Backdrop image for movie The World of Sholom Aleichem

The World of Sholom Aleichem (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.

  • Drama
  • TV Movie

Top billed cast

  • Photo of Gertrude BergGertrude BergHannah
  • Photo of Sam LeveneSam LeveneMendele
  • Photo of Zero MostelZero MostelMelamed / Maxel
  • Photo of Morris CarnovskyMorris CarnovskyAaron Katz / Presiding Angel
  • Photo of Lee GrantLee GrantThe Goatseller / Avenging Angel
  • Photo of Nancy WalkerNancy WalkerRifkele
  • Photo of Jack GilfordJack GilfordBontsche Shveig / Angel
  • Photo of Charlotte RaeCharlotte RaeThe Angel Rochele
  • Photo of Elsa FreedElsa Freed
  • Photo of Henry LascoeHenry LascoeDodi the Innkeeper

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