Oz (1976 film)
A rock 'n' roll reimagining of Oz in 1970s Australia.
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Oz (also released as Oz – A Rock 'n' Roll Road Movie and 20th Century Oz) is a 1976 Australian film written, directed and co-produced by Chris Löfvén. It re-imagines the 1939 The Wizard of Oz film in a 1970s Australian setting aimed at older teens and young adults. The film received four nominations at the 1977 AFI Awards.
Plot summary
Dorothy, a sixteen-year-old groupie, rides with rock band Wally and the Falcons. After a road accident, she wakes in a gritty fantasy world where she has killed a young thug. A gay clothier named Glin the Good Fairy gives her red shoes to help her see the Wizard, an androgynous glam rock singer. The thug's brother pursues her, and she meets a dumb surfer, a heartless mechanic, and a timid biker.
Production
Chris Löfvén and Lyne Helms conceived the idea while working in London in the early 1970s. Löfvén, inspired by David Bowie, wanted Graham Matters to star. They wrote the script while house-sitting for David and Kristen Williamson.
The budget was $150,000 with $260,000 in contra deals; funding came from the Australian Film Commission, Greater Union, and private investors. Joy Dunstan, a singer and theatre actress, was cast after Löfvén saw her perform. The film was shot over five weeks near Melbourne in early 1976.
Soundtrack
Ross Wilson, Gary Young, and Wayne Burt, former members of Daddy Cool, contributed to the soundtrack. Wilson's promo video for Daddy Cool's 'Eagle Rock' had been directed by Löfvén in 1971. He recorded his solo single 'Livin' in the Land of Oz' and produced Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons' 'Beating Around the Bush', both released mid-1976 from this soundtrack. The soundtrack includes two versions of Graham Matters' 'You're Driving Me Insane', originally by The Missing Links, as a nod to Australia's 'sixties punk' heritage.
The Australian version was released on EMI in 1976; the US version on Celestial Records in 1977. The track listing features songs by Ross Wilson, Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons, Joy Dunstan, and Graham Matters. Ross Wilson served as producer and arranger, John French as engineer, and Peter Ledger provided cover illustration and design.
Did You Know?
- The poster and album sleeve for the American release were done by rock artist Jim Evans.
- The film was one of the highest-grossing Australian films in the US, grossing over $1 million before its release in New York and Los Angeles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who stars in Oz (1976 film)?
Oz stars Joy Dunstan, Graham Matters, Bruce Spence, Gary Waddell and Robin Ramsay.
Who composed the music for Oz (1976 film)?
The music for Oz was composed by Wayne Burt, Baden Hutchins, Ross Wilson and Gary Young.
More in Films Based on The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Oz (1976 film) (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Currency conversion: European Central Bank euro reference rates, rates of 16 October 2026.
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