Fiddler on the Roof (A- or 3.5/4 stars)
'Fiddler on the Roof' (directed by Norman Jewison & adapted from a popular, long-running Broadway play) is a wonderful, lavishly produced three-time Academy Award-winning movie musical from 1971. The setting is turn-of-the-century czarist Russia and, the life-affirming tale concerns various habitants of the small, impoverished predominantly Jewish village of Anatevka, Ukraine, where the residents are ruled by a firm sense of community and of strict cultural traditions.
For poor dairy farming milkman Tevye (energetic Topol, taking over for Broadway star, Zero Mostel) & shrewish wife, Golde (Norma Crane), said traditions include getting the town matchmaker, Yente (Yiddish stage actress, Molly Picon), to find their 5 modern-thinking, headstrong daughters - the three eldest, Tzeitel, Hodel & Chava, all barely of marrying age - suitable wealthy husbands; especially paramount since the girls will have no dowries.
Tzeitel (Rosalind Harris), not yet 20 yrs. old, strongly dislikes that Yente has chosen an older man for her, Lazar Wolf (Paul Mann). Instead, Tzeitel is actually in love with the poor local tailor, Motel Kamzoil (Leonard Frey). Motel does not believe that Tevye would approve of a marriage btwn. his daughter & he because of Motel's poor socio-economic standing. Hodel (Michele Marsh) has her sights set on the rabbi's son. But change from Anatevka's stodgy traditions is in the air; change coming in the form of Perchik (Paul Michael Glaser), a student from Kyiv who is championing Marxist ideals and ... who Hodel falls madly in love with.
They decide to marry and, well, Tevye is forced to accept. When Perchik is arrested by czarist troops & sent to Siberia, Hodel leaves her beloved homeland to be with him. And when Tevye's 3rd daughter, bookworm Chava (Neva Small), decides to marry non-Jewish Fyedka (Ray Lovelock), Tevye contemplates disowning her. Up against a wall, the loving, but prideful Tevye's faith is shaken and, with virulent anti-Semitism sweeping across Europe, the Jewish citizens of Anatevka fear the eviction from their homeland is upon them. Much singing, dancing, rejoicing, sorrow, & deliverance ensues.
'Fiddler on the Roof' is a grand, 3 hour long celebration of life, but also a mourning of a 'way of life' that was quickly disappearing. Some critics & cynics might say that the film is too long {and it kinda is}, filled with an inordinate amount of sentimentality, nostalgia, folk humor, & songs. But I, and audiences back in 1971, ate it all up. It's easy for me to eat up, as well; as I played the Rabbi in my high school production of this play -- so I have a great, great fondness for the material.
Israeli actor Topol, who played Tevye on the London stage, was chosen for the role over Broadway's Zero Mostel; controversial at the time, but studio heads believed that Mostel's larger-than-life portrayal would be too big for movie cameras. Topol, while still zestful, is able to convey understated moments very well in emotional close-ups. And his big "If I Were a Rich Man" number - with the fiddler playing on the roof - is a show-stopper. The entire cast plays their roles perfectly. Other stand-outs include Leonard Frey's Motel, Paul Mann's Lazar Wolf, Ruth Madoc's Fruma Sarah {who has an amazing show-stopper of her own during "Tevye's Dream"}, Svee Scooler's Rabbi, & Molly Picon as Yente, the cheerful village matchmaker.
The movie looks fantastic, with Oswald Morris' Technicolor Academy Award-winning cinematography highlighting Yugoslavia's wondrous locales. Also stellar are the period productions designs & authentic costumes of early 20th century 'Russia'. The music is conducted & adapted by the great John Williams who, along with Morris' cinematography & the great sound design, won an Oscar for Best Music, Scoring Adaptation.
Every song from the joyous opening "Tradition", to the humorous "Matchmaker" {spoofed in 1993's Mrs. Doubtfire}, to the rowdy "To Life", to the emotionally-stirring "Sunrise, Sunset", to the sweetly romantic "Do You Love Me", to the melancholy "Anatevka", the music rivets. As I mentioned earlier, the film is a bit long and may not appeal to all contemporary audiences; but it sure did 50+ yrs. ago, make over $50 million on a $9 million budget. With magnificent music, charismatic performances, & showy filmmaking, 'Fiddler on the roof' remains one of my fondest movie musicals to ponder.
