https://www.timesofisrael.com/iconic-tevye-of-film-and-stage-performer-chaim-topol-dies-at-87/

Surprised at the age mere Topol attained; I thought he looked nearing agedness way back in Fiddler.

Now isn't it considered by some to have been a Hollywood mistake that Zero got zeroed out of reprising his Broadway role, due to blacklist hstory, or whatever other reason it went down that way?

BRYAN STYBLE/Floorida

Legend has it that Zero Mostel was known for ad-libbing and horsing around on-stage. Supposedly, if he saw friends in the front rows, he would disregard the blocking and play the entire show to where his friends were situated, and since he was the star, the supporting cast had to tolerate his unpredictability.

One night, Zero was in the midst of this shtick not knowing that Norman Jewison and some other movie big-shots were in attendance, resulting in them tapping out the British Teyve, viz. Topol.

But then again, Ethel Merman lost “Annie, Get Your Gun” in favour of Betty Hutton ,,.. and “Gypsy” to Rosalind Russell.

The film version of “Man of la Mancha” stars Peter O’Toole, and not Richard Kiley.

John Travolta big-footed “Hairspray’s” drag role away from Harvey Fierstein.

The film version of “Harvey” featured Jimmy Stewart, not Frank Fay.

I don’t know who the two male leads in the Broadway show “Paint Your Wagon” were, but I’m willing to wager that they weren’t Lee Marvin and Clint Eastwood!!

You get the picture …

radioacti...@gmail.com <radioactiveseattle@gmail.com> wrote:

>Surprised at the age mere Topol attained; I thought he looked nearing
>agedness way back in Fiddler.

>Now isn't it considered by some to have been a Hollywood mistake that
>Zero got zeroed out of reprising his Broadway role, due to blacklist
>hstory, or whatever other reason it went down that way?

I've heard some of the stories That Derek told before. He could be a
difficult actor to work with and he had a larger-than-life personality
that Norman Jewison didn't want. Jewison didn't care that he'd been
blacklisted.

That Derek <thatderek@yahoo.com> wrote:

>Legend has it that Zero Mostel was known for ad-libbing and horsing
>around on-stage. Supposedly, if he saw friends in the front rows, he
>would disregard the blocking and play the entire show to where his
>friends were situated, and since he was the star, the supporting cast
>had to tolerate his unpredictability.

>One night, Zero was in the midst of this shtick not knowing that Norman
>Jewison and some other movie big-shots were in attendance, resulting in
>them tapping out the British Teyve, viz. Topol.

>But then again, Ethel Merman lost "Annie, Get Your Gun" in favour of
>Betty Hutton ,,..

Betty Hutton was terrific in the movie.

>and "Gypsy" to Rosalind Russell.

This was truly a crime. Mama Rose was the role that Merman was born to
play. Not to mention that Russell couldn't sing, but the singer did a
fantastic job imitating her voice.

>. . .

>The film version of "Harvey" featured Jimmy Stewart, not Frank Fay.

Stewart bought the rights himself so he could perform.

>I don't know who the two male leads in the Broadway show "Paint
>Your Wagon" were, but I'm willing to wager that they weren't Lee
>Marvin and Clint Eastwood!!

I've avoided this movie. The show was from 1951, close to two decades
before it got to screen. From Wikipedia

It starred James Barton (as Ben Rumson), Olga San Juan (Jennifer
Rumson), Tony Bavaar (Julio Valveras), Gemze de Lappe (Yvonne
Sorel), James Mitchell (Pete Billings), Kay Medford (Cherry),
and Marijane Maricle (Elizabeth Woodling). Burl Ives and
Eddie Dowling later took over the role of Ben Rumson, and Ann
Crowley was a replacement for Jennifer.

>You get the picture ...

Julie Andrews as Eliza on the Broadway stage in My Fair Lady (1956);
Jack Warner cast Audrey Hepburn in the 1964 movie. Controversy aside,
Hepburn's performance was fantastic, even though she couldn't sing, but
we were denied a film of Julie Andrews' performance. Wish they just
filmed stage plays in those days.

Of course, the best story was Robert Preston as Harold Hill in The Music
Man movie adaptation (1962). Various Hollywood actors turned down Jack
Warner because they didn't want to be compared to Preston. Warner
finally caved in and cast Preston, who was not a big movie name. I think
it was the right decision.

Barbara Cook was replaced with Shirley Jones. I've heard Cook's voice;
it's lovely. Of course I love Jones as well. But the kept a number of
people from Broadway in the movie, Pert Kelton (the original Alice in
The Honeymooners skit) and the Buffalo Bills with a slightly different
set of singers. Paul Ford and several of the other actors had done their
roles on stage but may not have been in the original cast.

That Derek <thatderek@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Legend has it that Zero Mostel was known for ad-libbing and horsing around on-stage. Supposedly, if he saw friends in the front rows, he would disregard the blocking and play the entire show to where his friends were situated, and since he was the star, the supporting cast had to tolerate his unpredictability.
>
> One night, Zero was in the midst of this shtick not knowing that Norman
> Jewison and some other movie big-shots were in attendance, resulting in them
> tapping out the British Teyve, viz. Topol.

Why not Paul Lipson or Jan Peerce?

(Lipson had the role on Broadway longest,including when
they broke the long-run record,though I think for that
particular performance they had four Tevyes on stage at
once to celebrate).

-=-=-
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