Fiddler's Journey to the Big Screen

Released Apr 29, 2022

1 hr. 28 min.

Documentary

History

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24 Reviews

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The fall of 2021 marked the 50th anniversary of Fiddler on the Roof, the film Pauline Kael (The New Yorker) called "the most powerful movie musical ever made." Narrated by Jeff Goldblum, FIDDLER'S JOURNEY TO THE BIG SCREEN captures the humor and drama of director Norman Jewison's quest to recreate the lost world of Jewish life in Tsarist Russia and re-envision the beloved stage hit as a wide-screen epic. Oscar-nominated filmmaker Daniel Raim puts us in the director's chair and in Jewison's heart and mind, drawing on behind-the-scenes footage and never-before-seen stills as well as original interviews with Jewison, Topol (Tevye), composer John Williams, production designer Robert F. Boyle, film critic Kenneth Turan, lyricist Sheldon Harnick, and actresses Rosalind Harris, Michele Marsh, and Neva Small (Tevye's daughters). The film explores how the experience of making Fiddler deepened Jewison as an artist and revived his soul.

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Critics Consensus

Fiddler's Journey to the Big Screen does exactly what it sets out to do, honoring a classic film's legacy while telling the entertaining story behind the scenes.

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William

Very interesting behind the scenes story from many perspectives of how much thought and work went to making this Classic Movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/09/22

Full Review

Elaine

Such a wonderful film about one of my favorites, "Fiddler on the Roof." A wonderful perspective on Norman Jewison and the background of the movie, including interviews with many of the actors. Definitely recommend.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/09/22

Full Review

dave d

A celebration of Fiddler on the Roof with a nifty tribute to its director, Norman Jewison, tucked inside. It is a deep dive from casting to production design to set design to conceptual beginnings of Fiddler largly from the perspective of cast, and crew which include an over 90 year old Jewison. The director and producer tells some great stories while we learn about his career and activism through film. Final Score: 8.4/10

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

S O

The documentary, "Fiddler's Journey to the Big Screen", clearly told a wonderful and uplifting story of the behind-the-scenes work to make a landmark film. The interviews of the director, the musical director, the designer, the main star, and some of the other performers added considerably. The comments by Norman Jewison provided great insight about his thought processes and his personal growth from the film, "Fiddler on the Roof", that he directed.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/16/22

Full Review

tim b

This film was an absolute treat! I grew up listening to the songs from the stage musical of Fiddler. As much as I loved them, when I eventually saw the feature film, I could tell that something had happened to the musical. A deepening of the original material. An even more profound vision had been realized. This documentary breaks down that journey. How Norman Jewison (not a Jew... who knew?) was, to his own surprise, picked to direct the film version of Fiddler on the Roof. And how he, along with great collaborators like John Williams and Robert Boyle, and an amazing cast, turned that delightful stage version into an even grander film masterpiece. The interviews in the doc are all great, especially of Jewison himself. His recollections of what some people wanted the film to be (Danny Kaye as Tevya? Sinatra?!) vs his own authentic vision are striking. I absolutely loved this film from beginning to end. Now I have to go and watch the film version of Fiddler all over again... with even more appreciation than before!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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Daniel Raim

Director

Jeff Goldblum

Narrator

Norman Jewison

Self

John Williams

Self

Sheldon Harnick

Self

Topol

Self

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Fiddler's Journey to the Big Screen: Trailer 1

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Michael O'Sullivan

Washington Post

In the words of “Fiddler’s Journey to the Big Screen,” it isn’t just a documentary about the film’s transition from stage to screen, but a “chronicle of a spirited creative quest.”

Rated: 3/4

May 24, 2022

Full Review

Peter Rainer

FilmWeek (KPCC - NPR Los Angeles)

It really lays out so lucidly the history... The clips that they show are revelatory in so many ways.

May 10, 2022

Full Review

Gary Goldstein

Los Angeles Times

“Fiddler’s Journey to the Big Screen” is as wondrous, buoyant and heartwarming as the film it celebrates.

May 5, 2022

Full Review

Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

…For Fiddler fans, and for those interested in the portrayal of Jewish history on screen, Raim’s documentary demonstrates considerable affection for its subject…

Rated: 4/5

Nov 9, 2022

Full Review

Mark R. Leeper

Mark Leeper's Reviews

FIDDLER'S JOURNEY TO THE BIG SCREEN is more than a "making-of" documentary; the people involved with making the film talk not just about making the film, but their own backgrounds and emotions, and how they affected their work.

Rated: 7/10

Sep 14, 2022

Full Review

James Verniere

Boston Herald

A rousing account of the making of the great 1971 Norman Jewison musical.

Rated: A-

Jun 3, 2022

Full Review

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Synopsis

The fall of 2021 marked the 50th anniversary of Fiddler on the Roof, the film Pauline Kael (The New Yorker) called "the most powerful movie musical ever made." Narrated by Jeff Goldblum, FIDDLER'S JOURNEY TO THE BIG SCREEN captures the humor and drama of director Norman Jewison's quest to recreate the lost world of Jewish life in Tsarist Russia and re-envision the beloved stage hit as a wide-screen epic. Oscar-nominated filmmaker Daniel Raim puts us in the director's chair and in Jewison's heart and mind, drawing on behind-the-scenes footage and never-before-seen stills as well as original interviews with Jewison, Topol (Tevye), composer John Williams, production designer Robert F. Boyle, film critic Kenneth Turan, lyricist Sheldon Harnick, and actresses Rosalind Harris, Michele Marsh, and Neva Small (Tevye's daughters). The film explores how the experience of making Fiddler deepened Jewison as an artist and revived his soul.

Director: Daniel Raim
Executive Producer: Matthew H. Bernstein
Screenwriter: Michael Sragow, Daniel Raim
Distributor: Zeitgeist Films
Production Co: Adama Films
Genre: Documentary, History
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 29, 2022, Limited
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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