The World of Sholom Aleichem (1959)

The World of Sholom Aleichem (1959)

Based on the Writer Whose Stories Inspired The Fiddler on the Roof 1959-12-14 United States of America 98 Min. PG-13
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Overview

This omnibus release consists of three playlets filmed and aired during television's Golden Age, and starring some of the legends of film and television. The collection originally ran as a two-hour segment on December 14, 1959, on the anthology series The Play of the Week, broadcast locally in New York City via the independent radio station WNTA. Each "tale" in the anthology was adapted from a single tale by the inimitable Sholom Aleichem, regarded by many as the "Yiddish Mark Twain". Included are: "A Tale of Chelm" starring Zero Mostel and Nancy Walker in the story of a bookseller attempting to buy a goat; "Bontche Schweig" about a poor man (Jack Gilford) whose recent arrival in Heaven makes the angels cry; and "The High School" about a Jewish merchant (Morris Carnovsky) persuaded by his wife (Gertrude Berg) to let their son attend a particular high school despite the enforcement of quotas for Jewish students.

Cast

Sam Levene is Mendele
Mendele
Zero Mostel is Melamed / Maxel
Melamed / Maxel
Morris Carnovsky is Aaron Katz / Presiding Angel
Aaron Katz / Presiding Angel
Lee Grant is The Goatseller / Avenging Angel
The Goatseller / Avenging Angel
Nancy Walker is Rifkele
Jack Gilford is Bontsche Shveig / Angel
Bontsche Shveig / Angel
Charlotte Rae is The Angel Rochele
The Angel Rochele
Henry Lascoe is Dodi the Innkeeper
Dodi the Innkeeper
Conrad Bromberg is (as Conrad Josephs)
(as Conrad Josephs)
Frederick Rolf is Rabbi David  / Prosecuting Angel
Rabbi David / Prosecuting Angel