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Amazon.co.uk Review
This rousing musical, based on the stories of Sholem Aleichem, takes place in pre-revolutionary Russia and centres on the life of Tevye (Topol), a milkman who is trying to keep his family's traditions in place while marrying off his three older daughters. Yet, times are changing and the daughters want to make their own matches, breaking free of many of the constricting customs required of them by Judaism. In the background of these events, Russia is on the brink of revolution and Jews are feeling increasingly unwelcome in their villages. Tevye--who expresses his desire for sameness in the opening number, "Tradition"--is trying to keep everyone, and everything, together. The movie is strongly allegorical--Tevye represents the common man--but it does it dextrously, and the resulting film is a stunning work of art. The music is excellent (it won Oscars for the scoring and the sound), with plenty of familiar songs such as "Sunrise, Sunset" and "If I Were a Rich Man," which you'll be humming long after the movie is over. Isaac Stern's violin--he provides the music for the fiddler on the roof--is hauntingly beautiful. And despite the serious subject matter, the film is quite comedic in parts; it also well deserves the Oscar it won for cinematography. --Jenny Brown
Amazon.co.uk Review
Fiddler on the Roof arrived in cinemas in 1971, seven years after the Sheldon Harnick/Jerry Bock musical about Jewish life in a pre-Revolution Russian village first gripped Broadway. Based on the stories of Shalom Aleichem, with its potent mixture of sentiment and religious and historical context, it remains one of the most popular shows of the modern age. With the help of an outstanding performance from Topol as Tevye--the milkman with five daughters kicking at the constraints of tradition--Norman Jewison's captivating film retains a moving intimacy in its portrayal of relationships in changing times.
But it also stretches the possibilities of location shooting--in this case the countryside of the former Yugoslavia--further than any musical movie before or since. The villagers are played by the inhabitants of the area, lending a poignant realism to the vibrant crowd scenes. And the cinematography is spectacular, with Jewison's clever use of distance generating an epic feel that helps to explain the story's continuing resonance and popularity.
Topol's career-defining star turn is balanced by the warmth and sensitivity of the surrounding performances, particularly Norma Crane as his abrasive wife Golda. British sitcom fans will spot early appearances by Roger Lloyd Pack, and Ruth Madoc as the demonic butcher's wife, Fruma Sarah. At nearly three hours, it's a long emotional haul, but aided by some of the most beautiful songs in musical history, Jewison's Fiddler is ageless.
On the DVD: Fiddler on the Roof Special Edition is presented on DVD in widescreen with a Dolby soundtrack that makes a mighty meal of John Williams' Oscar-winning musical adaptation. The most fascinating extras are a making-of documentary that shows a youthful, slightly tetchy Jewison at work, and a 2003 reminiscence in which all of his passion and feel for the piece has survived intact. He shares a commentary with Topol crammed with vivid memories and context. There is also a photographic gallery showing the resources that were used to give the film its authenticity, and Jewison reads extracts from original Aleichem stories. --Piers Ford
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I've loved this film since I was a child and I find it as moving and fun to watch now that I am 'grown-up'. The extras on the second disk are well worth seeing - some very moving and informative story-telling.
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Although superficially a sentimental musical, Fiddler’s enduring popularity rests on its timeless representation of the conflict between the internal cohesion of community and tradition, and the external forces of ethnic strife and progress. It is also impossible to watch it without bringing away some understanding of the Jewish condition, whatever your views on present-day Israel.
Topol strides like a magnetic giant through the film, in the role with which he has become synonymous, bouncing off a strong supporting international cast. Watch out for Michael Glaser in a non-singing role, his ‘Starsky and Hutch’ days still to come. The village of Anatevka was beautifully recreated in minuscule detail by set designers in Yugoslavia, and succeeds in transferring this stage play to the screen believably.
The DVD commentary by Topol and director Norman Jewison provide a fascinating insight into the research that went into making the film look and feel authentic. Anecdotes also reveal, amongst other things, how make-up artists laboured to age the 35-year-old Topol, the real reason for his passionate expression during the ‘Rich Man’ song, how they managed to keep ‘God’ in place between shots and what happened to Tevye’s horse after the production was finished.
23 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This entertaining films touches on every aspect on live. marriage, poverty, family ties. It produces teras of pure happiness and tears of overwhelming sadness. It pulls you into the complicated and twisting storyline and lets you live the life of the characters. In additition to the capturing plot of this heart-warming film, the musical numbers like, "I wish I were a rich man" have the audence singing along. This film is one of the best I have viewed and I recommend it to everyone of any age. I invite you to buy this and commence a rollercoaster of emotions and enjoy the fabulous songs. This film is a timeless classic!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A wonderful musical with a real story to tell
I am not overly fond of musicals; some I will watch quite happily and I would rather avoid others. This is one that I will watch. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Claptonian
Fiddler on the Roof
The original which will never be beaten, ether as the way the story is told or the quality of acting.
Published 1 month ago by D. Bland
Classicly Clear
Well, the film is as great as ever, but even better in blu-ray. Although the film is 40 years old the blu-ray version is really clear and the colour enhanced.
Published 2 months ago by Rachel OK
As near as possible to the truth
Okay apart from the fact that there is a (very good) song every few minutes, it is worth noting that life for Jewish people in Eastern Europe at the beginning of the 20th century... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Bev M
A perfect timeless classic
Although we have seen Fiddler on the Roof a number of times and seen it on stage, it is a sheer delight to see this on blu ray. Quality and colour are outstanding. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Revd R. B. Miller
Magnificent
Bought as a Christmas present.One of the all time classics set in stunning locations.The acting is outstanding and the songs are superb.Well packaged.
Published 4 months ago by Houghtonian
Live show to film version did'nt work.
This is usually a show put on by the local amateur operatic
society in most towns in Britain, I decided to get the proper
film version, I did not... Read more
society in most towns in Britain, I decided to get the proper
film version, I did not... Read more
Published 6 months ago by alley kat
Better than the US version
This looks good and sounds good. None of the issues mentioned in the US reviews are here. The ratio is correct at 2.35:1 rather than 1.85 mentioned in their reviews. Read more
Published 7 months ago by David W. Kelham
Brilliant
This is one of my favourites, except I don't like the graveyard scene. I think it is a glorious film that I can watch over and over again.
Published 16 months ago by M. Taylor
Fiddler on the Roof
This DVD is wonderful with such brilliant songs and it has the ability to make you laugh and cry and can be watched over and over.
Published 18 months ago by Twisk
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