Oz (1976 film)
Encyclopedia
Oz is a 1976 (see 1976 in film
) Australian film written, directed and co-produced by Chris Löfvén. It stars Joy Dunstan
, Graham Matters, Bruce Spence
, Gary Waddell, and Robin Ramsay
; and received four nominations at the 1977 AFI Awards
. The musical score is by Ross Wilson (frontman for Daddy Cool
and Mondo Rock
). The plot is a re-imagining of the 1939 The Wizard of Oz
film transferred to 1970s Australia and aimed at an older teen / young adult audience. It was released on DVD in 2004 as Oz - A Rock 'n' Roll Road Movie : Collector's Edition with additional material. The poster and album sleeve for the American release was done by rock artist Jim Evans
.
), a heartless mechanic Greaseball (Michael Carman), and a cowardly biker Killer (Garry Waddell).
and Wayne Burt were all former members of Daddy Cool
. Their biggest hit single "Eagle Rock
" had a promo video directed by Löfvén in 1971. By late 1975, Daddy Cool had disbanded and Wilson was waiting out his contract with Wizard Records by producing a Company Caine
album for his own label Oz Records. Wilson signed Jo Jo Zep & the Falcons
with members Young and Burt to his label. Contractually free, Wilson recorded his first solo single "Livin' in the Land of Oz" and produced Jo Jo Zep & the Falcons' second single "Beating Around the Bush" both released mid-1976 from this soundtrack.
in 1976, US version 20th Century Oz released on Celestial Records in 1977.
All songwriters according to Australasian Performing Right Association
(APRA).
1976 in film
The year 1976 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*March 22 - Filming begins on George Lucas' Star Wars science fiction film...
) Australian film written, directed and co-produced by Chris Löfvén. It stars Joy Dunstan
Joy Dunstan
Joy Dunstan is a retired Australian film and television actress. She is best remembered as the teenage star of Chris Löfvén's 1976 film Oz, a modern-day remake of the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, with Graham Matters, Bruce Spence, Gary Waddell, and Robin Ramsay.The then 25-year-old former school...
, Graham Matters, Bruce Spence
Bruce Spence
Bruce Spence, born September 17, 1945 is an actor, having spent most of his career performing in Australia. Bruce attended Henderson High School in West Auckland....
, Gary Waddell, and Robin Ramsay
Robin Ramsay (actor)
Robin Ramsay is an Australian actor of television, film and stage.Ramsay is the grandson of Kiwi shoe polishfounder William Ramsay and father of Robina Ramsay, an internationally ranked dressage rider, and Dr Tamasin Ramsay....
; and received four nominations at the 1977 AFI Awards
Australian Film Institute Awards
The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Award, known as the AACTA Award , is an accolade presented annually by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts . The awards recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry and television industry, including directors,...
. The musical score is by Ross Wilson (frontman for Daddy Cool
Daddy Cool (band)
Daddy Cool is an Australian rock band formed in Melbourne in 1970 with the original line-up of Wayne Duncan , Ross Hannaford , Ross Wilson and Gary Young . Their debut single "Eagle Rock" was released in May 1971 and stayed at number 1 on the Australian singles chart for ten weeks...
and Mondo Rock
Mondo Rock
Mondo Rock is a rock band from Melbourne, Australia, most prominent in the early 1980s. The band was formed in late 1976 by singer-songwriter-guitarist Ross Wilson.-Early years: 1976–1979:...
). The plot is a re-imagining of the 1939 The Wizard of Oz
The Wizard of Oz (1939 film)
The Wizard of Oz is a 1939 American musical fantasy film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was directed primarily by Victor Fleming. Noel Langley, Florence Ryerson and Edgar Allan Woolf received credit for the screenplay, but there were uncredited contributions by others. The lyrics for the songs...
film transferred to 1970s Australia and aimed at an older teen / young adult audience. It was released on DVD in 2004 as Oz - A Rock 'n' Roll Road Movie : Collector's Edition with additional material. The poster and album sleeve for the American release was done by rock artist Jim Evans
Jim Evans (artist)
Jim Evans born sometime in the 1950s, sometimes known as T.A.Z., is an American painter, printmaker, and Creative Director who was a contributing figure in the visual art movement known as underground comics...
.
Plot summary
Dorothy (Joy Dunstan) is a sixteen-year-old groupie riding with a rock band, Wally (Graham Matters) and the Falcons. Suddenly, the van is in a road accident, and she hits her head. She wakes up in a fantasy world as gritty and realistic as the one she came from and learns she killed a young thug in the process. A gay clothier, Glin the Good Fairy (Robin Ramsay), gives her a pair of red shoes as a reward to help her see the last concert of the Wizard (Matters), an androgynous glam rock singer. She is pursued by the thug's brother (Ned Kelly) who attempts to rape her on several occasions. She also meets a dumb surfer Blondie (Bruce SpenceBruce Spence
Bruce Spence, born September 17, 1945 is an actor, having spent most of his career performing in Australia. Bruce attended Henderson High School in West Auckland....
