Fiddler on the Roof 1971 by AverageMansReviews

Fiddler on the Roof 1971 by AverageMansReviews

Review Time

Warning: this is animal cruelty/references to domestic violence and Russia and if you are of the Jewish community, I should give you a warning that this film will depict Jewish people being forced on some level out of their land.

The 3 oldest daughters of of Anatevka: briefly; we meet this man by the name of Tevye [Chaim Topol:] he is a hard-working dairy farmer that has a wife: Golde [Norma Crane:] she is homemaker, where her husband is more of the comedian out of the two of them, she is the straight talking one: they have 5 daughters and this film focuses on the 3 oldest daughters and traditions are changing.

Generally speaking: the framework; well the outlay of this movie is of a theatre production musical, so we the viewers get storyline then musical or vice versa with an intermission as well, this film also goes on for a massive 187 minutes, so even if the outlay/structure and now pacing of this film is good; you will still feel that you have been through a marathon with this film, so I am trying not to be too harsh here, but this is definitely one of those films where I could only see it once or at a push may be again at some point way off in the future, but to am not going to lie here it is most definitely once in a lifetime: on a quick side note I have recently in 2025 seen a live theatre production of this musical where they made it safely under 3 hours with one intermission.

Art, character developments, comedy and action; I very much like the set designs, landscapes and wardrobe; it really does invite its viewers into the community, the only thing I didn't like was when our lead role Tevye was thinking about things and how he was talking through these things with the characters originally being in close proximity to him in real-time and then when he went in to contemplating they away and when he was finished deliberating the scene would go back to normal; I would have preferred a freeze frame approach, until you figure out what is happening it is by and large very disorienting, we have these guys performing this dance at a wedding with drink bottles on their hats: this looks good, the musical numbers aspect: my favourite musical numbers "Prologue/Tradition" sung by Tevye and Company [meaning cast members:] this sets the tone down for the entire film as it covers broadly speaking how this community is run and what is to be expected and likewise "Matchmaker, Matchmaker" sung by Tzeitel/Rosalind Harris, Hodel/Michele Marsh,Neva Small/ Chava, Shprintze/Elaine Edwards and Bielke/Candy Bonstein: 5 daughters of Tevye and Golde and another that explores character developments [yes in hindsight I am aware that these musical numbers cover character developments for the vast majority of them, I am just putting some references down/in,] "Do You Love Me?" Sung by Tevye and Golde: a husband-and-wife that were chosen to be married roughly 25 years ago  Tevye wants to know if Golde loves him and of course much earlier on in the film we have this musical number: "If I Were a Rich Man" sung by Tevye: he isn't a greedy man even though he suggests some strange things; the origins of come from a hard-working man that has spent many hours working long hours, so his mindset is not based on greed, but fun or/and funny.

Tevye breaks-the-fourth-wall or/and has many conversations with God and obviously whenever it is appropriate we do have some comical bits and pieces in the musical numbers as well and after Tevye's is unable to do his job it leaves Tevye pulling this cart around now and again.

Character developments and performances; the character developments are a an excellent blend of traditions, community and pushing back on those traditions: so everyone put in naturally fluent performances to create this sense of community: they did all excellent jobs: but a special mention has to go to Chaim Topol as Tevye: because in a non-arrogant way he is the driving force behind this community and with that kind of role: comes with a certain level of expectations and responsibilities such as I know it sounds drastic but it is very, very true his entire performance is either going to be why this film fails or is a complete success of this title: so not too much pressure there then. So luckily it was the latter as this film went on to have great success.

This film receives: 7/10, this film is good; yes it does have some negative as I have already alluded to, but on the whole I had to award another mark because on reflection it just felt a little bit low and I wanted to give a little bit more based on the lead performance of Chaim Topol as Tevye, it just seems fair and reasonable. Yes it also went on to win some heavyweight awards such as 10 Winners which includes but not limited to Academy Awards, USA 1971 Oscar Best Cinematography Oswald Morris, Best Sound Gordon K. McCallum David Hildyard and Best Music, Scoring Adaptation and Original Song Score John Williams and 14 Nominees which also includes but not limited to from the same award ceremony/event Best Picture Norman Jewison, Best Actor in a Leading Role Topol and Best Actor in a Supporting Role Leonard Frey as Motel Kamzoil: he is a good man, he is a trailer that eventually marries Tzeitel [altogether this film has 5 Oscar nominees to its name.]