User Reviews

As World War II winds down, young and assimilated Jewish-American Barry Miller (as Reuven Malter) and his New York City street team agree to play a group of "very orthodox" Hasidic young men. The traditionally dressed Jews turn out to be quite good at the game, especially steely-eyed power hitter Robbie Benson (as Daniel "Danny" Saunders); he's also a genius. When Mr. Miller tries to strike Mr. Benson out at bat, Benson retaliates with a line-drive to Miller's face. Hospitalized, Miller is told he could possibly lose sight in his left eye, from the injury. Filled with guilt and curiosity, Benson decides to visit Miller.

Benson and Miller are intrigued by their cultural differences, and slowly become close friends.

However, politics rears an ugly head when the post-war partitioning of Palestine threatens Benson and Miller's friendship. A Zionist like his Professor father Maximilian Schell (as David Malter), Miller favoring the creation of Israel. A fundamentalist like his Rabbi father Rod Steiger (as Isaac Saunders), Benson believes the Jewish state should be created according to scripture. With great source material from writer Chaim Potok, and fine poetic performances, "The Chosen" overcomes some of its mid-section sluggishness. The opening parts are captivating, and Benson's closing scene with Mr. Steiger is a tearful peak.

******* The Chosen (8/81) Jeremy Kagan ~ Robbie Benson, Barry Miller, Rod Steiger, Maximilian Schell

I'm overjoyed that this excellent film is finally available on DVD. Robby Benson gives a performance that may finally receive the proper recognition. This is a story about friendship, true heart and life -- just see it and enjoy the richly developed performances and storytelling that unfold like a beautiful flower -- simply great.

Conflict between two Orthodox Jewish families over the state of Israel threatens the growing friendship between two teenagers in The Chosen, a 1981 film based on the best-selling novel by Chaim Potok. Set in New York City in the 1940s, Reuven Malter (Barry Miller) is the worldlier of the two boys. He is more modern and practical than his friend, Danny Saunders (Robby Benson) who comes from a strict Hasidic background and wears hair curls and the traditional long black robe with white shirt. Danny's father Reb Saunders (Rod Steiger) is an immigrant Rabbi who is known in the community as a Tzaddic, a messenger from God. Rabbi Saunders raised Danny in silence in order to teach him humility and expects him to follow him in becoming a Rabbi.

Both boys wish to enter the other's world. Reuven longs for Danny's extended family and sense of community. Danny is interested in Freudian psychology and looks to Reuven to expose him to art, film, and music. The two boys meet on a ball field as a group of Hasidic Jews play a team of Jewish schoolboys. The Hasidim look like unworthy opponents but they turn out to be talented ballplayers. The game ends suddenly, however, when Danny hits a line drive that strikes Reuven in the eyes. When Danny comes to apologize in the hospital, Reuven rejects him, convinced that he will never regain his vision in his eye.

Though the boys gradually become friends, Reuven has to work to gain acceptance from Danny's father and must endure questioning on the intricacies of Jewish law. Reuven takes Danny to see his first movie and protects him when Rabbi Saunders asks what books Danny is reading at the library. Reuven is welcomed into the Saunders family and takes part in wedding celebrations and family dinners but, when he takes a liking to Danny's sister Shaindel (Kaethe Fine), he is told that all marriages are arranged in the Hasidic culture and Shaindel's partner has already been chosen. Both boys attend Hirsch College, Danny studying experimental psychology and Reuven philosophy but they maintain their study and appreciation of the sacred texts. Their friendship is threatened, however, when Reuven's father, David Malter, (Maximilian Schell), a professor at the local College, becomes an activist in the Zionist cause as the United Nations begins debating the partition of Palestine.

The idea of a secular Jewish state is strongly opposed by Saunders and other Hasidim who believe that Jews, according to a literal reading of the Bible, should only be led back to Israel by the Messiah and he refuses to let Danny to speak to Reuven for half a year. Rabbi Saunders is depicted in the film as a harsh and uncompromising figure who sees only ugliness and evil outside of religion but his humanity is redeemed as he explains to his son why he raised him in silence. He says that he thought that his brilliance was going to be too dominant in his life and that the essence of religion is in feeling and not in reason. He tells him, "...I cried inside my heart. I went away and cried to the Master of the Universe, 'What have you done to me? A mind like this I need for a son? A heart I need for a son, a soul I need for a son, compassion I want from my son, righteousness, mercy, strength to suffer and carry pain, that I want from my son, not a mind without a soul!"

Questions of faith and the religious ideal and how they can conflict with friendship are prominent themes in The Chosen. It is an entertaining and thought-provoking film but is unfortunately marred by a mannered performance from Rod Steiger as the Rabbi who turns a slow dance at a wedding into high camp and by Robbie Benson whose wooden acting fails to bring Danny to life. The Hasidic Jews are presented only as funny looking people with rigid ideas and their joy and spirituality, while glimpsed at a wedding ceremony, is lost among all the pontificating. What is also missing is any mention of the central idea of the Hasidim - the notion that God permeates all physical objects in nature, including all living beings and that man, by concentrating all of his thoughts on God, can unite with source and influence events on Earth.

