Monday, September 22, 2008

On this day in history...September 22, 1964...

The musical "Fiddler on the Roof" opened on Broadway, beginning a run of 3,242 performances. It was the first musical to surpass the 3,000 performance mark, and it held the record for longest-running Broadway musical for almost 10 years until Grease surpassed its run. The production earned $1,574 for every dollar invested in it.

In 1971, a movie was made based upon the Broadway musical. This is my favorite musical of all time and is one of my favorite movies as well. The film won the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy) in 1972 but struck out in the Academy Awards in that category. The film won three Academy Awards, including one for arranger-conductor John Williams. It was nominated for five more, including Best Picture, Best Actor for Chaim Topol as Tevye, and Best Supporting Actor for Leonard Frey, who played Motel the Tailor (both had originally acted in the musical; Topol as Tevye in the London production and Frey in a minor part as the rabbi's son).

If you haven't seen this movie it is definitely worth it. Five out of five stars.

Enjoy a few clips:

If I Were A Rich Man:


Tradition:


Tevye's Dream:

6 comments:

Gina said...

I didn't know you were a musical fan...is it just this one? Or are there others as well? Ryan's favorite is "Paint Your Wagon." Clint Eastwood singing - never thought I'd see that happen in my life...but I like the concept: reverse polygamy! Good, cheesy fun.

Scott H. said...

Mosaltov!! Mosaltov! (spelling?)
I love The Fiddler on the Roof, great musical. Moulin Rouge is one of my other favorite musicals.

Nicole Shelby said...

a blessing on your head! maseltov! maseltov!
on the day your daughter's wed! maseltov! maseltov!

five stars!

Scott H. said...

Topol (Tevye) cracks me up, and man can he dance!

Christopher Maloy said...

Seeds!

Heidi Maloy said...

I LOVE Fiddler on the Roof... and your clips will hold me for a little while now, but now it's in my head, so I might have to watch the rest of it this weekend... and don't let Chris fool you, it's his favorite musical too. While Phantom is my all time favorite, Wicked is my favorite lately of course.