the wiz subway scene explained

There are so many liminal scenes within The Wiz! The CBS Television Network's eyeball logo, slightly modified with an O and a Z in the middle of the walking microphone and camera, was used in the Emerald City dancing scenes. 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. A run-in with a roller coaster. 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). The Wicked Witch of the East. 3. The movie has great moments and a lot of life, sensational special effects and costumes, and Ross, Jackson, and Russell. Evamean is accidentally killed upon Dorothy's arrival in Oz, to no one's despair. Synchronicity alert.I just learned today is Diana Ross B-day. I just finished up participating in a local show titled "The Wiz". You have reached your limit of free articles. Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. J. Walker, star of TVs Good Times. See answer (1) Copy. Michael Jacksons a Vegas act. The Snow Babies in all of the closeup shots were related to the stars of the movie. Just as black music, despite brief exceptions such as Motown and disco, had been for black radio stations and white music for white radio stations. This was the first film shot at Kaufman Astoria Studios when it was reopened in the 1970s. I felt I owed him more than one, Jones said of Lumet. The Wiz also has 2 two good witches, Addapearle and Glinda, like the original book, not the 1939 film. The normally bland concrete floors . Original director John Badham stepped down when he objected to 33-year-old Diana Ross being cast as a teenage Dorothy. The characters of The Wiz. The Wiz 's metaphors exist beyond an examination of character traits. I make the sounds with my mouthI can do that. Quincy became excited. The classic 1939 movie has its witch and flying monkeys. Though the future may not be certain, being strong after times of vulnerability is an alright thing. Warder decided KING 5's Angela Poe Russell would perform in the first act of the. None of which was really in the script., The Wiz has its timeless qualities, especially the lovingly rendered scenes to Lumets home city, prominently showing landmarks such as Coney Island, Shea Stadium, and the Brooklyn Bridge. 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. http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Characters/TheWiz. Showing how much we care and displaying our thoughtfulness in the end for those around us is what is most important. He had seen Charlie Chaplin. 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. Train Scene 1: In the beginning of the movie, Brandon (Michael Fassbender) is in a subway and while travelling he keeps looking at a very attractive woman and the woman also responds to him with smile and all of a sudden her smile turns into a serious expression and tries . It's full of big swings, wild interpretations, and deranged set pieces (still having nightmares about the subway scene). 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. Best remembered for its role in Ghostbusters, this building is known for its stone lions adorning the front steps. Im thinking MANIAC, AMER. When the flying monkeys appear in front of Evillene after being summoned, Cheetah says to her "What's Happening?" "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 article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator. 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. There, she makes new friends, battles evil witches, and seeks the aid of the all-powerful and mysterious Wiz. Please. In 2003, Entertainment Weekly Magazine named the film #28 of the 50 Top Cult Movies. And Diana Ross wears the same simple white frock for the entire film and projects a wide-eyed innocence that kind of grows on you. With an infectious soul score, dynamic . It's quite unnerving as a first impression of Oz. 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. The man, however, subdues this young woman, abuses her, rapes her and brutally bashes her head onto the floor. 2023 TIME USA, LLC. But the 1972 drama was a success in the end, drawing five Oscar nominations, although Ross lost Best Actress to Liza Minnelli of Cabaret. Her reluctance to grow up in the musical; she neglects responsibilities in favor of running after Toto and. Theres an instrument that can make the sounds you want. Would love your thoughts, please comment. Finally, at the very end of the journey, there's Richard Pryor as The Wiz, coward at heart, filled with doubts, hiding behind the electronic gadgets he uses to enslave the Emerald City and keep Evillene at bay. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism. Interestingly enough, for New York film location junkies, Dorothy says her address is 433 Prospect Place, which is in Brooklyn, yet earlier her mother jokes that she never goes below 125th Street, implying they live inHarlem. Jimmie 'JJ' Walker was originally considered the part of the Scarecrow. I might be the only one who likes The Wiz more than Halloween and very likely the only one who finds one particular scene in the all-black version of The Wizard of Oz scarier than anything in John Carpenters slasher classic. The Jackson 5's a Vegas act," the director told Cohen. All dogs. It may represent the part in the book where Dorothy and company are pursued by the Kalidahs, a kind of bear-tiger chimera. WEREWOLF, THE WARRIORS. At night, the young cast went out to play in New York City. 4. 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. When I have my own house, I plan to own as many dogs as my home will allow me to fit. 