The World of Sholom Aleichem (1959)
1h 38m
Running Time
December 14, 1959Release Date
The World of Sholom Aleichem (1959)
1h 38m
Running Time
December 14, 1959Release Date
Plot.
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.
Where to Watch.
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Cast & Crew.

Gertrude Berg
Hannah

Sam Levene
Mendele

Zero Mostel
Melamed / Maxel

Morris Carnovsky
Aaron Katz / Presiding Angel

Lee Grant
The Goatseller / Avenging Angel

Nancy Walker
Rifkele

Jack Gilford
Bontsche Shveig / Angel

Charlotte Rae
The Angel Rochele

Elsa Freed

Henry Lascoe
Dodi the Innkeeper

Conrad Bromberg
(as Conrad Josephs)

Frederick Rolf
Rabbi David / Prosecuting Angel

Vernon Cook
Lighting Director

Myron Bleam
Set Decoration

Marc Merson
Casting

Ellida Geira
Choreographer

Robert de Cormier
Original Music Composer

Budd Wilds
Production Supervisor

Lee Miller
Production Assistant

Sholom Aleichem
Story

Cricket McCune
Makeup Supervisor

Arnold Perl
Writer

Zvi Geyra
Settings

Bob Rafelson
Script Editor

Lewis Freedman
Producer

Henry T. Weinstein
Producer

Bill Bunce
Graphic Designer

Michael Travis
Costume Design

Serge Hovey
Original Music Composer

Jack McGeehan
Unit Manager

Y.L. Peretz
Story

Don Richardson
Director
Details.
This Movie Is About.
anthology
based on play or musical
live broadcast
live television
jewish