"The Wiz" (1978) was a musical adventure fantasy movie directed by Sidney Lumet and adapted from L. Frank Baum's classic 1900 children's novel "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz." Before the movie's conception, "The Wiz" was a Broadway play in 1974. Motown was responsible for production, and Universal Studios distributed the film. The film features an enormous cast of performers with several musical numbers. The main cast included Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Nipsey Russell, Ted Ross, Richard Pryor, Lena Horne, Theresa Merritt, and Mabel King. Quincy Jones was a producer for the film's soundtrack, and Charlie Smalls was responsible for the music in the movie.

Director: Sidney Lumet. Writers: L. Frank Baum, William F. Brown, Joel Schumacher

Starring Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Nipsey Russell, Ted Ross, Mabel King, Theresa Merritt, Thelma Carpenter, Lena Horne, Richard Pryor, Stanley Greene

Storyline:

When Harlem schoolteacher Dorothy (Diana Ross) tries to save her dog from a storm, she's miraculously whisked away to an urban fantasy land called Oz. After accidentally killing the Wicked Witch of the East upon her arrival, Dorothy is told about the Wiz (Richard Pryor), a wizard who can help her get back home. As Dorothy goes in search of the Wiz, she's joined by the Scarecrow (Michael Jackson), the Tin Man (Nipsey Russell), and the Cowardly Lion (Ted Ross).