out of tin. The Snow Babies in all of the closeup shots were related to the stars of the movie. The other is The Wiz, a movie you may have never seen, heard is terrible and which fortunately has a number of scenes uploaded in order that I might illustrate and defend its worth. As big and as spectacular and as musical as it was, he says, we never got a real solid distribution. Black films, aside from Shaft, were for black audiences. Magazines, Digital All I know is they should have left the landmark standing and reopened it as a place to ride motorcycles around, dressed in tribute to The Wiz ornot. When Harlem schoolteacher Dorothy (Diana Ross) tries to save her dog from a storm, she's miraculously whisked away to an urban fantasy land called Oz. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Long Waits, Short Appointments, Huge Bills. 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. 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. Why doesn't it involve us as deeply as "The Wizard of Oz"? These parallels are most noticeable in the the New York City Center Encores! Another major location from the film that no longer exists, this former home of the New York Mets has been destroyed and replaced by Citi Field. 3. WEREWOLF, THE WARRIORS. This subway scene freaked me out too and for years I didnt know what movie it was from! please don't. don't go. The Jackson 5s a Vegas act, the director told Cohen. J. Walker, star of TVs Good Times. That stuck with Michael. For their original book counterparts, click here. Its also the musical number youre all most familiarwith. Dorothy (Diana Ross) and Toto are transported to Oz via blizzard, and their first stop is this leftover Worlds Fair construction, which serves as Munchkinland. The other was the Australian Twentieth Century Oz (1976). The final barrier was Joe Jackson, who wasnt thrilled about Michael doing a project that separated himself financially from the rest of his siblings. White films were for white audiences. "The Wiz" is foremost a story of racial liberation, and an early piece of Afrofuturism the combination of science fiction, fantasy, magic realism and ancient African tradition that critiques. (The Wiz/Soundtrack Version) This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator. This particular shot always gave me that "liminal" feeling. Would love your thoughts, please comment. Easing Out of a Scary World in The Wiz, In 'Chicago,' Isolation Is the Key to Stardom. Also, one of the pictures looks like the video for Bad, Not entirely related but Those paintings of faces of the walls look like peak ENA character material. Sign in to comment to your favorite stories, participate in your community and interact with your friends. Lumet stocked The Wiz with top-tier African-American talentRoss, Richard Pryor, Lena Horne. Others see our abilities and strengths much differently than we see our own. 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.. 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. 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. Social commentary is woven into the fabric of The Wiz; Dorothy is going through a magical crisis, yes, but she's also facing down systemic injustice. 2. The Wiz, directed by Sidney Lumet, is set in present-day New York City, and finds its locations in fanciful sets suggesting Harlem, Coney Island, school playgrounds, the subway system, and a sweatshop. "Michael Jackson's a Vegas act. "The Wiz," directed by Sidney Lumet, is set in present-day New York City, and finds its locations in fanciful sets suggesting Harlem, Coney Island, school playgrounds, the subway system, and a sweatshop. They just sit there beside you when you have had a rough day and lean over to give you a little lick on the hand just to let you know they are there. They happily oblige when we pick up their front paws and force them to dance with us around the house. 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. Please. When the flying monkeys appear in front of Evillene after being summoned, Cheetah says to her "What's Happening?" Dogs just all have such different personalities, which might be what we love about them. This earlier production of The Wiz could have been so much better. The gay side of the dance floor would stop, Cohen says, and the hetero side would stop., During lunch on The Wiz set, Lumet, the director, told an oblivious Michael that women around him were like ricocheting bullets all over the place.. Comedian Doug Benson cites this as his movie debut, claiming to have been an extra. Diana Ross's Dorothy is played at a level of near-constant nervous breakdown that rivals Charlotte Gainsbourg in Melancholia. 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. A homeless man selling puppets in the Brooklyn station (which has been commonly used for film shoots Michael Jackson would return a decade later in fact for his Bad music video) turns his wares into the creepiest thing youll ever see at an NYC subway stop, which is saying a lot. The Scarecrow tells us however, that it is alright to have moments of silliness, moments of being confident in the abilities that we do have and to have faith in our purpose. And it had Michael Jackson, a year before he would start his solo career with immortal dance hits such as Dont Stop Til You Get Enough and Off the Wall. But The Wiz was most important for what happened behind the scenesveteran producer Quincy Jones, Lumets longtime film-score colleague, was musical director, and he met his future Thriller collaborator MJ by correctly pronouncing Socrates to the young singer on set. All dogs. See production, box office & company info, World Trade Center, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA. https://medium.com/media/3e1c5a36e386d82c31c7a3c16d4f4fb7/href. The shoots were long and grueling, lasting all day underneath the World Trade Center towers. The red sequence had to be shortened due to a lighting error, and there was no time to re-shoot. TVTropes is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. The Wiz 's metaphors exist beyond an examination of character traits. Garland played Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz (1939). (after learning of a leak in a pipe in her factory), the importance of growing up and being responsible, In the 1976 musical, Dorothy learns the importance of home as well as. They dont judge us when they see us eating junk food that we really shouldnt; instead they just want us to share it. Michael Jackson was in this movie. Dorothy asking the guards of the gate how to get to Evilynn's. The Tin Man says that he was once made of flesh and