''The Flying Matchmaker'' (also: ''Two Kuni Lemel'', ''Shnei Kuni Leml'' or שני קוני למל) is a 1966
Israeli film musical
Musical is the adjective of music.
Musical may also refer to:
* Musical theatre, a performance art that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance
* Musical film and television, a genre of film and television that incorporates into the narr ...
directed by Israel Becker. The story is based on the 1880 Yiddish play ''Di tsvey Kuni-Lemels'' by
Abraham Goldfaden. The film was the first major success on screen for lead actor
Mike Burstyn who has a double role as Kuni Leml and his cousin Max, and also casts his father
Pesach Burstein
Pesach "Peishachke" Burstein (April 15, 1896 – April 6, 1986) was a Polish-born American comedian, singer, coupletist, and director of Yiddish vaudeville/theater. He was honored with the Itzik Manger Prize in 1986. His wife Lillian Lux, and ...
in a small role. The film was selected as the Israeli entry for the
Best Foreign Language Film
This is a list of categories of awards commonly awarded through organizations that bestow film awards, including those presented by various film, festivals, and people's awards.
Best Actor/Best Actress
*See Best Actor#Film awards, Best Actress#F ...
at the
39th Academy Awards
The 39th Academy Awards, honoring the best in film for 1966, were held on April 10, 1967, at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in Santa Monica, California. They were hosted by Bob Hope.
Only two of the Best Picture nominees were nominated fo ...
, but was not accepted as a nominee.
[Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]
Plot
The local matchmaker (''
shadchan
The ''Shidduch'' ( he, שִׁדּוּךְ, pl. ''shidduchim'' , Aramaic ) is a system of matchmaking in which Jewish singles are introduced to one another in Orthodox Jewish communities for the purpose of marriage.
The practice
In the past and ...
''), Reb Kalman arranges a match for Carolina, the daughter of a wealthy client, Reb Pinchas. The daughter is already romantically linked with her teacher of French, Max. He arranges to show up in Kuni Lemel's place, disguised as Kuni Lemel, so he can marry Carolina. Confusion ensues as both Max and Kuni Lemel show up to court Carolina.
Cast
*
Mike Burstyn as Max / Kuni Leml
* as Matchmaker
* as Matchmaker's Daughter (as Jermain Unikovsky)
*
Shmuel Rodensky as Rebbe Pinchas
* as Rebbe Pinchas' Wife
* as Carolina, Rebbe Pinchas's Daughter
*
Aharon Meskin as Kuni Leml's Father
* as Max's Father
See also
*
*
List of Israeli submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
References
External links
*
1966 films
1966 musical films
1960s Hebrew-language films
Yiddish-language films
Films about twin brothers
Israeli musical films
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