The World of Sholom Aleichem

The World of Sholom Aleichem

98 mins | Drama, TV Movie | Dec. 14, 1959

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.

The World of Sholom Aleichem

98 mins | Drama, TV Movie | Dec. 14, 1959

The World of Sholom Aleichem
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.
Producers Talent Associates
Original title The World of Sholom Aleichem
Directors Don Richardson
Writers Y.L. Peretz, Sholom Aleichem, Arnold Perl, Bob Rafelson

Cast

Gertrude Berg

as Hannah

Sam Levene

as Mendele

Zero Mostel

as Melamed / Maxel

Morris Carnovsky

as Aaron Katz / Presiding Angel

Lee Grant

as The Goatseller / Avenging Angel

Nancy Walker

as Rifkele

Jack Gilford

as Bontsche Shveig / Angel

Charlotte Rae

as The Angel Rochele

Henry Lascoe

as Dodi the Innkeeper

Conrad Bromberg

as (as Conrad Josephs)

Frederick Rolf

as Rabbi David / Prosecuting Angel