This film is beautiful and thought-provoking in a number of ways. The story is a "normal" account of two Jewish boys growing up during World War II and the creation of the Jewish State. The situations in the film are not overly dramatized or sensationalized. Regular moments with family and friends are rightly judged to be sufficiently interesting to form the basis of a compelling drama.

Historical context serves as a vibrant backdrop for the lives of traditional Jews, who form an ever-diminishing minority, and progressive Jews, who still seek to hold to their heritage while embracing aspects of modern life. The conflict between the two worldviews is marvelously expressed through the friendship of the two boys and through the differences in their fathers, each of whom completely embodies a certain way of life. The film also makes a strong point about children following and not following in their parents' footsteps, and how someone's essence is more important than his career.

There is a Jewish-inspired pathos to this movie that is difficult to describe, but very moving to watch. The acting is great, and the writing is unparalleled. For a long time, I considered this my very favorite film. I have since realized that no one film can possibly occupy that spot, but this one is forever at the top of my list.

Director Jeremy Paul Kagan and scenarist Edwin Gordon do a good job of capturing the closed in, airless, restrictive atmosphere of Orthodox Jewry. Indeed, they do such a good job that by the halfway point of this film the viewer feels both suffocated and bored. In the second half things get a bit better because there is actually something resembling conflict going on. Unfortunately, the struggle between the Hasidim and secular Jews over the creation of an Israeli state is not the most dramatically compelling of topics. Personally, I was much more interested in the fate of the sexy, saucy daughter of Rod Steiger's fanatical rabbi (very well played by an actor of whom I was ignorant, named Kaethe Fine) than I was with whether the followers of Ben Gurion or the Lubavitchers would triumph. And speaking of Steiger, when you have an actor of his stature paired with another giant of 1960s/70s cinema, Max Schell, you really oughta come up with a dramatic scene or two featuring the two of them in physical proximity! I mean, it's almost as if Kagan and Gordon are thinking of the dullest way to tell this story.

On the plus side, Arthur Ornitz's cinematography is darkly beautiful, almost like a Caravaggio at times, and Robby Benson does a great job of burying Texas and channeling Brooklyn. Give it a C plus.

The Chosen is an excellent film. It opens up in an inner-city playground softball field, where Reuvan (Barry Miller) gets hit in the eye by a baseball hit by Danny (Robby Benson), an Hasidic Jew. The two soon become friends and teach each other about their different worlds. It's a very realistic film, not at all overdone as some films of this genre are. There are no fancy camera techniques, and the movie centers on character development rather than spiffy editing or cinematic style. The screenplay is superb and the acting is very believable. Rod Steiger as Danny's ultra-Orthedox rabbi father and Maximilian Schell as Reuven's liberal father along with Miller and Benson are excellent. Elmer Bernstein's quiet, Jewish sounding score is also a plus. This is an enjoyable film that has a lot to say about friendship, growing up, and religous faith.

This is by far my favorite Jewish movie ever. Although I'm not Jewish in this lifetime, I get in moods for Jewish movies...and this is the one I always want to watch first. It is a soft-spoken movie that makes some big observations about life and religion. The most intriguing idea is about what one should do with a brilliant child who shows little sensitivity about the feelings of others. I think this is Robby Benson's best work, and everyone else in the movie was excellent, too.

As an insider to the Chassidic world (the very religious Jews portrayed in this movie) I would have to say, it is not always accurate. But if you are curious about the general idea of the orthodox lifestyle, this will give you a place to start. I guess my biggest problem (besides inflating the "romance" from the book into something that would NEVER happen in an Orthodox home) is in the details shown of Jewish life. Does ANYONE see the Mezuzot they are only sometimes touching as they pass through doorways? Danny actually Hugged his mother in front of an outsider! The poor sister being actually touched by a boy (a HUGE unreality), all these things show a life not actually lived by Chassidic Jews.

Another thing to consider-in the book, Danny is finding himself. In the movie, he is rebelling. Why does this need to be? As he told his Father (at least in the book) that he would keep the Commandments, it does not seem to be this way in the movie, with him kissing girls and running out to the movies. Oi Vey!

The acting is OK, the screenplay (if you've never read the book) is OK, the directing is dreadful, and the general quality of the movie was merely passable. But, you should probably still see this movie, but then go watch "A Life Apart" a documentary of Chassidic Jews in America to get the non-Hollywood version of their lives.

I got this movie out from Dambusters in Golders Green not knowing how good it was going to be. This film is a joy to watch from start to finish. The acting is superb and the script is great as well.

