How 'The Wiz' Movie Was Created, The Geoffrey Holder Story - Story You Should Know
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- čas přidán 23. 02. 2022
- HYPE+ - The Wiz is easily one of the most celebrated films in black cinema but do you know how it came to be? Actor and choreographer Geoffrey Holder would quietly serve as the films own Whiz. Here's his story. Instagram: @ComedyHype & Twitter: @ComedyHype_
- Komedie
Fun fact:
So far in my PERSONAL research. "The Wiz" is the ONLY major Hollywood movie that's 100% an all black/African American movie.
And by "all black" I mean ALL named characters and cast members with close up screen time. (Not some cast member that was part of the crowd or choir.)
I have YET to find ANY other major motion picture made in Hollywood that can say that.
(YES, Lena Horne is black.)
I feel you. Maybe Dreamgirls?
“Cabin in the Sky”, “Carmen Jones”, “Porgy & Bess”
@@williamkelley1537 Dreamgirls had at least 3 MAJOR white actors in it.
@@ask4theupgrade359 I'm not 100% sure about that actress TOMMIE MOORE. (If she's ever HALF black, we accept her😉)
But the Scottish actor William Gillespie was in that move.
But Wikipedia does classify the movie "CABIN IN THE SKY" as an all black cast🤷🏿♂️
Yep iam watching it as I txt years and Decades before BLACK PANTHER
Hard To Believe The Wiz Had Michael Jackson before Thriller after Off The Wall man I do miss the King Of Pop he was one of a kind
Naw the Wiz with Michael Jackson in it came out before off the wall. And it may have come out before the Destiny album by the Jacksons too! It came out either in 1977 or 1978.
Yyyyyyyeeeeessssss
Yeah...and before he turned into "WHITE" Michael Jackson.....😆😆😆😆
Press in on CZcams [ B. Howard ] Watch his videos! This is Michael Jackson's black son. And he has two more fully black sons too!
Too bad he liked little boys.
Mr. Holder also did the choreography for the opening intro of _The Cosby Show_ in its early years. And he was a standout as Punjab in _Annie_ too and as Nelson in _Boomerang_ during the Grace Jones' fragrance scene. The man's work speaks for itself. RIP.
Period
I didnt know he passed.😇
What a concise, thoughtful documentary that honors this legend. I really enjoyed that.
I have great respect and admiration for Geoffrey Holder and what he accomplished. Not only was he a gifted actor, director and choreographer but he was blessed with enough humility to step back in to rescue a project that he believed in. He didn´t let a bruised ego stand in the way, as so many others in this world often do.❤
Geoffrey Holder an American treasure.
An American-Trinidadian 🇺🇸🇹🇹 treasure 😉
@@dotishboy ...yes! My favorite role of his was his narration of Jonny Depp's 'Willie Wonka'. Maybe his last movie role. A stage and screen pioneer indeed. He did it ALL.
I remember Mr. Holder in Annie, doing 7 up commercials as a kid and his deep laugh.
James Earl Jones and Holder had the most deepest voice, I had ever heard.
I love this story and the great example of black excellence and grace it shows.
The Great Jeoffrey Holder.
Another Legendary Great
that's not talked about much.
I love the movie, I watch it a couple of times throughout the year. This beautiful movie has me reminiscing about when this was created. I loved the play and especially this version. I love the music also.
Some people don't like the movie. I thought it was great.. especially the dance scenes at the end.
4 real, its my favorite movie. I have the dvd and vhs tape and the soundtrack. 💪🏾🖤
I do love 'The Wiz' Film. Rather.
I saw the Broadway play with Stephanie when I was in high school. I will always remember getting goosebumps when a young Stephanie filled up the theater with her voice. The soundtrack by the cast is still on rotation for me. When I see the film, I can appreciate it, but the Broadway way show was just fabulous!
I learned a lot from your video. Thanks.
He was originally from my Beautiful Caribbean Island 🏝 of Trinidad & Tobago 🇹🇹 W.I before migrating to the US...He truly was a great director, choreographer,actor etc.🎬 But the movie I truly enjoyed seeing him in was The movie Boomerang that's my all time favorite 👏
Nasty Nelson! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
@@ajrose1245 Yes ! that was the man....😃
Wow! I only know him from Boomerang. I had no idea about his many other talents. He should be more celebrated!
🇹🇹 trini pride !!
At least someone knows he's Trinidadian! They talked about the man without mentioning his origins?! Hmm...
let us not forget George Faison made history in 1975 when he became the first African American to win a Tony Award for Best Choreography for “The Wiz.”!!! both truly genius
👍🏿
Very underrated film and ahead of it's time. A favorite gem of mine. Thanks to Geoffrey Holder for his ingenious insight.
