Tevye (1939): cast, story & where to watch
1939 · Film · ★ 5.6
Released in 1939, Tevye is a drama film directed by Maurice Schwartz, running about 93 minutes. “The original, non-musical film version of the book which inspired "Fiddler on the Roof".” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Tevye is a dairyman in the Russian Ukraine early in the 20th century. He lives in a cabin outside Boyberik with his wife Goldie, his widowed daughter Tseytl, her two children, and his younger daughter, the unmarried Khave. Khave is being courted by Fedya, a Christian, the son of a local government official. Tevye warns Khave against romance and marriage outside her faith, but Fedya is persuasive too. What will Khave decide, how will Tevye react, and when the Tsar initiates a pogrom, will Tevye's friends come to his defense? Can the stubborn Tevye reconcile his heart and tradition?
Who’s in it. Tevye stars Maurice Schwartz as Tevya 'Tevye', Miriam Riselle as Chavah 'Khave', Rebecca Weintraub as Goldie 'Golde' and Paula Lubelski as Zeitel 'Tseytl', among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 5.6/10, Tevye has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on FilmBox+. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Tevye page.
If you liked it. Fans of Tevye tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Tevye (1939)?
- In US, Tevye is available to stream on FilmBox+. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Tevye worth watching?
- Tevye holds an audience score of 5.6 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Tevye?
- Tevye stars Maurice Schwartz, Miriam Riselle, Rebecca Weintraub, Paula Lubelski and Leon Liebgold.
- When was Tevye released?
- Tevye was released in 1939, with a runtime of about 93 minutes.