THE WIZ (1978)
Lumet's adaptation of the hit Broadway musical remains one of the strangest films on his résumé. Starring Diana Ross and Michael Jackson, The Wiz was both a critical and commercial bomb. Nevertheless, it was nominated for four Oscars.
''It was a disaster. I had this idea that a great fantasy could be made out of New York — that I could make Oz out of reality. We could have the lion statue in front of the New York Public Library come to life and turn into the Cowardly Lion and things like that. But that didn't happen because I didn't know enough technically. Generally I'm pretty good about failure. I don't go hog wild when things are going marvelously and I don't go into despair when they're not. That's why I haven't read a review of one of my films since The Sea Gull in 1968. All the reviews were bad and I thought I had done some of my best work on that movie. So I just figured, What's the point?''
NEXT: Sidney Lumet on Prince of the City
Sidney Lumet: How He Saw His Oscar-Nominated Films
In 2008, we asked the director to look back at about 25 years' worth of his Oscar contenders, from ''12 Angry Men'' to ''Serpico'' to ''The Verdict''; we bring the piece back in tribute after word of his death today at age 86
Movie Calendar
- May 3
- May 10
- May 17
- May 24
- May 31
- June 7
- June 14
- June 21
- June 28
- July 5
- July 12
- July 19
- July 25
- July 26
- July 31
- August 2
- August 9
- August 16
- August 23
- August 30
- * Dates subject to change
People
-
- See This Skip, That: From Fast & Furious 6 to The Hangover Part III - Your Weekend Movie Plan
- See Amanda Bynes's Mug Shot
- Carrie Underwood, Other Stars Give to Oklahoma Relief Efforts
- Hanson Debuts MmmHops Beer
- See Who Won a Trip to Space with Leonardo DiCaprio
- Marshall and Jamie Anne Allman Welcome Twin Sons
- More from People.com
Huffington Post
-
- Mariah Carey Curses And Busts Out Of Dress On Live TV
- Jennifer Aniston And Brad Pitt Are ... Friends?
- Why Is Selena Gomez Hanging Out With Jaden Smith?
- Lauren Conrad Looks ... Different
- Amanda Bynes Arrested & Taken For Psychiatric Evaluation
- Danny Tanner Is Fighting With Topanga
- More from HuffingtonPost.com
More EW.com
