The only thing in this movie to mock is the direction! This movie should've been lighter, brighter, more uplifting, like a southern gospel church on Sunday morning! Instead it was gloomy, dasrk, and destitute.. That is the fault of the director. Scripts? in musicals are not the focal point. It is the imagery, the scenery and the MUSIC.. How can music with the best writers, producers, and performers of the time be bad? Answer: it can't be. Was Diana Ross miscasts? after Lady Sings the Blues, probably.. But those who have harped on this have badly missed the point. She wasn't playing teenage Dorothy, she was playing 24yr old school teacher Dorothy, that was not that great a stretch. As for her singing that some have criticized in this movie.. Well, her vocal performances on this soundtrack are some of her best ever! and would've been hard to top by anyone at the time.. (see."be a lion/Home/can I go on/brand new day).. The Wiz is not nearly as bad as many would lead you to believe.. Yes it is too long, and very dark... but the music saves it!!
