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Home Theater Movie Renter's Guide - April, 2011

"Fiddler on the Roof" (Blu-ray)) - Reviewed by Jim Milton

Synopsis

Strong film adaptation of one of the greatest musicals ever. Jewison beautifully recaptures the essence of the Alchiem stories with wonderful cinematography, editing and performances from Teyve, Frey and Molly Picon. One of the last great movie musicals. The story takes place in a poor pre-revolution village and ecnompasses the struggles of community, family and love. Filled with many memorable songs, Fiddler is a triumph of the human spirit over adversity...and life!

Commentary

One of my favorite musicals adapted for the big screen, this story portrays hope in the face of obstacles, love in spite of bigotry and hatred. The themes, like the film, have aged well and are still relevant today. They don’t make them like this anymore. Why do I keep watching this old film? One word: Tradition!

Technical

As wonderful as the film is, the transfer on BD is less than stellar. The picture can be a bit murky and soft at times. The cinematographer said he filmed it as though through a piece of gauze…and it shows. Specks and blemishes appear frequently. Why didn’t Fox take the time to remaster it for HD is beyond me, but it is a shame. If I were a rich man, I would have restored it and cleaned it up. Still, the BD is superior to the included DVD. Sound is about what you would expect from the old stereo source. The musical numbers are expansive and as delightful as ever.

Extras

Commentaries, John William's on making the music,Songs and storyboards.

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