Tony Grist (poliphilo) wrote,
Tony Grist
poliphilo

Fiddler On The Roof

I like the dream sequence with its white-faced ghosts- and who wouldn't be moved when Tevye finally mumbles "God go with you" to the reprobate daughter who married the goy?- but for much of the time this is a movie that's embarrassed by its own stageiness. There's a lot a standing around and being silently down-hearted where there should be bustle and music.  It despises its theatrical origins and aspires to be Dr Zhivago. Great musicals turn upon their songs- which occur when swelling emotion carries the characters beyond mere words. Here the truly dramatic moments are mostly unsung and the songs occur at odd random moments. Tevye is arguing with a daughter's boyfriend and suddenly he's singing at us. Why? The great musicals bulldoze that question aside. Fiddler just sort of shrugs. 
Subscribe

  • Hearing Things.

    I dreamed I'd decided to walk home (wherever home was) along the south coast, starting at a town pretending to be Bexhill but actually…

  • They Chose The Losing Side

    I got into a debate about the pandemic this morning. It's something I do my best to avoid because the issue is so divisive- and the…

  • Feudal

    "This is still a feudal village," said the lady who lent me the key to Birling church. "They own the pub, they own the forge,…

  • Post a new comment

    Error

    switch
    default userpic

    Your reply will be screened

    When you submit the form an invisible reCAPTCHA check will be performed.
    You must follow the Privacy Policy and Google Terms of use.
    Help
  • 11 comments

  • Hearing Things.

    I dreamed I'd decided to walk home (wherever home was) along the south coast, starting at a town pretending to be Bexhill but actually…

  • They Chose The Losing Side

    I got into a debate about the pandemic this morning. It's something I do my best to avoid because the issue is so divisive- and the…

  • Feudal

    "This is still a feudal village," said the lady who lent me the key to Birling church. "They own the pub, they own the forge,…