“The Wiz”
1978
Sidney Lumet (“Twelve Angry Men,” “Network”) was a bizarre choice to direct this version of “The Wizard of Oz,” though it happened to be an urban update, with grit, sass and one-liners (based on the Broadway hit). The problem is, while New York City is certainly magical, it’s not quite up there with Oz and having 34-year-old Diana Ross play Dorothy was one of the weirdest casting gaffes since George Hamilton tried to be Moss Hart in “Act One.” Crying and shaking throughout, Diana seemed like a developmentally challenged adult who’d never left the house and who probably shouldn’t have. But Michael Jackson is good as the Scarecrow.
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