I do rather agree.
Geoffrey choreographed the intro for the 5th season of the Cosby Show with the Caribbean theme.
That is my favorite one!
I never know any of this. I definitely didn't know he was a skilled choreographer. Nice! Thank u for the info!
I remember seeing The Wiz in the movies as a little kid when it first came out. And it's still of my all time favs.
The Film is one of mine Top Favourite Films. Rather.
I appreciate this video. As a youth, I met Mister Holder, He was captivating, joy-giving, caring, kind, gracious and glowing from within. THE WIZ and Mister Holder are connected 4Evs.
The Wiz is my favorite movie so this was wonderful to watch. I loved hearing about the history of the The Wiz ♥
I remember as a kid seeing Mr. Holder in all the 7Up commercials.....remember my aunt took a bunch of us to see it at the movies kinda scared me back then.
I was telling people it scared me too when I was taken to see it. I was 7 at the time. People look at me strangely when I tell them I was scared as a child and cried too. Good to see someone else shared my childhood experience.
@@TheLanard lol when my 21 year old watched it as a kid we went through about 4 dvds of it he loved it ...me I always thought it was a darker version of the original
@@mterry4428 Kids today aren't scared of anything. The monkeys scared me, the subway scene with the moving pillars scared me, and the witch DEFINITELY scared me. LOL
@@TheLanard it was the moving trash cans and scarecrows....the most non threatening thing was Lena Horne....hell even Richard Pryor was scary for a hot min....
@@mterry4428 I remember being in the movie theater and hearing everyone's reactions. How everyone said, "Oooh" when the scarecrow took off his hat and there was nothing but straw. I also couldn't understand why everyone laughed every time the cabs switched on "Off Duty" and pulled off. Of course as I got older and experienced it myself I understood. Lol
The Wiz is such a classic...I was born in 91, but my mom had The Wiz on VHS and I got the chance to enjoy it as a kid. The one thing I loved about it is even though it was a remake, they added their own wonderful twists to it. I actually love both versions equally.
The Wiz 1978 is my favourite version of the Film. Rather.
If I may, The Wiz was actually intended to be an adaptation of the original novel by L. Frank Baum verses the 1939 movie, that was also obviously based on the novel as well. I feel like a lot of people forget that which is why some seem to give the Wiz the side-eye, even back then. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a book that can be adapted and interpreted many different ways, however, most people saw the Wiz as only a copycat of the 1939 movie, even though it clearly says "From the Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum" at the beginning of the movie. People look at the 1939 film like the novel never came before it and if you're trying to do anything 'Wizard of Oz' then you're automatically trying to adapt or remake the 1939 "classic", which is probably why we'll never get a true big budget adaptation of the novel in the vein of the Chronicles of Narnia.
I can understand that. I think at that point more people had seen the movie than read the book.
@@eaqua56 Not only that but most people don't seem to even know the book exist. Or they think it came out AFTER the movie. It's frustrating because the 1939 movie did not do the novel justice in my opinion, granted the obvious limitations of the time. There's so much more to the book than we ever got in that movie but people treat it like it's the gold standard of the Wizard of Oz and I just never saw it that way.
@@kidnplay3978 Not to mention people may not realize it but The Wiz is actually more faithful to the book compared to the 39 film:
- Silver shoes instead of ruby
- There are two good witches of instead of one
- The theme of self-reliance shown in the book is seen at the end with Dorothy's friends showing signs of their desires without realizing it and being told they had these things all along instead of receiving placebos.
- The Quadlings being present with Glinda at the end.
The Wiz is a faithful adaptation that people simply dismiss as "the black version of The Wizard of Oz"
@@athf4ever780Hmmm. I am rather grateful for the information.
The Wiz is one of my favorite movies 🥰❤️🖤💚#black excellence and black history forever
This is still my favorite movie
Thank you! I just learned a lot today. The WIZ is my movie!!! Watch it at least once a year and play the soundtrack. Had it on repeat while my sister was in labor 22 years ago. 💞👏🏾🕺🏿💃🏾🥰
I remember him from a series of 7up commercials back in the ‘80s. And who could ever forget his signature laugh. He had one of the original sinister laughs in film history.
That was my introduction.
I watch The WIZ at least 2 times a year! I believe the movie would have done much better at the box office if Mr. Holder had been involved. I can't say director Sidney Lumet did a horrible job because we all have come to love this cult classic, but with Hollywood, you just never know why someone is "in" and why someone is "out". It is still one of the most beloved movies in Black culture. Fun fact: Director Sidney Lumet was Lena Horne's son-in-law.
