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Review
Archives
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Today's
Date is:
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Fiddler
on the Roof
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Reviewed
by: |
B.
Lou Goodwin |
| Genre: |
Musical
|
| Video: |
Widescreen
or Fullscreen |
| Audio: |
English
5.1 Stereo Surround |
| Language: |
English |
| Subtitle: |
English,
French, Spanish |
| Length: |
2 Hours,
59 Minutes |
| Rating: |
G |
| Release
Date: |
10-2-01 |
| Studio: |
MGM
|
| Commentary:
|
Yes |
| Documentaries:
|
Stories of
Sholom Aleichem, Historical Background,Norman Jewison's original
behind-the-scenes footage with commentary. |
| Featurettes:
|
None |
| Filmography/Biography:
|
None |
|
Interviews: |
None |
| Trailers/TV
Spots: |
Theatrical Trailers
and TV Spots |
| Alternate/Deleted
Scenes: |
Yes |
| Music
Video: |
None |
| Other:
|
Production
Notes, Production Design & Storyboards |
| Cast
and Crew: |
Topol, Norma
Crane, Leonard Frey, Molly Picon, Paul Mann |
| Screenplay
by: |
NA |
| Produced
by: |
Norman Jewison |
| Directed
By: |
Norman Jewison |
| Music: |
NA |
| The
Review: |
'Fiddler
on the Roof' shines as one of the finest musical that has been
brought from the stage to film. One wouldn't think that the
story of a Russian milkman and his five daughters would capture
the imagination of audiences from all over the world but this
is an exceptional production. Tevye, the star, is a bit selfish
but he has a massive well of love that he never fails to share
with his family. You will love Tevye; he is full of pride and
faulty quotations but he's so human, so like the man you would
want your father to be. This poor milkman is confronted with
five daughters and no dowries. His wife, Golda, fears that they
might not ever marry. As each of his oldest three daughters
find husbands, Tevye questions how far can he can bend his faith
before it breaks. The backstory of the plot is set in Czarist
Russia, in a time when the government was turning against its
Jewish population and forcing these people to flee or die. Tevye
has to balance love, pride, hope, and acceptance without losing
himself. However, don't worry about being overly depressed,
this is essentially a humorous musical with depth. A difficult
project to find, let alone produce. I take my hat off to the
director because this film is a masterpiece. 'Fiddler on the
Roof' won 3 Oscars, including Cinematography, and it deserved
every one of them. The music is spectacular, the settings fit
naturally into the plot, and the actors give striking performances.
Although, this film runs nearly three hours, you won't feel
the time pass but you may try to sing along. If you do, try
to keep in tune. If you are a fan of the stage production, you
will not be disappointed in this adaptation of the story. The
film adds a depth to the scenery that cannot be felt in the
traditional abstract settings. From the swirl of dust that rises
from the road to the suck of the mud, the movie has a bit more
realism than the stage. As for casting, Topol as Tevye is inspired.
He was only 35 when this film was made but with make-up, he
becomes Tevye, the milkman. I will never watch this story and
not think of Topol as the quintessential Tevye. If the settings
and the casting are not enough, then watch 'Fiddler on the Roof'
for one of the finest musical scores that has ever been recorded
on film. Borrow it, rent it, buy it, this movie is one of the
musts for any serious movie collection. |
| Image
and Sound |
'Fiddler
on the Roof''s' audio track resonates into your living room
with a level of warmth and clarity that is rarely scene in a
film of that era. What is truly amazing is that most of the
songs were pre-recorded by the actors and then they were dubbed
into the film. Usually, this will spell disaster for a musical.
With 'Fiddler', the process is nearly seamless. Perhaps, the
biggest inconsistency is during the bar room scene where the
singing does not quite match for a second or so. The energy
flowing through this scene is in such majestic proportions that
it overwhelms this small flaw in the blending of song and actor.
