FIDDLER ON THE ROOF

Fiddler on the Roof
United Artists, 1971, Color, 180 minutes, ****
Released November 1971


"An outstanding accomplishment in every category" (Boxoffice), this lavishly produced and critically acclaimed screen adaptation of the international stage sensation tells the life-affirming story of Tevye (Topol), a poor milkman whose love, pride and faith help him face the oppression of turn-of-the [20th] century czarist Russia.

Nomindated for eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director and featuring such classic songs as "If I Were a Rich Man," "Matchmaker" and "Sunrise, Sunset," Fiddler on the Roof is a universal story of hope, love and acceptance - "a stunning, joyful and jubilant" (New York Daily News) musical masterpiece.


Though the story concentrates on the plight of Jewish people in a small Russian village, it has overtones of the struggle all of us face trying to understand the meaning of life and to cope with a world that begins to pass us by as we grow older. Beautiful cinemetography, wonderful acting and beautiful music. Musical highlights include Topol's "If I Were a Rich Man," Frey's "Miracle of Miracles," and the fabulous "Sunrise, Sunset." Not to be missed!

Filmed in Yugoslavia and London, England. "Our thanks to the people of the villages of Lekenik and Mala Gorica and the city of Zagreb, Yugoslavia."

Produced and Directed by: Norman Jewison
Associate Producer: Patrick Palmer
Screenplay by: Joseph Stein
Based on the Stageplay "Fiddler on the Roof" Adapted from Sholem Aleichem stories by special agreement with Arnold Perl
Stageplay by Joseph Stein
Music for the Stageplay by Jerry Bock
Lyrics for the Stageplay by Sheldon Harnick
Produced on the New York Stage by Harold Prince
Entire Stage Production Directed and Choreographed by Jerome Robbins
Soloist: Isaac Stern
Music Director: John Williams
Music by: Jerry Bock
Lyrics by: Sheldon Harnick
Music Adapted and Conducted by: John Williams
Orchestrations by: John Williams, Alexander Courage
Original Choreography by: Jerome Robbins
Adapted for the Screen by: Tom Abbott
Assistant Choreographer: Sammy Bayes
Production Designer: Robert Boyle
Art Director: Michael Stringer
Set Decorator: Peter Lamont
Costumes Designed by: Elizabeth Haffenden and Joan Bridge
Makeup: Del Armstrong, Wally Schneiderman
Hairdresser: Gordon Bond
Sound: Gordon K. McCallum, David Hildyard
Director of Photography Oswald Morris
Filmed in Panavision, Colour by Technicolor
Film Editors: Antony Gibbs and Robert Lawrence

Awards: Academy Awards for Best Cinematography (Oswald Morris), Best Song Score (John Williams) and Best Sound (Gordon K. McCallum and David Hildyard). Academy Award nominations for Best Picture, Best Actor (Topol), Best Supporting Actor (Leonard Frey), Best Director (Norman Jewison), Best Art Direction / Set Decoration (Robert F. Boyle, Michael Stringer, Peter Lamont)

Cast: Topol [Tevye], Norma Crane [Golde], Leonard Frey [Motel], Molly Picon [Yente], Paul Mann [Lazar Wolf], Rosalind Harris [Tzeitel], Michele Marsh [Hodel], Neva Small [Chava], Michael Glaser [Perchik], Raymond Lovelock [Fyedka], Elaine Edwards [Shprintze], Candy Bonstein [Bielke], Shimen Ruskin [Mordcha], Zvee Scooler [Rabbi], Louis Zorich [Constable], Alfie Scopp [Avram], Howard Goorney [Nachum], Barry Dennen [Mendel], Vernon Dobtcheff [Russian Official], Ruth Madoc [Fruma Sarah], Patience Collier [Grandma Tzeitel], Tutte Lemkow [Fiddler], Stella Courtney [Shandel], Jacob Kalich [Yankel], Brian Coburn [Berl], George Little [Hone], Stanley Fleet [Farcel], Arnold Diamond [Moishe], Marika Rivera [Rifka], Mark Malicz [Ezekial], Aharon Ipale [Sheftel], Roger Lloyd Pack [Sexton], Vladimir Medar [Priest], Sammy Bayes, Larry Bianco, Walter Cartier, Peter Johnston, Guy Lutman, Donald MacLennan, Rene Sartoris [Russian Dancers], Roy Durbin, Ken Robson, Bob Stevenson, Lou Zamprogna [Bottle Dancers], Additional Cast: Alfred Maron [Previous Rabbi], Otto Diamant [Yussel], Hazel Wright [Rebecca], Carl Jaffe [Isaac], Miki Iveria [Bess], Hilda Kriseman [Zelda], Sarah Cohen [Bashe], Susan Sloman [Nechama], Cyril Bass, A. Haverstock, Leo Wright, C. C. Bilham, M. Winter, H. Krein [Village Band Members], Ivan Baptie, Michael Ingleton, Jody Hall, Barry Lines, Adam Scott, Albin Pahernik [Jewish Male Dancers], Ina Claire, Karen Trent, Tanya Bayona, Petra Siniawski [Jewish Female Dancers]

Musical Program: [0:01] Tradition (spoken by Topol, sung by Topol and Chorus); [0:09] Main Title: Fiddler on the Roof (played by Isaac Stern and Orchestra); [0:18] Matchmaker, Matchmaker (performed by Rosalind Harris, Michele Marsh and Neva Small); [0:24] If I Were a Rich Man (performed by Topol); [0:39] Sabbath Prayer (sung by Topol, Norma Crane and Chorus); [0:49] To Life (sung and danced by Topol, Paul Mann and Mens Chorus; turns into big dance number with Villagers and Russians); [1:11] Tradition (continued by Topol); [1:15] Miracle of Miracles (sung by Leonard Frey); [1:22] Tevya's Dream (performed by Topol, Norma Crane, Ruth Madoc, Patience Collier and Chorus); [1:32] Sunrise Sunset (sung by Topol, Norma Crane, Paul Michael Glaser, Michele Marsh and Chorus); [1:36] Wedding Dance (danced by The Company); [1:51] Entr'acte; [1:53] Tradition (reprised by Chorus); [2:01] Tradition (continued by Topol); [2:06] Do You Love Me? (sung by Topol and Norma Crane); [2:14] Far From the Home I Love (sung by Michele Marsh and Topol); [2:30] Chava Ballet (sung by Topol, danced by Norma Crane, Neva Small and Raymond Lovelock); [2:40] Anatevka (sung by Topol, Norma Crane, Paul Mann, Molly Picon, Barry Dennen, Shimen Ruskin and Chorus); [2:57] Anatevka (hummed by Chorus); [2:58] Fiddler on the Roof (played by Isaac Stern and Orchestra); [2:59] Exit Music (played by Orchestra behind end credits)