The Wiz is one of my all time favorite musicals, I watched the film so often on my VCR, that the cassette actually got stuck in the machine. I truly believe that the film would have done so much better at the box office, had Ms. Stephanie Mills been in the title roll instead of a "34 year-old" Diana Ross.
My fav musical of all time !!
When I visited Chicago I remember going to Geoffrey Holders museum it was an amazing experience a truly talented and creative man!
I have The Wiz on DVD the 25th-anniversary addition, I saw that it was on Prime and I told my 8-year-old daughter, oh we watching this so get ready! Big fan of The Wiz! Thanks for the video!
I still watch this movie and is my favorite to this day. I did not even watch The Wizard of Oz for the first time until I was in my 40's. The Wiz was my Wizard of Oz.
Salute To Another Great Black Legend Geoffrey Holder 🙌🏾!!
The Wiz is definitely a classic
Yes.
Loved this as a child. 1 to add to the collection
Was seriously underrated & way better than the Wizard of Oz imo..
I do rather agree.
Thanks so much for this great historical overview. The Wiz was the first movie I learned to love as a child. I remember my sister-in-law and I dancing up the aisle at the end credits. I know every word and every note to every song on the soundtrack. Holder was an amazing man. I would love to see his story told more broadly. His wife Carmen, herself an accomplished dancer, has lectured here in the Washington, DC area.
After watching this episode, I just want to chill with a 7Up and smile.
Holder has a billion dollar voice too. Didn't know his mind was cold too
I thank you so much for doing this this is such a wonderful memory for me I had the pleasure of going to the play as a small child my mother took me the program is still in her house there are two of them they are beautiful and then years later the movie was made and I had the pleasure of going to that as well and then Michael Jackson came to Leopold’s record store In Berkeley California and I had the pleasure of meeting him conversation with him and shaking his hand I should have been at school that day but my mother was a teacher and she was kind enough to take me and my cousins to meet the great Michael Jackson this was in the beginning of his solo career when he still had a big giant Afro thank you
A MASTERPIECE!
His commercials for 7-Up made him a household name during the 70's.. The Un-Cola..
Geoffrey Holder and I went to the same bank. I once held the door for him, saying "I always hold the door for polymaths." Little did I know...
I was lucky enough to see the Broadway play from the 1975 The Wiz original cast. What a show that was.
BRAVO💖Had no idea, Geoffrey was not apart of the Movie Production. Sounded like alot of egos floating around. Nothing more memorable than seeing the breath taking WTC in the Emerald City scenes and Imani. A little Harlem girl was fortunate to perform there in 1981 with her Dance Group from Harlem as well. You are correct about the flop. I was doing some research about six years ago, and this article talked about the premiere and the party to come after. Cast and all parties involved were waiting the flood of Media feedback at the party. This was not the case.
I was working with a NYC Photographer and he lived in the same building. I met him in the elevator and was introduced. I couldn't believe how tall he was because in films he doesn't seem that tall. I'm 6'2 and he towered over me.
When I was a kid my mom took me to see the stage play. It was amazing!
I grew up in the 80s and he was the face behind 7up commercials too.
Thank you for all you do!🙌🏾. He is a relative of mine I think I got my choreography skills from him. He was talented and brilliant 🥰
Check out Holders narration of the Charlie and the chocolate factory reboot.
Such a favorite! The soundtrack is a must have too!!!!
Yes.
Pss shout out to Mr Holder for the costume category because even the costumes were slamming especially the numbers lady Ms One🥰❤️🖤💚#and being a New York girl I like the New York references 🥰❤️🖤💚
I had no idea how amazing he was! I just knew him from the 7up commercials and Boomerang. I didn't even realize that was him in Annie. How much talent can one person have? Sheesh!
Loving this movie for most of my life, it's really something to find out how the late great Geoffrey Holder was unfairly treated behind the scenes. Nevertheless, I'm glad that you found this information and put it out into the world because to me, it's like a tribute of sorts to Mr. Holder. The truth is out and he's been given his flowers 💐🙏🏾.
MY FREAKING GREATEST BLACK MOVIE EVER MADE!!!!!!!! I STILL PLAY THE SOUNDTRACK IN MY HOME, CAR, AND WORK(wireless beats of course).
Wow.
Holder is such a legend in lots of things. I first remember him as a voice actor, voicing Ray the Sun in Bear in the Big Blue House, Master Pi in Cyberchase, and the Narrator in Tim Burton's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
I love the wiz my kids and grandkids loved it as well we still watch it this is a good documentary
I wanted to see the Play SO bad back in the day.
