Fiddler on the Roof ★★★½ 1971 (G) Based on the long-running Broadway musical. The poignant story of Tevye, a poor Jewish milkman at the turn of the century in a small Ukrainian village, and his five dowry-less daughters, his lame horse, his wife, and his companionable relationship with God. Topol, an Israeli who played the role in London, is charming, if not quite as wonderful as Zero Mostel, the Broadway star. Finely detailed set decoration and choreography, strong performances from the entire cast create a sense of intimacy in spite of near epic proportions of the production. Play was based on the Yiddish stories of Tevye the Dairyman, written by Sholem Aleichem. ♫Tradition; Matchmaker, Matchmaker; If I Were a Rich Man; Sabbath Prayer; To Life; Miracle of Miracles; Tevye's Dream; Sunrise, Sunset; Wedding Celebration. 184m/C VHS, DVD, Wide. Chaim Topol, Norma Crane, Leonard Frey, Molly Picon, Paul Mann, Rosalind Harris, Michele Marsh, Neva Small, Paul Michael Glaser, Ray Lovelock;
Director:
Norman Jewison;
Writer:
Joseph Stein;
Writer:
Oswald Morris;
Cameo:
John Williams. Oscars '71: Cinematog., Sound, Orig. Song Score and/or Adapt.; Golden Globes '72: Actor—Mus./Comedy (Topol), Film—Mus./Comedy.
