‘Fiddler on the Roof’ and ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ for the holidays
Two kinds of cinematic traditions can be celebrated in the coming weeks, starting with the annual Christmas Eve “Fiddler on the Roof” sing-along dreamed up by the Laemmle chain and now expanding to no less than six theaters. The Broadway musical, based on the classic Tevye stories by preeminent Yiddish writer Sholem Aleichem, was made into an Oscar-winning film (for Oswald Morris’ cinematography and John Williams’ score) in 1971 that boasts Isaac Stern playing violin on the soundtrack. The Laemmles provide lyric sheets for the Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick songs, so you can sing along with the irrepressible Topol and the irreplaceable Molly Picon on classics such as “Sunrise, Sunset” and “Matchmaker,” not to mention the always appropriate “If I Were a Rich Man.” Screening at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 24 at the Royal, West Los Angeles; Music Hall 3, Beverly Hills; Town Center 5, Encino; NoHo 7, North Hollywood; Playhouse 7, Pasadena; Claremont 5, Claremont.
CRITICS’ PICKS: What to watch, where to go, what to eat
Another tradition, revisiting a great film by a recently departed actor, can be observed on Dec. 29 when the American Cinematheque’s Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood shows Peter O’Toole’s “Lawrence of Arabia” in all its 70 mm glory. A career milestone for everyone involved, including director David Lean. At 6712 Hollywood Blvd. at 7:30 p.m.
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