Fiddler on the Roof

Fiddler on the Roof (1971)

In the small Jewish village of Anatevka in Tsarist Russia in 1905, Tevye, a humble milkman, tries to maintain his family's cherished traditions while the world changes around him. His three eldest daughters challenge the custom of arranged marriage by choosing husbands for love, each decision testing Tevye's beliefs in a different way. Meanwhile, increasing persecution and an order to leave their village force Tevye, his wife Golde, and their neighbors to face an uncertain future. Featuring memorable songs including “Tradition,” “If I Were a Rich Man,” “Matchmaker,” “Sunrise, Sunset,” and “To Life,” this sweeping musical blends warmth, humor, heartbreak, and resilience.

Film Details

Release year: 1971

Screenplay: Joseph Stein, adapted from his stage musical book, inspired by Sholem Aleichem's Tevye stories

Music: Jerry Bock

Lyrics: Sheldon Harnick

Genres: Musical, Drama, Family

Runtime: Approximately 181 minutes (theatrical cut; edition may vary)

MPAA rating: G

Principal Cast and Characters

• Topol — Tevye
• Norma Crane — Golde
• Rosalind Harris — Tzeitel
• Michele Marsh — Hodel
• Neva Small — Chava
• Leonard Frey — Motel Kamzoil
• Paul Michael Glaser — Perchik
• Raymond Lovelock — Fyedka
• Molly Picon — Yente
• Paul Mann — Lazar Wolf
• Alfie Bass — Mordcha

Five Interesting Facts

1. The film is based on the enormously successful 1964 Broadway musical, itself inspired by Sholem Aleichem's stories about Tevye the milkman.
2. Topol reprised the role of Tevye after playing him in stage productions and earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.
3. The movie won three Academy Awards: Cinematography, Sound, and Scoring Adaptation and Original Song Score.
4. John Williams adapted and conducted the musical score, years before composing the music for Star Wars and Harry Potter.
5. Although set in the Russian Empire, much of the movie was filmed on location in Yugoslavia.

Physical media note: This is a physical movie release. Bonus features, packaging, and disc configuration may vary by edition. Any originally included digital redemption code is not guaranteed to be present or valid on a pre-owned copy.

Store edition: New DVD.