As for the voice quality on the audio, it is free of scratches,
fluctuations in sound, and echoes. In the background, you will
often hear chickens and barnyard sounds but these instances
of realism only bring the story closer to real life. As I mentioned
earlier, 'Fiddler' won an Oscar for cinematography. The sets
are brilliant. The mythical village was built in Yugoslavia;
in the 1970's Yugoslavian countryside was still fairly undeveloped.
It has an old world feel that is necessary to allow this past
era to capture and carry the audience away. Combine the unspoiled
scenery, the recreated structures, and you have one of the most
realist villages ever created from a director's imagination.
The film work should also be admired for it's stop photography,
distance shots, and inventive angles. A viewer can only see
through the eyes of the directory and cinematographer and this
vision is a delight. If I am forced by sense of fairness to
complain, then I would have to mention that when you use the
scene selections, the picture will darken a second or so before
the action begins. I feel like a heel for even mentioning this
minor hitch. |
| The
Extras |
This DVD is jammed with special
features. As I discussed earlier, there is the audio commentary
that is laid over the film but this is just one of the experiences
that awaits you on this DVD. Norman Jewison, the director
who speaks on the commentary, also includes his thoughts in
1971 on making the film. His thoughts are highlighted by the
original behind-the-scenes footage. It does cover much of
the same ground as the commentary but it is briefer and more
dynamic. It is always fascinating to see a production that
is underway and compare how the director feels about the project
then and now. 'Fiddler', at the time, was running over budget,
behind schedule, and the movie studio was beginning to get
pushy. You can see the strain on Jewison face as he discusses
the ongoing triumphs and pitfalls of bringing this musical
to the big screen. If watch the his discussion of the 1971
film and then watch the five short spots where the current
day Jewison is interviewed about this film, I think you will
be struck by how this film shaped up to be what he expected
and so much more. The topics included in the five shorts including
such areas as casting and whether the movie has become a classic.
Jewison shows up again when introduces the full color clip
of the graveyard scene. There was a great debate at the time
whether this scene should be in full color or black and white.
You can now view the full color by itself or compare it side
by side with the carefully bleached version that appears in
the film. I love the brilliance of the color in the original
shot but the faded shots give a grimmer, darker dream sequence
that gives Tevye and Golde a valid reason to withdraw Tzeitle's
marriage acceptance. However, you can decide for yourself
by viewing the side-by-side comparison. The grave scene is
shown again with half of the picture in color and the other
half in darkness. It's a little creepy to watch people move
from bright to gray as they travel from on wide of the screen
to another. If it is not the cinematography that fascinates
you but the story behind 'Fiddler on the Roof', then you are
in luck. Jewison tells two of the stories of Sholom Aleichem.
These stories are where the play gets its roots. The included
stories are "The Bubble Bursts" and "Modern Children". I might
have chosen a different orator, one with a deeper voice, but
these very short stories are a great way to see how history
and tradition can lay the groundwork for beauty and accomplishment.
To continue his dive into the background of the film, the
director also narrates a brief look into the historical background
of the cultural and society that men such as Tevye lived in.
Black and white photographs of the time period are the visual
accompaniment to this history lesson. I found this quiet,
educational piece to be the most poignant of all of the special
features. I would, if given the choice, watch this small section
of the DVD first. I always find that the true histories, the
true lives of real people are always the most fascinating
part of an epic film. If you are not a history buff or an
aspiring director, you may be moved by the inclusion of the
Production Design & Storyboards, the Original Production Notes,
the Photographic Production Diary, the Promotional materials,
the Trailers, or the DVD Production Credits. These brief glimpses
in to the actual design and production of the film are not
really necessary to enjoy the film but they offer interesting
insights to make-up artists, clothing designers, and budding
directors. As for the TV trailers and the TV spots, how else
are you going to convince your family and friends that a three-hour
musical is a wonderful choice for your viewing pleasure? And
those of you, who want to see advertising at work, can have
a front row seat. The DVD Production Notes are a great way
to track down DVD's from the same source. If you the amount
and type of extras included then please put a check mark by
the names of the people involved in its production. I only
have one last thing to mention about the special features.
