The Wiz

As Diana Ross's Dorothy prepares a holiday feast at her adoptive parents' New York City apartment, she finds herself torn between embracing the joy around her and feeling like an outsider. Her Aunt Em (Theresa Merrett) and Uncle Henry (Stanley Greene), though well-meaning, only serve to highlight Dorothy's feelings of isolation. Meanwhile, her dog Toto gets loose in a snowstorm, leading Dorothy on a wild chase that ultimately lands them both in the midst of a mystical tornado conjured by the benevolent sorceress Glinda, "The Good" (Lena Horne). As the storm subsides, Dorothy finds herself in the Land of Oz, where she's greeted as a hero for having inadvertently killed the Wicked Witch of the East, Evermean. The freed "munchkins," once transformed into graffiti by Evermean's dark magic, praise Dorothy for her role in their liberation.

Just then, a mysterious sorceress named Miss One (Thelma Carpenter) appears, bearing a shopping bag and wielding magical powers. With a flick of her wrist, she transfers Evermean's iconic silver shoes onto Dorothy's feet, setting the young woman on a path that will take her to the doorstep of the enigmatic Wiz, who resides in Emerald City. Miss One warns Dorothy that keeping the shoes is crucial to her journey and instructs her to follow the fabled yellow brick road, but neglects to reveal where it begins or how to find it. With that, Miss One vanishes, leaving Dorothy and Toto to face their new reality.

As the sun rises on this strange new world, Dorothy encounters a forlorn Scarecrow (Michael Jackson) perched atop a burned-out housing project. Tormented by a flock of crows, the Scarecrow begs to be freed from his post, lamenting that he lacks a brain. With her empathetic nature, Dorothy shoos the birds away and invites the Scarecrow to join her on her quest for wisdom, leading him to seek out the Wiz's counsel in Emerald City.

As the Scarecrow stumbles upon the iconic yellow brick road, Dorothy and her companions embark on an odyssey to an abandoned amusement park reminiscent of Coney Island's nostalgic charm. It's here they encounter a rusty Tinman (Nipsey Russell), who lies immobile amidst the crumbling attractions. As the friends carefully coax him back to life, the Tinman laments his inability to feel anything, prompting Dorothy and the Scarecrow to encourage him to seek out the enigmatic Wiz for a heart. With renewed determination, the trio sets off along the sun-kissed yellow brick road.

Their journey takes them to the imposing façade of the New York Public Library, where a stone statue of a Lion (Ted Ross) suddenly comes to life, sending their hearts racing with fear. However, after Toto's mischievous nip on the Lion's ankle, he breaks down in tears, confessing his lack of courage. The friends persuade him to seek out the Wiz for a dose of bravery, and the unlikely group presses onward.

As they traverse the yellow brick road, they find themselves surrounded by an eerie peddler and pursued by a horde of monstrous column creatures. But it's the Lion who proves to be the hero, chasing away their pursuers with his newfound courage. Next, they stumble into the "red light district" of Oz, where the air is thick with the intoxicating scent of "Poppy Love Perfume." As half-dressed women dance in the alleyway, the Scarecrow realizes they've fallen prey to a trap, but Dorothy and the Lion are too far gone, their senses dulled by the poppy's potent aroma. The Tinman, immune to the effects, weeps at his friends' apparent demise, only for his tears to wash away their lethargy.

As the sun rises in the shape of an apple, the Emerald City comes into view, its skyline eerily reminiscent of New York City. The group must then navigate a heavily guarded vault door entrance before being ushered in through the service entrance by a perceptive doorman who's drawn to Dorothy's silver slippers. As they enter the city, they're surrounded by a kaleidoscope of enormous jewels illuminated in green light between the iconic twin towers of the World Trade Center. Amidst this jade glow, the Wiz makes an unexpected announcement over a loudspeaker, declaring that Emerald City's color has shifted to a deep red.

