The Wiz - Cult Classic?

[marv2]

Really? It is considered a classic in the black community? As a white forum member, I just find it hard to believe this is thought of so highly. I only managed to sit through it once, and really, the high point was Lena Horne's number.

That's because it is not true! This movie is not held in great esteem in the African American Community. I was in the theater in the fall of 1978 and like you mentioned, other than that brief scene with Lena Horne, ,most everyone was disappointed with the film overall. There was a lot of controversy prior to it's release when it was announced that diana ross would be playing the lead, Dorothy. Everyone agreed that it was a poor choice because Ross was too old and too experienced to be believable. She talked Berry into it and it was a failure.

[Bokiluis]

That's because it is not true! This movie is not held in great esteem in the African American Community. I was in the theater in the fall of 1978 and like you mentioned, other than that brief scene with Lena Horne, ,most everyone was disappointed with the film overall. There was a lot of controversy prior to it's release when it was announced that diana ross would be playing the lead, Dorothy. Everyone agreed that it was a poor choice because Ross was too old and too experienced to be believable. She talked Berry into it and it was a failure.

Didn't know you were authority on the African American Arts. Funny, you'd best tell TVONE because they use "The Wiz" as part of their commercial bumpers. And you might also tell that to Centric as well. [[And I guess the East Village doesn't count as Néw York.
The term "inner city" can also refer to "not the suburbs".

[marv2]

Didn't know you were authority on the African American Arts. Funny, you'd best tell TVONE because they use "The Wiz" as part of their commercial bumpers. And you might also tell that to Centric as well. [[And I guess the East Village doesn't count as Néw York.
The term "inner city" can also refer to "not the suburbs".

I am a bit of an authority on African American Arts. Studied it in school and experienced it in life! "The Wiz" was not nearly good enough to be classified as a classic. It was a B Grade movie from the moment it hit theaters around Halloween 1978.

[Bokiluis]

[QUOTE=marv2;129941]That's because it is not true! This movie is not held in great esteem in the African American Community. I was in the theater in the fall of 1978 and like you mentioned, other than that brief scene with Lena Horne, ,most everyone was disappointed with the film overall. There was a lot of controversy prior to it's release when it was announced that diana ross would be playing the lead, Dorothy. Everyone agreed that it was a poor choice because Ross was too old and too experienced to be believable. She talked Berry into it and it was a failure.[/QUOTE