These features are included on both the A and B-sides of the
DVD. If you can't find something, please look on the other
side.
The songs of 'Fiddler' will play
on in your head long after the film has ended. The music squeezes
your heart with gentle fingers and somehow in eases down into
the cracks in your psyche where it makes a soothing balm for
your troubles. From my favorite titled, "Matchmaker", to the
opening fiddle music played by Isaac Stern, the score is genius.
'Fiddler' won a Tony award for it's musical score by Jerry
Brock and Sheldon Harnick and if you accompany that score
with a full orchestra led by Music Director Sheilah Walker,
then you have a not to be missed experience. In the film version,
the score was re-mastered by John Williams but the musical
performance is exquisite and timely. The adaptation was nominated
by for a much deserved Oscar. If this is not enough, 'Fiddler
on the Roof' was voted America's Most Acclaimed Musical by
Warner Brothers. Even if you are not familiar with the story
of Tevye, the milkman, these classic songs may still be familiar.
I know you have heard of "If I Were A Rich Man" or "Tradition".
Many modern movies make references to these icons. Somehow,
the very essence of these songs has bled into our shared cultural
identity.
|
| Commentary |
The
audio commentary contains a detailed discussion of the casting
and set selections. Topol, who plays Tevye, and Norman Jewison
add insight and detail to the struggle it was to bring this
film to production. Many maddening hours were spent hunting
through Eastern European countries in hopes of finding one that
could pass as Czarist Russia in the early 1900's. Even as the
imaginary village began to take shape in Yugoslavia, the casting
call began to spread far and wide. Actors from every conceivable
background were auditioned and each was chosen with great care.
Everyone from the skinny beggar in the street to the fiddler
player on the roof, had to bring their character from a paper
figure to a real human being. Topol who was a young man of 35
in this movie had be age 20 years every morning so that this
Jewish milkman could walk, laugh, and sigh. Another director
might have chosen an older actor but once you see Topol in this
part, you will never be able to see Tevye as anyone else. Topol
cannot help that he was born a little to late for the part.
This is what will amaze you about most of the cast. Each one
becomes so immersed in your mind as being this person, that
it seems odd when you see them in a modern magazine or another
film. They will always be, in some part of our imagination,
the people in that long ago village that we gave our hearts
too. When the casting is perfect, you never think, "What a brilliant
actor." instead you say, "Poor man, what will become of his
family". With good acting, a character will live, will breathe,
and will break your soul into. Casting is not the only element
needed for a fantastic film but it is one of the cornerstones.
Once it is finished and the sets are in place, then the real
work begins to bring the pieces into a workable whole. The commentary
is an insider's look into the decision process and the troubleshooting
efforts of the director and the transformation of an actor into
character. If you aspire someday to produce an epic musical,
then look for insights in 'Fiddler's' commentary. As much as
I found the behind the scenes monologues to be interesting,
I wish that it has skimmed over a few of less pertinent facts.
The commentary does not need to fill the complete three hours;
with a little skillful editing the audience impact could have
been greatly increased. As it is, the commentary is a wonderful
resource even if it is a bit heavy handed. |
| Final
Words: |
In conclusion, 'Fiddler on the Roof'
is a fantastic musical and film. It can speak to the very
old and the very young without losing its message. The movie
has unbelievable songs, a solid story, and striking performance
by a number of great actors/actresses. Since the story is
based around 1910, you do not have to worry about the film
losing power or impact, as it grows older. It is shaping up
to be one of those timeless classics that bind each of us
together by a shared cultural experience. For the parents
out there, this is one of the few movies that you can truly
enjoy and share with your young children. There is no swearing,
no nudity, and very little violence. Even if they miss some
of the plot nuances, the music will captivate anyone who loves
music. If you are going to purchase this film, spring for
the DVD and the extra features. You won't find the historical
background or the quality of audio in a VHS tape and if you
rent it then you will just keep renting it. It will be cheaper
to buy it.
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