Tradition Or Is It A Time For Change? (Fiddler On The Roof (DVD))

Member Name: arnoldhenryrufus

Product:	Fiddler On The Roof (DVD)
Date:	31/10/06 (573 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Has an inner depth to it, fun, touching and musical

Disadvantages: None that I can think of .

~~ Fiddler on the Roof ~~

Fiddler on the roof was inspired by Tevye and his daughters, a collection of stories by Sholom Aleichem a man hailed as 'the Jewish Mark Twain'.

Producer and director Norman Jewison surprised United Artists with his declaration that he was not Jewish, but even though he was a 'goy' (a non-Jew) he immersed himself into the Jewish culture learning as much as he could. It became a bit of a joke amongst the cast that he would be converting to Judaism.

Jewison found the 50 strong cast from around the world and even though the studio were putting pressure on him to hire Zero Mostel who was starring in the Broadway production of Fiddler and playing the role of Tevye, but Jewison stuck to his guns and found his Tevye playing the role in the London production of Fiddler on the Roof, Chaim Topol.

There were even more set backs when it came to the casting, he lost his first choice for an actress to play Golde when Hanna Meron lost her leg when the bus she was on was stormed at Munich airport.

Another actor had problems with the English dialogue so he was replaced with Michael Glaser (who later on in his career became known as Paul Michael Glaser from Starksy & Hutch fame).

Jewison got his way with his meticulous attention to detail and managed to film it in a small village in Yugoslavia instead of America which United Artists wanted him to do. He was so precise on the detail that he went through seven different violins until he got the one with the right tone that he was after.

Jewison along with his cinematographer Oswald Morris created an unusual way of creating an antique effect to the movie; they filmed the entire movie with a stocking stretched over the camera lens.

~~ The Story ~~

The story starts with an opening picture of the Dawn rising over the village and a fiddler on the roof of one of the houses. Tevye the village milkman sings 'Tradition' whilst introducing us to the village and all its characters including our fiddler on the roof. This song is followed by the opening credits and we move onto meet Tevye's family, his wife and his five daughters. The movie tells the story of Jews in the early 20th century in Russia, how their lives began to change and some of the traditions were broken down.

Throughout the movie you often see Tevye taking moments to have conversations with God to help him except these changes, as he tries to see his eldest three daughters married off. You also see how the Russians control the village and like to bestow their power over the Jews.

~~ The Songs ~~

Tradition: Tevye and Ensemble sing this opening number that introduces us to the rigid codes in which Tevye and the villagers live by. It is a very lively song with some humour thrown in.

Matchmaker: Tzeitel, Hodel and Chava are Tevye's three eldest daughters and they sing about the future they would have when the matchmaker has found them husbands, also speculating on what these husbands would be like. This is a fun song, also showing some more of the traditions of the Jewish faith.

If I were a Rich Man: Tevye sings about his dreams of what he would do if he was a rich man. This is one of those tunes that you find yourself singing to continuously afterwards. It is a simple song that will stay with you over the years continually popping into your head, I often find myself singing it, but that could be wishful thinking, he, he.

To Life: Tevye and Lazar Wolf sing this lively song celebrating the arrangements for the arranged marriage between Lazar Wolf and Tzeitel, Tevye's eldest daughter. The setting is the local tavern and the chorography is excellent showing the tensions between the Jews and the Christians, which tentatively unite in dance and celebration.

Miracle of Miracles: A lovely romantic song performed by Motel the village tailor as he rejoices in his happiness (cannot tell you more as I don't want to spoil the film).

Tevye's Dream: The whole ensemble get together to sing this fun song, which is very entertaining to watch, it is as the titles suggests Tevye's dream which he uses to convince his wife to see his way of thinking.

Sunrise, Sunset: Everyone joins in this song, which is celebrating a wedding. It is a truly lovely song, quite melodic with some brilliant dance scenes one being the bottle dance, men dancing with bottles on their heads (that must have taken some expertise).

Do You Love Me? Tevye is singing to his wife asking if she loves him after 25 yrs of marriage, aahhh. Again you can't help smiling at this song, but it does make a point about arranged marriages where the first time you meet is when you marry and you are told that you will learn to love each other.

Far from the home I love: A very touching song which I cannot tell you much about without giving away the story.

Chava Ballet & Anateuka are our last two songs with again it would spoil the film if I said too much about them.

~~ Cast ~~

Tevye: Played by Chaim Topol, he was brilliant and you can see why the director Norman Jewison chose him he was absolutely perfect for the role.

Golde: Norma Crane played Tevye's wife, she was a traditional wife and mother who wanted to see her daughters married to rich husbands.

Motel: Leonard Frey plays the village tailor and has grown up alongside the Tevye family.

Yente: Molly Picon plays the matchmaker who is paid to find wives for the eligible bachelors of the village.

Perchik: Michael Glaser plays a young revolutionist with new ideas, and those curls as Starksy were natural.

Lazar Wolf: Paul Mann was the village butcher we see him in the song To Life and celebrating in the local tavern.

Tzeitel: Rosalind Harris plays Tevye's eldest daughter.

Hodel: Michele Marsh is the second eldest daughter.

Chava: Neva Small plays the middle daughter.

~~ Trivia ~~

Chaim Topol has played the part of Tevye six times during his acting career spanning over 40 yrs; the last time was in 2005 as part of an Australian production.

Tevye's horse was saved from the slaughter house to appear in the show, he retired to live out the rest of his life in Yugoslavia and Jewison sent regular payments for his upkeep, until he died of natural causes.

The opening scene was a film of a Yugoslavian village waking up with all the natural sounds of that village.

The title was inspired by Shagal's painting of a fiddler on the roof.

~~ Conclusion ~~

I first saw this film in the 70's as a child sitting watching it with my parents, the song 'If I were a Rich Man' has popped into my head on and off ever since. I don't actually remember much more from that first viewing. I think the reason for that is it is a little more serious than the normal fun loving musicals of the 60's. I feel this is more an adult movie not because of bad languages or sexual scenes you get in today's movies, no because it is more a musical drama than a musical comedy, so it is not as light hearted and fun for children.

As an adult I found I really enjoyed the movie and it was not without its humour either I found myself chuckling at scenes. One scene really sticks out in my memory, it is where Golde shouts at her husband saying there is no time to go and see Motel's new sewing machine and Tevye decides to be authoritarian and 'the man of the family' insists on going to look. He storms purposely to the door, opens it, closes it and dutifully returned to his wife, both satisfying 'the man' and 'the wife'. It really made me chuckle and reminded me so much of my hubby he, he.

I love the way the director bought out the plight of this Jewish community by using music, dance and an excellent story line.

The film had me transfixed to the screen; it made me smile, sing, laugh and cry. Taking me through all the emotions makes it a good film in my eyes. It is definitely worth seeing if only once and I bet you will keep humming 'If I were a rich man'.

~~ DVD Extra's ~~

Scene Select: 1-36 scenes done in sets of 4 for you to jump around.

Languages: 4 different sound tracks and a choice of 9 different sub-titles.

~~ Special Features ~~

Theatrical Trailer: showing highlights of the movie and lasts approx 3 minutes.

Talk Over: A chance to watch the film again with Norman Jewison and Chaim Topol talking over the movie explaining scenes and giving you their insight into the film.


I hope you enjoy the film as much as I did, thank you for reading.

Also please note that although I have asked for this to be put on dooyoo, the picture they have chosen is for the Special Edition which I have not seen.

Lyn x

Summary: Has an inner depth to it which is fun, emotional and is a fantastic musical