), a heartless mechanic Greaseball (Michael Carman), and a cowardly biker Killer (Garry Waddell).
Soundtrack
Wilson, Gary YoungGary Young (Australian musician)
Gary Young was a founding member of Australian rock band Daddy Cool in which he played the drums and sang backing vocals. He also played drums with Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons amongst other bands...
and Wayne Burt were all former members of Daddy Cool
Daddy Cool (band)
Daddy Cool is an Australian rock band formed in Melbourne in 1970 with the original line-up of Wayne Duncan , Ross Hannaford , Ross Wilson and Gary Young . Their debut single "Eagle Rock" was released in May 1971 and stayed at number 1 on the Australian singles chart for ten weeks...
. Their biggest hit single "Eagle Rock
Eagle Rock (song)
"Eagle Rock" is a classic Australian song, released by Daddy Cool in May 1971 on the Sparmac Record Label. It went on to become the best selling Australian single of the year, achieving gold status in eleven weeks, and remaining at #1 on the national charts for a record ten weeks. "Eagle Rock"...
" had a promo video directed by Löfvén in 1971. By late 1975, Daddy Cool had disbanded and Wilson was waiting out his contract with Wizard Records by producing a Company Caine
Company Caine
Company Caine, also known as Co. Caine and Company Kane, is an Australian progressive rock band of the 1970s. The band was formed in Melbourne in 1970 with member as follows:* Gulliver Smith * Russell Smith * Jeremy Noone 1970-71, 1975...
album for his own label Oz Records. Wilson signed Jo Jo Zep & the Falcons
Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons
Jo Jo Zep and the Falcons were an Australian blues and rock music band which featured singer, songwriter and saxophonist, Joe Camilleri . The band was active in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and had several Australian chart hits, including "Hit and Run", "Shape I'm In" and "All I Wanna Do"...
with members Young and Burt to his label. Contractually free, Wilson recorded his first solo single "Livin' in the Land of Oz" and produced Jo Jo Zep & the Falcons' second single "Beating Around the Bush" both released mid-1976 from this soundtrack.
Track listing
Track listing for Australian version Oz - A Rock 'n' Roll Road Movie released on Oz Records / EMIEMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
in 1976, US version 20th Century Oz released on Celestial Records in 1977.
- "Livin' in the Land of Oz" (Ross Wilson) — Ross Wilson - 4:12
- "The Mood" (Wilson) — Ross Wilson - 3:31
- "Beating Around the Bush" (Wayne Burt) — Jo Jo Zep & the FalconsJo Jo Zep & The FalconsJo Jo Zep and the Falcons were an Australian blues and rock music band which featured singer, songwriter and saxophonist, Joe Camilleri . The band was active in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and had several Australian chart hits, including "Hit and Run", "Shape I'm In" and "All I Wanna Do"...
- 3:30 - "Our Warm Tender Love" (Gary YoungGary Young (Australian musician)Gary Young was a founding member of Australian rock band Daddy Cool in which he played the drums and sang backing vocals. He also played drums with Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons amongst other bands...
) — Joy Dunstan - 3:46 - "You're Driving Me Insane" (Baden Hutchins) — Graham Matters - 3:25
- "Livin' in the Land of Oz" (Reprise #1) — Ross Wilson - 1:43
- "Greaseball" (Wilson) — Ross Wilson - 3:43
- "Glad I'm Living Here" (Burt) — Jo Jo Zep & the Falcons - 4:07
- "Who's Gonna Love You Tonight" (Wilson, David Pepperell) — Ross Wilson - 4:41
- "You're Driving Me Insane" (Reprise) — Graham Matters - 5:53
- "Livin' in the Land of Oz" (Reprise #2) — Ross Wilson - 1:45
- "Atmospherics" (Wilson, John French, Ian Mason) — Ross Wilson - 1:35
All songwriters according to Australasian Performing Right Association
Australasian Performing Right Association
The Australasian Performing Right Association is a copyright collective representing New Zealand and Australian composers, lyricists and music publishers. The association's head offices located in Sydney Australia, and it has branch offices in Auckland, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth...
(APRA).
Personnel
- Ross Wilson — producer, arranger
- John French — engineer
- Peter LedgerPeter LedgerPeter Ledger was an Australian commercial airbrush artist and illustrator.-Biography:...
— cover illustration & design