But just as quickly, he changes his mind again, proclaiming yellow the new fashion, and the courtyard transforms into a sea of gold. As the friends take in the surreal spectacle, they're left wondering what other wonders and surprises await them on their journey down the yellow brick road.

As the Wiz's demands for Dorothy's presence go unmet, she steadfastly refuses to acquiesce without her closest companions by her side. Together, they embark on a perilous journey to the pinnacle of the imposing structure, where an awe-inspiring visage of fire-breathing proportions awaits. Overcome with trepidation, they implore the Wiz for a solution to their predicament, pleading for a brain, a heart, courage, and a means to return home. However, the Wiz's true intentions are far from benevolent; he seeks to exact a terrible toll in exchange for his assistance - Dorothy's treasured silver slippers.

As tensions escalate, the companions find themselves confronted by Evillene, the malevolent Wicked Witch of the West, who reigns supreme over her dark kingdom within the depths of Emerald City. Her lair is a twisted realm of despair, where she rules with an iron fist from a throne adorned with jewels and filth. With a wave of her wand, she summons a legion of putrid flying monkeys to apprehend Dorothy and her friends, who are subsequently dragged before Evillene's gruesome workshop.

There, the Scarecrow meets a grisly fate at the mercy of a whirring power saw, while the Tinman is mercilessly crushed beneath the unforgiving weight of a steam press. Meanwhile, the Lion finds himself dangling by his tail from the rafters like a marionette. As Evillene threatens to consign Toto to a fiery furnace, Dorothy's resolve falters, and she agrees to surrender her precious shoes. But just as all hope seems lost, the Scarecrow nods discreetly toward a nearby fire extinguisher, and Dorothy seizes the opportunity to activate the overhead sprinkler system.

In an instant, the warehouse is awash in water, sending Evillene tumbling down the porcelain throne she had so callously exploited. The witch's minions, once bound by their cruel mistress, now rush to tend to the mangled bodies of Dorothy's friends and celebrate their hard-won freedom. As they shed their sweatshop attire, they are shocked to discover the human forms beneath.

The flying monkeys, now freed from Evillene's tyranny, deliver Dorothy and her companions back to the unassuming "back door" of Emerald City. There, they find the Wiz's mask lying in ruins, a poignant reminder that they have been played by a false prophet. With contrite humility, the Wiz (Richard Pryor) reveals his true identity as Herman Smith, a failed politician from Atlantic City, New Jersey, who had once campaigned for the office of Dog Catcher.

In an attempt to boost his flagging electoral prospects, he had taken to soaring above the city in a hot air balloon, distributing campaign flyers. However, a sudden storm swept him away, depositing him in Oz many years prior. The residents of Emerald City, unfamiliar with aircraft, hailed him as "the Wiz" and left him to live out his days in solitude, fearful that his true nature would be discovered.

As Dorothy's companions bemoan their eternal fate, stuck in a cycle of self-doubt with no chance of possessing a brain, a heart, or courage, she gently corrects them, revealing that these very qualities have been within their grasp all along. The night air is suddenly filled with an ethereal presence as Glinda, the embodiment of benevolence, materializes in a tapestry of twinkling stars above. With her celestial guidance, Dorothy comprehends that "home" transcends physical boundaries, encompassing instead the profound understanding of one's own intellect, emotional depth, and inner fortitude. Glinda's words imbue Dorothy with a newfound sense of self-assurance, assuring her that she can find solace anywhere in the world as long as she trusts in her own abilities. As the realization dawns on her, the Wizard, beset by his own existential crisis, implores Dorothy for guidance on navigating the path back to his own home. With a sage nod, she counsels him to embark on an odyssey of self-discovery, urging him to confront the mysteries within. With a bittersweet farewell to her friends, Dorothy clicks the heels of her silver slippers thrice, and as if by magic, she reappears outside her apartment building, the snowy streets now bathed in a warm, golden light, symbolizing her return home to herself.