This week’s movie was the 1964 Israeli film “Sallah” or “Sallah Shabati,” with Topol, Geula Nuni, Gila Almagor, Albert Cohen, Shraga Friedman, Zaharira Harifai, Shaike Levi, Nathan Meisler, Esther Greenberg and Mordecai Arnon.
“Salah” is available on DVD from TCM.
I decided to do a mystery movie from 1964 – but which one? A challenge, because the cutoff date for the Daily Mirror vault is 1960 more or less (Why 1960? Because). I rummaged around in the few movies I have from that year and discovered “Sallah,” which is highly rated, has a big cast and only aired once on TCM – in 2014 for its “Jewish Experience on Film” series. I try to do at least one foreign film a year, so “Sallah” fits that category as well. I thought it might be a stumper until we got to Mrs. Pearl Sonnenschein, but with the Brain Trust I never know. Howard Mandelbaum emailed later to say that he saw “Sallah” in the 1970s at a revival house and thought it had broad, cartoonish humor. Which it does.
Trivia note: Topol was unknown before “Sallah” but his appearance in the film won him the lead in the London version of “Fiddler on the Roof,” which opened in 1967 and was a huge success. Although Zero Mostel originated the role of Tevye on Broadway in 1964 and left an indelible image in the role, there were several other Tevyes over the years, including Luther Adler (1965) and Herschel Bernardi (1965).
Writing in the New York Times (Oct. 13, 1965), A.H. Weiler said:
It is to the everlasting credit of the Israelis, who have had precious few laughs in their brief, strife-torn history, that they can kid themselves with the light-hearted assurance of “Sallah,” a film that opened at the Little Carnegie yesterday. As a comedy, “Sallah” is a rarity in the annals of the tiny Israeli movie colony, but this gentle saga of an unlettered Oriental Jew’s successful campaign against entrenched bureaucracy and the 20th century is more educational than hilarious. Sallah Shabbati and his coterie are an unusual, endearing, often colorful lot, but their humor is largely rudimentary.
For Monday, we have a mystery gent. He does not approve of such goings-on.
Update: This is Shraga Friedman.
For Tuesday, Monday’s mystery guest has a mysterious companion.
Update: This is Friedman and Zaharira Harifai .
For “Hm Wednesday,” we have three mystery guests. This is mystery guest No. 1.
Update: This is Nathan Meisler.
This lady is mystery guest No. 2.
Update: This is Gila Almagor.
And this fellow is mystery guest No. 3.
Update: This is Shaike Levi.
For “Aha Thursday,” we have a mystery woman.
Update: This is Geula Nuni.
We also have this mystery gent.
Update: This is Arik Einstein.
And finally, we have this mysterious gent.
Update: This fellow is so far unidentified.
And for Friday, we have our mysterious leading man.
Update: This is Topol. He was 29 when the film was made.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (mystery movie, Monday’s and Tuesday’s mystery guests, Wednesday’s mysterious leading man’s mysterious son, and Thursday’s mystery woman), Howard Mandelbaum (mystery movie), Funky PhD (mystery movie and Thursday’s mystery woman), Anne Papineau (mystery movie), Tucson Barbara, (mystery movie, Tuesday’s mystery woman, Wednesday’s mystery woman, and Thursday’s mystery woman and mystery gent No. 1), L.C. (mystery movie and mystery cast) and Michael Lott (mystery movie).
ladailymirror.com 
Looks like Al Molinaro, later seen in TV’s “Happy Days.”
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A good guess, but alas, I’m afraid not.
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Al Molinaro
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Three votes for Al! But, alas, it’s another actor.
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I would say Al Molinaro except he only did TV, I think.
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Except for one obscure movie in the 1950s, you’re right.
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How about Maurice Gosfield for Monday?
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An excellent guess, but alas, I’m afraid not.
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East Side, West Side TV show.
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An interesting guess, but I’m afraid not.
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I’ll guess that Monday’s secret gent is Maurice Gosfield.
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Two votes for Maurice Gosfield. But alas….
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Is the film “Wild River”?
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Obscure but timely. Sallah Shabati. Shrega Friedman Monday, Friedman and Zaharira Harifal Tuesday, Albert Cohen, Esther Greenberg, and Shaika levi Wednesday, and Geula Nuni and Mike Burstyn today.
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Hmm. God bless Israel and its artists, but I think of “Movieland” as being Hollywood, or at least films from the USA. I don’t know Israeli actors.
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SALLAH (1964)
Larry, are you repenting for featuring an Oscar-winning actress on a Wednesday?
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Thursday’s mystery woman is Geula Nuni. The film is Sallah.
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Thanks to that most helpful clue I see that this is the 1965 comedy “Sallah Shabati”
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It’s Thursday and I haven’t a clue…nor does the briantrust it appears. A mystery film of the first rank!
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It’s Thursday and I haven’t a clue. Neither does the brain trust it appears. A Mystery Film of the frist rank!
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“Sallah Shabati”
Ya’ackov Ben-Sira, Zarahina Haribal, Gila Almagor, Geula Nuni, Arik Einstein,
(Interesting choice, which you chose because…why?)
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Sallah Shabati (1965) w/ Topol, Geula Nuni, Gila Almagor, Nathan Meisler, Esther Greenberg, Albert Cohen…
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I know the answer – but I cheated and used Google for “Mrs. Pearl Sonnenschein Forest” sign. L’ll let the real movie buffs win and watch the movie….
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Reuven Shefer and Gila Almagor Wednesday,, Mordecai Arnon yesterday, and Topol today.
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Sallah Shabati 1964
Topol was my “ah-ha” to the movie.
Monday/Tuesday – I think the guy is Ya’ackov Ben-Sira
Wednesday – I think the woman is Gila Almagor / I think the guy is Shaike Levi
Thursday – Geula Nuni
Friday – Haym Topal
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Salman is our film
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Friday lead is Topol
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Wed #3 is Arik Einstein.
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Wed #2 is Zaharira Harifai
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Thurs #1 is Geula Nuni
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Thurs #2 is Mordecai Arnon
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Topol.
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Topol
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Topol!
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“Sallah”
Monday: Shraga Friedman
Tuesday: New guest is Zaharira Harifai
Wednesday: #1 is Nathan Meisler #2 is Gila Almagor #3 is Shaike Levi
Thursday: Geula Nuni I gave up on the 2 men.
Friday: Haym Topol
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