As the world bids farewell to Michael Jackson today, I want to take a moment here on MTV Movies Blog to look back at the pop sensation's first foray into film. Sidney Lumet's "The Wiz," released in 1978, is an urban reimagining of L. Frank Baum's literary classic, "The Wizard of Oz." The film is actually adapted from Charlie Smalls' award-winning mid-70s musical.

Diana Ross stars as Dorothy in "The Wiz," opposite Michael Jackson's brainless Scarecrow. The songs have more thump than they do in the 1939 adaptation of "The Wizard of Oz" (the one starring Judy Garland) and Lumet's otherworldly "Oz" setting is clearly a fantastical reworking of New York City. I've assembled a small gallery of images here for your perusal; if you've never seen "The Wiz," I recommend sitting down with it today as we look back on Jackson's good old days. Read more...

A sad day indeed. Michael Jackson wore many hats over the course of his long career. He was an international superstar, and he leveraged that status to dip his toes into anything that interested him. In the world of film, Jackson enjoyed unparalleled access. He worked with luminaries, artists and auteurs who shaped the course of the medium as strongly as the pop star himself did in the music world.

Jackson was a pop cultural icon and his touch will forever be felt in all facets of entertainment. Here are just a few of the stars he hitched to in film during his long and storied career. Read more...