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

[jbirdp]

Judy Garland didn't exactly look like the little ~11 year old from the book either...

Stephanie Mills from the Baltimore and Broadway productions wasn't 11 either; she was 17, but from all reports conveyed that wide-eyed innocence in the same way as Garland [I was only 3 when the production premiered in 1974, so I wouldn't know]; alas, Miss Ross had to throw her weight around to get the coveted role at the age of "checks notes" 34? This prompted a significant rewrite of the character to an elementary school teacher, which makes absolutely no sense to the story. I like the movie in spite of this, but still wonder how much better it could have been with Mills in the role.

They would have worked that out. Berry Gordy wanted her in the film.

This was when it was a lower-budgeted production that was being produced by Motown Productions.

As many already know Miss Ross got wind of it and she contacted Berry Gordy, who told her she was too old for the part. Since Miss Ross doesn't take no for an answer she got Rob Cohen from Universal involved. Cohen loved the idea and got in contact with Berry Gordy and convinced him to cast Diana and in turn Universal would co-produce the film with Motown.

This afforded them a much bigger budget than intended, financial security, and a big star in the lead to ensure box office success.

We all know how *that* turned out.

According to Mills she and Michael Jackson were "playing house" in NYC while he was filming THE WIZ and she did visit the film set on numerous occasions.

I saw Ren Woods in the routing company of the Wiz in ‘76 or ‘77. She was 17 or 18 and was also terrific.

I love it when musicals are filmed with their original Broadway casts. They’re such time capsule treasures. The Wiz with Stephanie Mills would have been wonderful.

 

[jbirdp]

I saw Ren Woods in the touring company of the Wiz in ‘76 or ‘77. She was 17 or 18 and was also terrific.

I love it when musicals are filmed with their original Broadway casts. They’re such time capsule treasures. The Wiz with Stephanie Mills would have been wonderful.

I would have liked to see a very young Whitney Houston in the role too. Her version of “Home” sung during her TV debut on the Merv Griffin when she was 19 in 1983 is amazing.

 

[Noel Aguirre]

Isn't this the movie that for better or worse ended the blaxploitation genre of the '70's because it was such a major flop at the time? Oh and I almost forgot -ended the film career of Miss Ross as well?

 

[Noel Aguirre]

If Diana Ross saw that cover, I think she would sue. Can she look any uglier?

Well then Mary Wilson and Flo Ballard must be smiling down from the heavens!
But that;s another story, Sorry- don't mean to derail!

 

[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

 

[DarkVader]

The Wiz returns to theaters on May 18th.

No Bad News here. The Wiz returns to theaters May 18. Tickets on sale now: https://www.fandango.com/the-wiz-re-release-2025-240382/movie-overview

Criterion should consider replacing their cover art with this artwork.

 

[darkrock17]

I love that poster, though you'd really have to be a big fan of the movie to get what those spray paint figures are.

Kudos to Universal's art department for creating this.

 

[DarkVader]

I love that poster, though you'd really have to be a big fan of the movie to get what those spray paint figures are.

Kudos to Universal's art department for creating this.

I am friends on Instagram with Victor Gadino who illustrated the original poster and gave him a heads up that his artwork was being reused to promote the re-release.

 

[Konstantinos]

I'm surprised there are fans of films, that know when a line is missing:

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[SD_Brian]

I'm surprised there are fans of films, that know when a line is missing:

I was most amazed by this phenomenon on the (since-corrected) Titanic UHD, which was missing quotable gems of dialogue like, "This way, Rose!" and "Come on, Rose!"--lines that were repeated so frequently during the last hour of the movie that it was amazing to me that anybody noticed a couple were missing.