Thank you for this! I would have never known this info. As a kids the movie the wiz terrified me but as a teenage and young adult, it became a favorite of mine. Now I’m 40 and listen to the soundtrack at least once a month
I remember seeing him in the Michael Jackson Video, remember the time...
Love the movie❣️❣️❣️
My family annual tradition is to watch the WIZ precisely at the stroke of New Year’s Day…
This is awesome information!!! I love him and never knew he was so extremely talented and creative 💕💕💕💕
Let’s face it their are two versions of “The Wiz” is the movie a classic yes but the Broadway show is Oz we all want to see and it’s such a shame that we didn’t get the whole package for something that is supposed to be Wonderful, Baby if Stephanie was put in her proper place next to Michael on film 🎥 with Geoffrey Holder leading the way that Yellow Brick Road would be on fire 🔥
@newcreature222: I 1000% agree with you. I applaud Mr. Holder contributions to the movie & the play; but IMO the movie didn’t do as well as the play is because Stephanie Mills was replaced by Diana Ross as Dorothy…
No. I do personally love 'The Wiz' Film and it couldst not be improved. Diana Ross doth contribute unto add a nice gangster grown up vibe (within addition unto the setting of New York doing so) unto the Film which I do personally rather appreciate. As an Adult.
Wow! 1,600 performance. That was huge.
I own the WIZ dvd and 12” soundtrack vinyl proudly
This was wonderful!!! Keep telling our stories!!!!
Yes my mama recorded this movie for me when i was younger. 😍❤. Im 50 years old now.
Psss the Wiz movie is a classic gold mine🥰❤️🖤💚 black excellence and black history forever 🥰❤️🖤💚
Now tell me what, what would i doo if I could feel 🎶🎹 🎺🤖
Bruh! Holder looking just like Jay-z!
Stumbled upon this looking for footage from the original Broadway play. I have always been a fan of broadway. I've seen Peter Pan .. I think that was Sandy Duncan.. Annie.... the Original Dreamgirls Cats... but The Wiz I got to see twice... one with Stephanie Mills and the other with the understudy. ... seems like her name was Robin or something like that. I remember telling everybody I seen the 7up commercial man... and then later, Punjab from the tv version of Annie. I loved bringing home the Playbills and the listening to the 33 album/soundtrack my parents purchased ... recreating the scenes in my head... and how the music feels while your watching each scene! Thank you for posting this! #NOSTALGIA ❤
One of my all time favorite movies 💖💖💖💖🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
Yes.
Geoffrey Holder produced a show for The Supremes Mary Wilson Cindy Birdsong and Scherrie Payne LIVE Show, in this show Geoffrey Holder plays The Motown Genie, and he granted each Supreme a wish, to be somebody else, and his laugh lol Great Show.
I am in one word; AMAZING!
Thanks for the video. I remember Holder from Boomerang…never realized his involvement in The Wiz.
Own this on vhs
Geoff Holder also did commercial ads for 7up back in the early 80s
This is one of our Christmas family tradition every year!
This is was good very informative
The WIZ is full of occult symbolism I love it 💜
Very interesting! Well done!
STORMY WEATHER 1943 LENA HORN AN MANY MORE 🙌🏾👏🏾🙌🏾👏🏾🙌🏾👏🏾🙌🏾
WOW AFTER ALL THESE YEARS I DIDN'T KNOW THE 7UP MAN DID THAT
No matter what I saw Geoffrey in, his character in Boomerang always rises to the top… Dude cracked me the F’ up… Lol
He forgot to mention Mr.Holder doing the 7 up commercials in the 70's....
Cicero row row your boat! Have to see anything as iconic.
Well done, Comedy Hype. Well done.
Been watching since I was 8 (1978). Watching today with my husband...I'm up singing and dancing to every number...my husband can't believe I know every single song...favorite movie of all time...
and flowers to Geoffrey Holder's muse and wife Carmen de Lavallade
He also did the 7 up commercial. Thats how he got started
Wonderful camp classic.
This story is news to me....thank you!!
great video!
Love the Wiz!!!
Yes.
RIP 🙏🏽 Michael Jackson
Ps this is some of Mr Holder's best work 🥰❤️🖤💚
LEGENDARY
Cool movie The Wiz was I still enjoy it along with the Wizard Of Oz I don’t compare the 2 like that a Wiz remake would be awesome
MY FAVORITE MOVIE
Well Done!!!❤🎉🎉🎉😊
U left 7Up Commercials