Why wasn't Barbra Streisand offered a part in Fiddler on the Roof - The Movie?

She couldn't grow the beard fast enough to meet the production schedule.

No role was big enough. You'll notice they cast a Barbra lookalike as the eldest daughter.... I mean, look at that schnozzola....

That actress also played Fanny Brice.

Why couldn't she play Tzeitel?

The bigger question is how Bea Arthur didn't get cast as the matchmaker. She had already done a successful movie (Lovers and Other Strangers, which was nominated for several Oscars.) and originated the Matchmaker role on Broadway.

I love Arthur, r5, but that doesn't seem like a big question to me. My guess would be that Jewison might have felt she was sort of "big", performative, and contemporary-seeming for the naturalistic flavor he was going for - probably similar reasons why he didn't cast Zero Mostel.

(I'm not saying I do or don't agree with the decision not to cast her, I'm just saying I understand it)

Plus by 1972 Arthur had a hit TV show in MAUDE and probably couldn't give up the 6 months to go film in Eastern Europe where they made the picture.

As for Streisand, by 1972 she was the biggest box office star in the world and an Oscar winner - no way she'd take such a small role as Tzeitel - she might have done Hodel (because it is the only sister with a solo song) but not in 1972....

FIDDLER was filmed from mid-1970 til early 1971.

MAUDE wasn't made til over 1 year later. The series premiered in the fall of 1972.

What about The role Bea Arthur did? Wouldn't Babs be good in that role?

Topol Touched my Tits!

[quote]What about The role Bea Arthur did? Wouldn't Babs be good in that role?

Yes but she wouldn't take second billing to Lucille Ball.

Because she was too busy playing mah jong.

Molly Picon who played Yente in the movie was a huge star of the Yiddish theater. She was born to play Yente.

As much as I like Arthur, I shudder to think of her playing Yenta. Any of you guys see her do it on Broadway?

She was ashamed of being a woman.

OOPS! Wrong thread.

R10 I think there were two other women he touched, not Patti. According to Patti's memoir.

What was he doing up there? Did he have any songs with Bai Ling?

Let's assume the OP was joking (feebly) in asking why Streisand wasn't approached for the movie of "Fiddler."

As for Bea Arthur, aside from the other possible reasons for her not being cast, she went on record as saying she wasn't happy with her stage role of Yente because the part got cut down during rehearsals.

Maybe if they changed the Topol character from a man to woman, wouldn't Babs do it?

Why was there a pig on the farm in the shtetl?

"The bigger question is how Bea Arthur didn't get cast as the matchmaker"

When Bea Arthur agreed to do Fiddler on Broadway, the Yente role was much bigger. When they began to shape the show, much of Yente's material was cut. Arthur agreed to stay with the show, but she really wasn't interested in playing that small role any longer than her contract dictated.

r21 The oldest girl wasn't THAT homely. Geez!

They raised the animal in question and sold it to the soldiers quartered in the village.

Because was a star and a star never does supporting work.

She should have done the movie

Because she can neither play a fiddle nor keep her balance on the roof, OP.

By 1970, Streisand was moving away from those schmaltzy, corn-ball musicals and began appearing in more "serious" films (Owl and Pussycat, Up the Sandbox etc). The only reason she did Funny Lady was to fulfill her contract.

what about the part of Golde?

Golde schmolde! Who said there are no small parts?

Fiddler on the Roof on TCM right now!

Am I remembering it wrong or weren't Bette Midler and Pia Zadora in the original production? Why weren't they in the movie?

Babs probably would've insisted on directing it.

Hey babs folks ! You forget On A Clear Day You Can See Forever? The biggest piece of shit ever (well next to Julie Andrews in Star! ). I can say this as my bf has been showing me musicals (nothing but musicals) - at least one a day-since nyc has been shut down. He has so many musicals on dvd that it might come to divorce.

OK - Babs was born to play Golde

No one would believe Barbra gave birth to Kate Hudson.

Rosalind Harris who played Tzietel in the movie was Midler’s understudy and she said in an interview that Midler encouraged her to audition for the movie. Leonard Frey was Austin Pendleton’s Motel understudy in the original and ended up with an Oscar nomination for his performance in the movie. Harris has played Fanny Brice onstage and, I think, in THE COTTON CLUB movie. She ended up playing Golde opposite Topol in a touring Fiddler which must have been weird.

Barbra was going to do it, but Gary talked her out of it.

She was too hairy to play Tevye.

She missed a career-defining role as Fruma Sarah. Much more in her pocket than Mama Rose.

She missed Madame Rose too, though.