The Wiz Joins the Criterion Collection

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 6/28/25 at 12:32pm

Happy Pride, everyone! I just picked up a copy of The Wiz which was recently released on 4K by The Criterion Collection. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this film - memories, opinions, etc.

Criterion did a fabulous job with the release but it is pretty skimpy on the supplements, unfortunately.

[seaweedjstubbs]

Posted: 6/28/25 at 1:43pm

I got to see the re-release Universal put in theaters a few weeks ago to show off the new restoration. The film looks the best it’ll probably ever look. The colors were so vibrant, and the MANY wide shots in the movie looked gorgeous on the big screen, especially the Emerald City sequence. Those COSTUMES.

My biggest takeaway was that the film isn’t THAT bad. The concept of Oz being a fantasy version of NYC is unique and memorable. The cast gives it their all, even if Diana Ross is WAY over the top (her screams got a lot of laughs at the screening I attended). What became extremely noticeable in the movie theater were the many completely silent pauses throughout the film. It’s bizarre. I think the pacing is what truly kills this film. Pauses like that might work in a drama, but they absolutely do not work for a fantasy musical comedy. I’d love to see a re-edited version of the film with those pauses taken out/made shorter. Not only would it cut down on the runtime, but it would make the comedy work better.

Something that I noticed is that this restoration accidentally removed a few bits of dialogue. One comes when Dorothy and friends get ready to visit Evilene. Dorothy says, “But how do we find her?” and the gatekeeper says, “Don’t worry, she’ll find you.” Both of those lines were missing. Also, right before Dorothy sings “Home,” she says the word “Home.” That dialogue was missing as well. Maybe the audio track they used for this restoration didn’t include them for some reason? It’s unfortunate, because the rest of the restoration is so well done, and this may very well be the last physical release this film receives.

Such a shame to hear that the supplements are lacking for the Criterion release. They’re usually chock full of extras. Maybe there was a rights issue? Either way, it’s cool that this film was selected for Criterion. Yes, it’s bizarre. Yes, Diana Ross was not the right choice for Dorothy. Yes, Sidney Lumet was the not the right choice to direct. But dammit, it’ll always have a place in my heart. 

 

[Bwaygurl2]

Posted: 6/28/25 at 1:47pm

One odd thing I've noticed over the years is people think this movie is called "OZ." Like I have referenced the TV show OZ a couple times to different people and they thought I was referring to this movie. 

[Kad]

Posted: 6/28/25 at 1:50pm

The film's art direction is incredible- its depiction of Oz-as-New York is such an inspired, specific move. 

And I think the individual musical sequences are all really successful. They work really well as standalone music videos. 

But when it's all put together, it just doesn't add up. 

[BJR]

Posted: 6/28/25 at 2:15pm

Kad said: "The film's art direction is incredible- its depiction of Oz-as-New York is such an inspired, specific move.

And I think the individual musical sequences are all really successful. They work really well as standalone music videos.

But when it's all put together, it just doesn't add up."

Completely agree.  I’ve always felt it was because you just don’t care about Diana’s too old Dorothy. Her crisis doesn’t hold you. 

[TheOtherOne2]

Posted: 6/28/25 at 2:17pm

It's imaginatively designed and the songs are well performed, but it's otherwise atrocious.  Diana isn't just miscast, she overacts so badly you'd think the devil had come for his due.  She'd been good (Mahogany) or great (Lady Sings The Blues) in her earlier films, but this effectively killed her film career.  (I still think she might have made a great Shug Avery in The Color Purple, but who knows if she would have wanted the role.)

Lumet was usually a brilliant film director, but he was at sea here.  

Many great stage shows have bombed badly on camera.  In different ways, A Chorus Line and Man of La Mancha were extremely theatrical projects and their failure on screen is understandable.  But a film of The Wiz should have been great and it's anything but.

[inception]

Posted: 6/28/25 at 3:59pm

On blu-ray.com people have been complaining about the soundtrack issues, like the missing dialogue.   Some noted that the blu-ray & 4k have been taken off sale on the Criterion site, so there may be a recall coming.

Reviews of the picture quality say it is the best it has looked on home video.

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 6/28/25 at 4:11pm

Criterion is excellent about corrections and they go above and beyond for them. I hope they fix this.