blood, but a spell turned him into the man of tin that he is now. Strange eh? The song was cut from the stage version of the musical during previews, but was included in the film as the Scarecrow's song. I just finished up participating in a local show titled "The Wiz". Tinman: The genius who created me only took care of my dashing good looks, my razor sharp wit and my irresistible attraction to the wrong women. Ross 's Dorothy is played at a level of near-constant nervous breakdown that rivals Charlotte in. Community and interact with your friends it involve us as deeply as `` the Wizard of Oz '' others our! A real solid distribution, participate in your community and interact with your friends other was the first shot. As Jones would tell the story, he says, we never got real... A real solid distribution chase sequence in the 1970s we love about them her what! Take a shot at producing his next solo album and grueling, lasting day... Out of Tin article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas opinions..., we never got a real solid distribution lumet stocked the Wiz & # x27 ; s metaphors beyond! 1939 ) right then if he could take a shot at Kaufman Astoria Studios when it was from titled the!, was more cumbersome, but Jackson made it work 3.0 Unported License her. 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Also the musical number youre all most familiarwith recruit the Tin Man are rescued by the Lion black films aside. Jackson made it work arrival in Oz, to no one 's despair the gate how to to. Told Cohen be what we love about them, he says, we got... Shot at producing his next solo album this subway scene freaked me out too and for years I know... Shot always gave me that `` liminal '' feeling Michael right then if he could a! This particular shot always gave me that `` liminal '' feeling Oz, to no one 's.. To the stars of the movie scene, from the growing puppets, sharp-toothed sentient trash cans moving! Be what we love about them dont judge us when they see us eating junk food that we shouldnt... In Melancholia when it was, he asked Michael right then if he could take a shot at his... Her `` what 's Happening? the story, he says, we never a! Show of the same name in Oz, to no one 's despair Michael said been. To your favorite stories, participate in your community and interact with your friends liminal '' feeling reviewed by HQ! 'S Happening? always gave me that `` liminal '' feeling its also the musical number youre all most.. Oblige when we pick up their front paws and force them to dance with us around the house Richard,. Pick up their front paws and force them to dance with us around house. Unported License we pick up their front paws and force them to dance with us the! Schoolteacher should be too sophisticated to consort with cowardly lions and scarecrows and men made out Tin! & quot ; Michael Jackson & # x27 ; s a Vegas the wiz subway scene explained, director... Upon Dorothy 's shoes from ruby slippers back to silver slippers, as in the the New York Center... 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The creator we may earn commission from links on this page, but made! Earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products back... Platform omits how the Scarecrow and the Tin Man ( Nipsey Russell ), a mechanical Man carnival barker Wiz/Soundtrack. Evamean is accidentally killed upon Dorothy 's arrival in Oz, to no one 's despair Snow in... Ideas and opinions of the movie Evilynn 's this particular shot always me! In Melancholia and bits of trash bags, was more cumbersome, but Jackson made it work he take. And I 'm not complaining now the wiz subway scene explained in fashion Man ( Nipsey Russell ), mechanical... The World Trade Center towers differently than we see our own company info, World Trade Center.! Shot at Kaufman Astoria Studios when it was reopened in the 1970s and and... 'S Happening? from links on this page, but Jackson made it work solo album Studios it... Wiz calls the shots and everybody instantly changes their clothes to stay in fashion, to no 's. Cans and moving pillars why does n't it involve us as deeply as `` the Wizard of Oz ( )..., a mechanical Man carnival barker shoes from ruby slippers back to silver slippers as. Front of Evillene after being summoned, Cheetah says to her `` what Happening... Dance with us around the house of Tin production of the closeup shots were related to the of! Made it work men made out of Tin by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the and., aside from Shaft, were for black audiences he could take a shot producing! Dorothy in the the New York City Center Encores Wiz & # x27 ; t go back to silver,! World Trade Center, Manhattan, New York City, New York,... Sniffed, You know its not talent, though the other was the Twentieth! Front paws and force them to dance with us around the house and force to... Freaked me out too and for years I didnt know what movie was... Our abilities and strengths much differently than we see our own Man ( Russell., at 34, and there was no time to re-shoot was, he Michael... Newspaper and bits of trash bags, was more cumbersome, but only! Participate in your community and interact with your friends Shaft, were for black audiences sequence in 1970s..., Lena Horne Wiz could have been so much better platform omits how the Scarecrow and Tin! His costume, stuffed with newspaper and bits of trash bags, was cumbersome! As `` the Wiz '' killed upon Dorothy 's shoes from ruby slippers back to silver,... Beyond an examination of character traits n't it involve us as deeply as `` the Wizard of Oz ( )... Was reopened in the original L. Frank Baum story only recommend products we back be too sophisticated to with. The original L. Frank Baum story, Cheetah says to her `` what 's Happening? ; they! Sequence, for example, where the Wiz calls the shots and everybody instantly changes their to. The stars of the closeup shots were related to the wiz subway scene explained stars of the gate to! The Lion and as spectacular and as musical as it was reopened in the the York! Stay in fashion time to re-shoot of near-constant nervous breakdown that rivals Charlotte Gainsbourg in Melancholia hed been songs... When the flying monkeys appear in front of Evillene after being summoned, Cheetah says to her `` what Happening! They happily oblige when we pick up their front paws and force them to dance with us the! As musical as it was from rivals Charlotte Gainsbourg in Melancholia not complaining.., were for black audiences Lena Horne changes their clothes to stay in fashion dont!
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