BET Star Cinema: The Wiz

"The Wiz" comes to BET! Get show times and see movie photos now.

BET Star Cinema: The Wiz - "The Wiz," an urbanized retelling of L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz featuring an entirely African-American cast, eased into the movie theaters on October 24, 1978.<br><br>"The Wiz" features Diana Ross and Michael Jackson as the principal characters, "Dorothy" and "Scarecrow."

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BET Star Cinema: The Wiz - "The Wiz," an urbanized retelling of L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz featuring an entirely African-American cast, eased into the movie theaters on October 24, 1978.<br><br>"The Wiz" features Diana Ross and Michael Jackson as the principal characters, "Dorothy" and "Scarecrow."

BET Star Cinema: The Wiz - Julius “Nipsey” Russell&lt;br&gt;“Tinman”&lt;br&gt;(Sept. 15, 1918 – Oct. 2, 2005)&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;This legendary comedian put his dance training to use in his role as the “Tinman” in “The Wiz.”&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Nipsey died in 2005 after suffering from stomach cancer.

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BET Star Cinema: The Wiz - Julius “Nipsey” Russell<br>“Tinman”<br>(Sept. 15, 1918 – Oct. 2, 2005)<br><br>This legendary comedian put his dance training to use in his role as the “Tinman” in “The Wiz.”<br><br>Nipsey died in 2005 after suffering from stomach cancer.

BET Star Cinema: The Wiz - Richard Pryor&lt;br&gt;“The Wiz”&lt;br&gt;(Dec. 1, 1940 – Dec. 10, 2005)&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Considered one of the greatest comedians of all time, Pryor excelled as a stand-up comedian, actor and writer.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Pryor played “The Wiz,” a failed politician from Atlantic City who was untrustworthy, but in the end teaches a valuable lesson.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Pryor died in 2005 after suffering a heart attack.

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BET Star Cinema: The Wiz - Richard Pryor<br>“The Wiz”<br>(Dec. 1, 1940 – Dec. 10, 2005)<br><br>Considered one of the greatest comedians of all time, Pryor excelled as a stand-up comedian, actor and writer.<br><br>Pryor played “The Wiz,” a failed politician from Atlantic City who was untrustworthy, but in the end teaches a valuable lesson.<br><br>Pryor died in 2005 after suffering a heart attack.

BET Star Cinema: The Wiz - Lena Horne&lt;br&gt;“Glinda the Good Witch”&lt;br&gt;(June 30, 1917 – May 9, 2010)&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;This class act entertainer wore many hats including singer, dancer, actress and civil rights activist. Horne played “Glinda the Good Witch of the South,” who orchestrated the snowstorm that brought Dorothy to Oz.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Ms. Horne recently died of heart failure.

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BET Star Cinema: The Wiz - Lena Horne<br>“Glinda the Good Witch”<br>(June 30, 1917 – May 9, 2010)<br><br>This class act entertainer wore many hats including singer, dancer, actress and civil rights activist. Horne played “Glinda the Good Witch of the South,” who orchestrated the snowstorm that brought Dorothy to Oz.<br><br>Ms. Horne recently died of heart failure.

Apollo’s Walk of Fame Unveiled - Smokey Robinson, Ella Fitzgerald, James Brown and Patti LaBelle are just a few of the music legends being honored on the Apollo Theater’s new Walk of Fame in New York City. Workers began installing the sidewalk plaques in front of the Harlem theater on Monday. Plaques honoring new Hall of Fame inductees Michael Jackson and Ella Fitzgerald will be installed after the Apollo's annual Spring Gala in June. The famous theater is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year.

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BET Star Cinema: The Wiz - The Apollo pays tribute to past performer and legend Lena Horne.<br><br>Many of “The Wiz” cast members performed at The Apollo Theater during the beginning of their careers.<br><br>“The Wiz” showcased an all-African-American cast, much like the Apollo Theater showcased the biggest Black talent of the times.

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BET Star Cinema: The Wiz - Like “Dorothy” and “Scarecrow” from “The Wiz,” Diana Ross and Michael Jackson were the best of friends.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Ross was first introduced to Jackson when she saw him perform for Motown’s Berry Gordy at his mansion. Years later, the two would star together in “The Wiz.”

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BET Star Cinema: The Wiz - Like “Dorothy” and “Scarecrow” from “The Wiz,” Diana Ross and Michael Jackson were the best of friends.<br><br>Ross was first introduced to Jackson when she saw him perform for Motown’s Berry Gordy at his mansion. Years later, the two would star together in “The Wiz.”

BET Star Cinema: The Wiz - By the start of the development of the movie “The Wiz,” (A Motown Productions project), Michael, a Motown star, left the company for Epic Records with his brothers The Jacksons.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Quincy Jones, the musical supervisor and music producer for the film, recalled working with Jackson as one of his favorite experiences from “The Wiz.” This was Jones’ first time working with MJ.

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BET Star Cinema: The Wiz - By the start of the development of the movie “The Wiz,” (A Motown Productions project), Michael, a Motown star, left the company for Epic Records with his brothers The Jacksons.<br><br>Quincy Jones, the musical supervisor and music producer for the film, recalled working with Jackson as one of his favorite experiences from “The Wiz.” This was Jones’ first time working with MJ.

BET Star Cinema: The Wiz - A true perfectionist, Michael Jackson was dedicated to his role as “Scarecrow” and watched videotapes of gazelles, cheetahs and panthers in order to learn graceful movements for his part.

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BET Star Cinema: The Wiz - A true perfectionist, Michael Jackson was dedicated to his role as “Scarecrow” and watched videotapes of gazelles, cheetahs and panthers in order to learn graceful movements for his part.

BET Star Cinema: The Wiz - “The Wiz” was filmed at Astoria Studios in Queens, New York.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;The Emerald City scenes showcased 650 dancers, 385 crew members and 1,200 costumes.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Exotic wardrobes and fabrics were obtained from mega designers such as Oscar de la Renta and Norma Kamali.

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BET Star Cinema: The Wiz - “The Wiz” was filmed at Astoria Studios in Queens, New York.<br><br>The Emerald City scenes showcased 650 dancers, 385 crew members and 1,200 costumes.<br><br>Exotic wardrobes and fabrics were obtained from mega designers such as Oscar de la Renta and Norma Kamali.

BET Star Cinema: The Wiz - Among his many contributions as the biggest entertainer of all time, MJ will always be fondly remembered for skipping down the yellow brick road in his performance as “Scarecrow” in “The Wiz.”&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Don't miss &quot;The Wiz&quot; on BET, Wednesday, July 21 at 8 PM/7C and Thursday, July 22 at 1 PM/12C.

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BET Star Cinema: The Wiz - Among his many contributions as the biggest entertainer of all time, MJ will always be fondly remembered for skipping down the yellow brick road in his performance as “Scarecrow” in “The Wiz.”<br><br>Don't miss "The Wiz" on BET, Wednesday, July 21 at 8 PM/7C and Thursday, July 22 at 1 PM/12C.