Though it may be thought of as sacrilegious to remake a classic such as The Wizard of Oz, this 1978 film directed by Sidney Lumet is a vibrant and entertaining retelling of the modern fable, featuring an all black cast in the familiar story of a rural small-town girl whose dreams transport her to a magical world where the battle between good and evil gives the real world a sense of perspective. Rendered in the style of a musical, the film benefits from using new contemporary music from stars Diana Ross as Dorothy and Michael Jackson as the shy Scarecrow, with music arranged by Quincy Jones. This visually and musically exciting film is less a remake than a reinvention that stands and dances very well on its own. Robert Lane