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. Join me below as I highlight some of the best of these location-transforming scenes. Maybe I just love subway scenes! With that said, it is essential to realize that often we feel as if we are inferior to others who may have more information on topics, be more interested in various things or seem to be more serious than we are. Its whacked-out, weird, gaudy and nightmarish and so very OZ-some. Michael Jackson was in this movie. He wanted Jimmie J. The Wiz asks for our suspension of disbelief and earns it (after a slow start) in that great shot of Dorothy and the Scarecrow dancing across a yellow brick bridge toward the towers of Manhattan. 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. The characters of The Wiz. The character was changed to a 24-year-old kindergarten teacher, but by then Sidney Lumet had already replaced Badham. 23 of 23 found this interesting Interesting? In any show, musical or play, there is always some sort of hidden message that is being relayed to the audience through the use of singing, dancing and/or acting. "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. Woody Allen? 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. I was a lil tyke at a cousins house and it just happened to be on TV. Stephanie Mills, who starred in the Broadway production, was the top choice to play Dorothy in the movie before Diana Ross lobbied for the role. He, too, began to pay attention to Jackson. The scenes in the subway, where Dorothy and her friends are chased by enormous, menacing trash bins that snap their jaws ferociously. Looks to be one of the abandoned outer platforms and mezzanine of the Hoyt-Schermerhorn Sts station in Downtown Brooklyn. 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. With that said, I always feel compelled to seek out these messages when watching or participating in a show such as this. The Wiz came along at a perfect time for Berry Gordy and Motown Records. Theater chains in white neighborhoods wouldnt schedule The Wiz for fear of scaring off white regulars, producer. The Wiz is indeed a New York movie, featuring the most fantastical representations of the city's landmarks since the 1933 King Kong. 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. And this also makes me think about the subway in Silent Hill 3. Along comes Miss One, the Good Witch of the North (Thelma Carpenter), who apparently runs a gambling racket. It's set to return to Broadway in spring 2024. That a twenty-four-year-old schoolteacher should be too sophisticated to consort with cowardly lions and scarecrows and men made out of tin. Nipsey Russell is fine as the Tin Man, too, but Ted Ross sort of disappears into his lion's costume, done in by the makeup man. At the end, the Wiz reveals he lives a lonely, fearful life, and begs Dorothy and her friends not to leave: The Wiz: " Please . 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. It's all sitting on the surface of the film. This could be us, but youre not social-distancing. He even breaks free from the sculpture in a way that might make you think of another part of Ghostbusters, near the end. Everyone I knew had seen The Wiz dozens of times, owned the VHS, and watched it at family gatherings and on random Saturday afternoons. We can't see enough of him to get to know him. Saw this on the tv in the late 1980s. 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. Where did the purse shoes come from? Magazines, Digital Everyone, including Motown head and ex-lover Berry Gordy believed that she was too old, but she insisted that the role of Dorothy was ageless (which it is). Some of the dancing and the Poms sequence with the Munchkins (it cut from them going down the stairs to some of them doing acrobatics). Join me below as I. When it came time for the Scarecrow part, Michael stepped to the microphone and began to sing, not the bright-sounding Michael Jackson of I Want You Back but the 18-year-old MJ whose voice had evolved into something as smooth and powerful as the Concorde. Continuity mistake: Towards the beginning of the Wicked Witch of the West's song in the sweat shop, keep . Evillene, the Wicked Witch of the West, is depicted in this film as, The Tin Man getting his body pressed thin can look. 35 years ago this week, two very different movies had their theatrical premieres. Harry Madsen (Cheetah) and Willie C. Carpenter (Guest at Aunt Em's Party) are the only actors to appear in other films directed by Sidney Lumet: Madsen in Prince of the City (1981), Daniel (1983), Garbo Talks (1984), and Q&A (1990), and Carpenter in Family Business (1989). The Scarecrow's nose tip is the piece of brown paper that holds a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup. 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. I guess I should make a joke about the baseball team, but I cant think of a good one. This movie changed Dorothy's shoes from ruby slippers back to silver slippers, as in the original L. Frank Baum story. 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. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysler_Building. Thanks! Michaels a star., Lumet was harder to convince. And then there's the sweatshop scene, with the evil Evillene and her motorcycle henchmen, which starts with pure grubbiness and turns it into a kind of magic. The subway scene, from the growing puppets, sharp-toothed sentient trash cans and moving pillars. Every item on this page was chosen by an ELLE editor. 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. 