Norman Jewison was then asked to direct the film—he agreed, but he was worried the producers assumed he was Jewish. “The whole world thinks I’m the Jewish son of a Jew—Jewison,” he said.
Jewison thought Mostel was “too big” to star in the film, and went in search of another actor to play Tevye. Danny Kaye was an early choice, but "his wife turned us down saying he was too young to have marriage-age daughters," Harnick said.
Frank Sinatra’s agent called Jewison to try to get his client an audition, but he didn’t envision the crooner as a Jewish milkman.
Israeli actor Chaim Topol was playing Tevye in Tel Aviv when he was asked to audition for the London production. He barely spoke any English, and learned to speak the language by studying the script.
Three villages in Yugoslavia were transformed into Anatevka for the film.
Jewison tried to get Anne Bancroft to play Golde in the film but was unsuccessful. Other possible Goldes included Colleen Dewhurst, Zoe Caldwell, Dorothy Loudon, Marian Seldes and Beverly Sills. It finally came down to Norma Crane and Lee Grant—Crane got the role.