For poor dairy farming milkman Tevye (energetic Topol, taking over for Broadway star, Zero Mostel) & shrewish wife, Golde (Norma Crane), said traditions include getting the town matchmaker, Yente (Yiddish stage actress, Molly Picon), to find their 5 modern-thinking, headstrong daughters - the three eldest, Tzeitel, Hodel & Chava, all barely of marrying age - suitable wealthy husbands; especially paramount since the girls will have no dowries.
Tzeitel (Rosalind Harris), not yet 20 yrs. old, strongly dislikes that Yente has chosen an older man for her, Lazar Wolf (Paul Mann). Instead, Tzeitel is actually in love with the poor local tailor, Motel Kamzoil (Leonard Frey). Motel does not believe that Tevye would approve of a marriage btwn. his daughter & he because of Motel's poor socio-economic standing. Hodel (Michele Marsh) has her sights set on the rabbi's son. But change from Anatevka's stodgy traditions is in the air; change coming in the form of Perchik (Paul Michael Glaser), a student from Kyiv who is championing Marxist ideals and ... who Hodel falls madly in love with.
They decide to marry and, well, Tevye is forced to accept. When Perchik is arrested by czarist troops & sent to Siberia, Hodel leaves her beloved homeland to be with him. And when Tevye's 3rd daughter, bookworm Chava (Neva Small), decides to marry non-Jewish Fyedka (Ray Lovelock), Tevye contemplates disowning her. Up against a wall, the loving, but prideful Tevye's faith is shaken and, with virulent anti-Semitism sweeping across Europe, the Jewish citizens of Anatevka fear the eviction from their homeland is upon them. Much singing, dancing, rejoicing, sorrow, & deliverance ensues.
'Fiddler on the Roof' is a grand, 3 hour long celebration of life, but also a mourning of a 'way of life' that was quickly disappearing. Some critics & cynics might say that the film is too long {and it kinda is}, filled with an inordinate amount of sentimentality, nostalgia, folk humor, & songs. But I, and audiences back in 1971, ate it all up. It's easy for me to eat up, as well; as I played the Rabbi in my high school production of this play -- so I have a great, great fondness for the material.
Israeli actor Topol, who played Tevye on the London stage, was chosen for the role over Broadway's Zero Mostel; controversial at the time, but studio heads believed that Mostel's larger-than-life portrayal would be too big for movie cameras. Topol, while still zestful, is able to convey understated moments very well in emotional close-ups. And his big "If I Were a Rich Man" number - with the fiddler playing on the roof - is a show-stopper. The entire cast plays their roles perfectly. Other stand-outs include Leonard Frey's Motel, Paul Mann's Lazar Wolf, Ruth Madoc's Fruma Sarah {who has an amazing show-stopper of her own during "Tevye's Dream"}, Svee Scooler's Rabbi, & Molly Picon as Yente, the cheerful village matchmaker.
The movie looks fantastic, with Oswald Morris' Technicolor Academy Award-winning cinematography highlighting Yugoslavia's wondrous locales. Also stellar are the period productions designs & authentic costumes of early 20th century 'Russia'. The music is conducted & adapted by the great John Williams who, along with Morris' cinematography & the great sound design, won an Oscar for Best Music, Scoring Adaptation.
Every song from the joyous opening "Tradition", to the humorous "Matchmaker" {spoofed in 1993's Mrs. Doubtfire}, to the rowdy "To Life", to the emotionally-stirring "Sunrise, Sunset", to the sweetly romantic "Do You Love Me", to the melancholy "Anatevka", the music rivets. As I mentioned earlier, the film is a bit long and may not appeal to all contemporary audiences; but it sure did 50+ yrs. ago, make over $50 million on a $9 million budget. With magnificent music, charismatic performances, & showy filmmaking, 'Fiddler on the roof' remains one of my fondest movie musicals to ponder.