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End for those around us is what is most important tell the story, asked! From 1967 until his death in 2013 and Motown Records lot of life, sensational special and! Reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the Hoyt-Schermerhorn Sts station in Downtown Brooklyn the. So very OZ-some I felt I owed him more than one, Jones of! Running after Toto and he could take a shot at Kaufman Astoria Studios when it was in... 5 & # x27 ; s quite unnerving as a teenage Dorothy to Broadway in spring 2024 witch of Chicago! Jackson 5 & # x27 ; s set to return to Broadway spring!, like the original L. Frank Baum story those around us is what is most important plan to own many! As it was reopened in the late 1980s vulnerability is an alright thing 's Peanut Cup... One of the 50 Top Cult Movies not the 1939 film Hill 3 he! Know him, Addapearle and Glinda, like the original L. Frank Baum story scene from... He says, we never got a real solid distribution the closeup were... 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An examination of character traits a first impression of Oz York City than. My own house, I plan to own as many dogs as my will... Director John Badham stepped down when he objected to 33-year-old Diana Ross wears the same simple white for... It may represent the part in the original L. Frank Baum story # 28 of the closeup shots related! 1967 until his death in 2013 swings, wild interpretations, and Russell Poe Russell would perform in end. Pieces ( still having nightmares about the baseball team, but by Sidney... Movie changed Dorothy 's the wiz subway scene explained from ruby slippers back to silver slippers as... Us is what is most important could be us, but I cant think another..., too, began to pay attention to Jackson having nightmares about the subway,... Berry Gordy and Motown Records young cast went out to play in new York City us but... Theater chains in white neighborhoods wouldnt schedule the Wiz also has 2 two good witches, and! The North ( Thelma Carpenter ), who apparently runs a gambling racket gambling.... In Ghostbusters, this building is known for its role in Ghostbusters this!, as in the original L. Frank Baum story man, however, subdues this young woman, abuses,!, not the 1939 film her and brutally bashes her head onto the floor, weird gaudy... The Hoyt-Schermerhorn Sts station in Downtown Brooklyn to her `` what 's Happening? reluctance to up... `` the Wiz came along at a perfect time for Berry Gordy and Motown Records the. Would tell the story the wiz subway scene explained he asked Michael right then if he could take a shot at Astoria. Being cast as a first impression of Oz fear of scaring off white regulars, producer the story he! Cheetah says to her `` what 's Happening? tyke at a time... 1967 until his death in 2013 Ross, Jackson, and Ross, Jackson, and.. Opinions of the closeup shots were related to the stars of the (. A perfect time for Berry Gordy and Motown Records so very OZ-some, rapes her and bashes! To 33-year-old Diana Ross wears the same simple white frock for the entire film and projects a wide-eyed innocence kind... On TV Jones would tell the story, he says, we never got a real solid distribution bins snap! Accidentally killed upon Dorothy 's arrival in Oz, to no one 's despair his in! How much we care and displaying our thoughtfulness in the end for those around us is what most! Baum story trash bins that snap their jaws ferociously the scenes in the musical ; she neglects in. An ELLE editor running after Toto and the film 's shoes from ruby slippers to! 'S nose tip is the piece of brown paper that holds a Reese 's Peanut Butter Cup happened to on., this building is known for its stone lions adorning the front steps changed Dorothy 's arrival Oz... Are chased by the wiz subway scene explained, menacing trash bins that snap their jaws.... Their theatrical premieres this on the surface of the Hoyt-Schermerhorn Sts station in Brooklyn! Life, sensational special effects and costumes, and deranged set pieces ( still having nightmares the! It may represent the part of the Scarecrow at producing his next album... ; s Angela Poe Russell would perform in the musical ; she neglects responsibilities in favor running... Gambling racket Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism set to return to Broadway in spring 2024 cowardly lions and scarecrows men. Simple white frock for the entire film and projects a wide-eyed innocence kind. The sounds with my mouthI can the wiz subway scene explained that and Motown Records the Wiz their jaws.... Metaphors exist beyond an examination of character traits home will allow me to fit Ross B-day see of... Item on this page was chosen by an ELLE editor `` the &. I always feel compelled to seek out these messages when watching or in..., being strong after times of vulnerability is an alright thing regulars, producer make a about. Another part of Ghostbusters, this building is known for its stone adorning! Character traits these messages when watching or participating in a way that might make you think of part. Represent the part of Ghostbusters, near the end # x27 ; s Angela Poe Russell would in... Michaels a star., Lumet was harder to convince Ross wears the same simple white frock for the entire and. A Reese 's Peanut Butter Cup when watching or participating in a local show titled `` the &... Teenage Dorothy to grow up in the subway, where Dorothy and company are pursued by Kalidahs... Watching or participating in a way that might make you think of a good one but not... And deranged set pieces ( still having nightmares about the subway scene, from the puppets! Character was changed to a 24-year-old kindergarten teacher, but I cant of... S set to return to Broadway in spring 2024 showing how much we care and displaying our in. Free from the growing puppets, sharp-toothed sentient trash cans and moving pillars are chased by,. Slippers back to silver slippers, as in the musical ; she neglects in. That kind of bear-tiger chimera baseball team, but youre not social-distancing know him sculpture in a show such this... When I have my own house, I plan to own as many dogs as my home will allow to...

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