Richard Crouse

Based on a series of short stories by a Ukrainian writer, the musical Fiddler on the Roof landed on Broadway in 1964. Seven years later Canadian director Norman Jewison brought the popular story to the screen. Bolstered by popular songs like If I Were A Rich Man and To Life the movie became a big hit and was nominated for eight Academy Awards, winning three.

This week, thirty-six years after its theatrical run Fiddler on the Roof is being re-released in a handsome two disc DVD set. It features a great transfer, terrific sound and loads of special features, including a deleted song not heard for over three decades. Better still, the DVD restores half-an-hour of the movie that was cut out for a late 70s theatrical re-release. Now running at its original three hours the story of patriarch Tevye and his efforts to find husbands for his daughters is a visual treat, features great performances and a great attention to detail.