Press Release Criterion Press Release: The Wiz (1978) (4k UHD Combo) (Blu-ray) (1 Viewer)

[Ronald Epstein]

​

L. Frank Baum’s timeless story The Wonderful Wizard of Oz gets a funky reimagining in this lavish adaptation of a landmark Broadway show based on the book. Diana Ross brings her showstopping star power to the role of Dorothy, here a Harlem schoolteacher who is magically transported to a surreal fantasyland that resembles New York City, complete with man-eating trash cans and a disco paradise. Propelled by the musical contributions of Quincy Jones and an all-star cast that includes Michael Jackson, Richard Pryor, and Lena Horne, this dazzling soul spectacular from legendary director Sidney Lumet reframes a beloved tale through the Black American experience, creating a powerful celebration of self-determination.

FILM INFO​

• United States
• 1978
• 134 minutes
• 1.85:1
• English
• Spine #1264
  
  

  4K UHD + BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES​

  • New 4K digital restoration, approved by producer Rob Cohen, with Dolby Atmos soundtrack
  • One 4K UHD disc of the film presented in Dolby Vision HDR and one Blu-ray with the film and special features
  • New audio commentary featuring scholars Michael B. Gillespie and Alfred L. Martin
  • Archival interviews with director Sidney Lumet and actor Diana Ross
  • Trailer
  • English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
  • PLUS: An essay by critic Aisha Harris
    
    New cover by Komi Olafimihan
    
    June 10, 2025

 

[Ronald Epstein]

Thank you for supporting HTF when you preorder using the link below. As an Amazon Associate HTF earns from qualifying purchases. If you are using an adblocker you will not see link.

https://www.amazon.com/Wiz-Criterio...-tv&sr=1-27&srs=2901953011&xpid=Id42UwMdyKycW

 

[darkrock17]

Like the film, but that has to be one of the worst cover art I've ever seen. Did AI make that?

 

[Jeffrey D]

I love Lumet’s films, but have never seen this one. Seems to me it was an odd choice of him to direct this project though.

 

[DarkVader]

Whoa! Didn't see this coming....and that is one hidiodious cover!!!

 

[darkrock17]

I love Lumet’s films, but have never seen this one. Seems to me it was an odd choice of him to direct this project though.

It's not bad adaptation of Oz, it's adapted from the 1974 Broadway musical of the same name.

 

[DarkVader]

It's not bad adaptation of Oz, it's adapted from the 1974 Broadway musical of the same name.

The 1975 Broadway production is the basis, but this film is not a direct adaptation of the stage musical. They tossed out the original libretto when Ross was cast. The original stage show was much more faithful to Baum's original story in that "Dorothy" was a girl who hails from Kansas and not a timid 24-year-old kindergarten teacher from Harlem.

 

[TravisR]

A new commentary and not from the filmmaker? Wow.

 

[Jeffrey D]

A new commentary and not from the filmmaker? Wow.

Seems that a lot of new commentaries are from critics/scholars throughout all the video distributors.

 

[Thomas T]

A new commentary and not from the filmmaker? Wow.

It would be very difficult to get a commentary from the film maker. Sidney Lumet is dead. But perhaps your comment was tongue in cheek.

 

[Konstantinos]

I don't think I have a problem with the cover (and I usually do).
I dig it!

 

[Jeffrey D]

It would be very difficult to get a commentary from the film maker. Sidney Lumet is dead. But perhaps your comment was tongue in cheek.

His tracks for Dog Day Afternoon and Network are ones I listen to on a regular basis- they’re great.

 

[Konstantinos]

Who could release this in Europe?
I wonder if I should wait for a European release with original audio.

 

[TravisR]

It would be very difficult to get a commentary from the film maker. Sidney Lumet is dead. But perhaps your comment was tongue in cheek.

No, I mean that new commentaries on a Criterion disc are very rare and in those very rare instances, they are almost always (maybe even always) from the filmmaker for many years now. Other labels have a commentary from a critic or someone who studied the production, etc. but Criterion has almost abandoned commentaries so seeing a new commentary that isn't the filmmaker is a surprise.

 

[dukiejosh54]

Even though they didn't do the stage musical justice with this adaptation and they miscast Diana Ross as Dorothy, I do still enjoy the movie because of the music and the good performances from the rest of the cast. Especially from Mabel King, Ted Ross, and Lena Horne. Looking forward to getting this 4K upgrade.

 

[Jimbo.B]

Why does Diana Ross look like an elderly Billie Holiday on that hideous cover?

 

[DarkVader]

Why does Diana Ross look like an elderly Billie Holiday on that hideous cover?

Yeah, and don't get me started on what they did to the beautiful Lena Horne.

 

[Jimbo.B]

Yeah, and don't get me started on what they did to the beautiful Lena Horne.

Lena may look like something out of Night of the Living Dead but at least her head is in proportion to her body. Diana looks like Mr. Mackey on South Park.

 

[Ethan Riley]

On the fence; it would be a day one purchase if they'd dig up the deleted footage from "Is This What Feeling Gets?" That deletion drives me crazy; it's melody plays throughout the whole movie but you never hear the song. Very, very strange choice to delete that scene. Some swear the footage was restored for an early tv airing, but I think people are misremembering...probably a Mandela effect or something.

 

[DarkVader]

On the fence; it would be a day one purchase if they'd dig up the deleted footage from "Is This What Feeling Gets?" That deletion drives me crazy; it's melody plays throughout the whole movie but you never hear the song. Very, very strange choice to delete that scene. Some swear the footage was restored for an early tv airing, but I think people are misremembering...probably a Mandela effect or something.

It's perplexing to me why they deleted the song but still kept it intact on the soundtrack album.

I hate the way "Ease on Down the Road" is shot and staged. There's no imagination to it. It lands with a resounding thud.

Everyone raves about the Emerald City Sequence but I am not a fan. It's excessive and the lyrics are cringeworthy. I get where they were going with it but for me they missed they mark.

And where do I start with Diana Ross' performance? Her over-the-top histrionic line delivery and constant cries for "Toto!" get on my last damn nerve. Lumet failed to rein her in. A subtle performance it is not.

"A Brand New Day" (Everybody Rejoice), a song that was written by Luther Vandross is the best damn thing in the film.

There's more but I'll leave it at that.

I've had a love/hate relationship with this film since the age of 10.