The film provides an excellent drama between two Jewish guys one secular the other the son of a prominent frum Rabbi. Over the span of the film, you see their friendship develop and there are some real classic images of hassidic life including a Chassidic wedding. All the main actors play their part with real affection and dedication. Rod Steiger is in particular outstanding. This is all the more impressive given that guy was a non-jew.

This film should have won Oscars. Ach, what do they know?

It is difficult enough for any teenager (male or female each consisting of their own difficulties) but when you add to the complexity the centuries long religious beliefs of the Jewish faith and the expectations of parents towards their own flesh and blood then this film is a must see for most people regardless of your faith and/or religion.

Two young men growing up just blocks away from each other with strong influences of their respective Jewish fathers religious and political beliefs come to terms with each others unique circumstances.

Add to the mix the young male hormones, a devout Jewish faith and century old traditions and you have the makings of an ultimate clash where decisions become life changing as which is what happens in this dramatic film well worth seeing.

Great acting, great story, and a realistic ending which provides all of us with some insight into how both our family and friends can influence our life changing decisions sometimes.

I give this film a rewarding 8 out of 10 IMDb rating.

This is one of those films that I had heard of and meant to see but didn't until recently. What an excellent film. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it and the actors. Take some time and watch this film. A wonderful portrayal of two young men who are very different but turn out to more alike then they could ever imagine.

I watched this film recently in class (intro to Western Religion) when we were learning about the ethics in Judaism. I was late for class, so I missed the beginning. However, the parts I managed to see were excellent. "The Chosen" might be the most entertaining film I've ever been forced to watch.

I felt that the story was engrossing; I actually cared about the characters and their friendship. I also thought that the acting was superb. However, I kept being distracted by the fact that Robby Benson looked like Hayden Christensen. For a film used as an educational tool, I could not have asked for much better. This is a very well made and interesting movie. It will teach you a lot.

The Brooklyn I grew up in is a generation ahead of the kids you see typified by Barry Miller and Robby Benson. Still enough of it is quite familiar. The Chosen is a story of an unusual friendship between two very different types of Jewish kids in Brooklyn during the 1940s. That they got to be friends at all is a miracle of sorts because Hassidics are still a most clannish and insular people and rarely accept outsiders.

Although it's pick up baseball game that begins The Chosen, no mention of the Dodgers in a film about 40s Brooklyn. Barry Miller is the son of Professor Maximilian Schell who is both a scholar and a committed Zionist. Robby Benson is not only Hassidic but the son of the grand Rebbe who is head of that particular sect of Hassidim.

For those that don't know the Hassidim are those extreme Orthodox Jews who still dress as they would in the 16th century. They are concentrated in a few sections of Brooklyn, Williamsburg, Boro Park, and Crown Heights still to this day.

Not all Hassidim have that view of the state of Israel that we see displayed by Rod Steiger. He hews to a strict interpretation of the Old Testament that the Messiah, a descendant of David comes back to establish the Kingdom of Israel. It's not to be established by socialists like David Ben-Gurion and Chaim Weizman. No secular state in any event, that is as they would say it, a Shanda.

These two different kinds of Jewish kids were a tick under the draft age to serve in World War II. They saw in movie newsreels the liberation of the concentration camps. You have to appreciate how that indelibly impressed the mind of Jews of most kind except for the few like Steiger.

Benson really does not want to be a rabbi, but it's expected he follow tradition. As for Miller he's not about to abandon his more liberal views, he likes the warm family life that Steiger and his clan have and is more spiritual than his father.

Schell and Miller, Steiger and Benson, this quartet delivers a fine adaption of Chaim Potok's acclaimed novel. This film really hit home with me and it is a fine portrayal of Jewish life in Brooklyn in a historic time.

This Chosen is understated, yet so sincere and powerful. Boosted by exceptional performances by Steiger, Benson and Miller, the movie becomes more endearing with each viewing. The cinematography is muted, but lovely. Look for the little details, like the end scene (I won't spoil it-see if you can catch it), that makes The Chosen a must watch for a cozy afternoon with coffee.

First----a comment about a "review" from one natew73 which you issued on Jan. 27, 2023. I have been an IMDB supporter and contributor for over 20 years, and have never in all those years seen anything like this piece. It denigrates IMDB for you to have allowed such a biased, vituperative and inflammatory commentary to be shared with your wide audience. Please take another look at it. Surely you made a mistake in approving this language for publication.

Second----The Chosen is a serious and important film, and has much to say in a respectful and entertaining way about a profound clash of cultures, religious values, ideas, hopes, dreams and expectations in life. One reviewer analogized the story to a similar dichotomy in the Mennonite community------a positive tribute to the universal nature of the issues the film tackled. The Chosen is not perfect, but it is significant, thought-provoking and intelligent. What more could you reasonably want out of Hollywood?

Third----seeing it again recently after so many years brought back some lingering thoughts I had about the movie (and the book as well). I still don't understand how the Rebbe (Danny's father), who by his accent and background was intended to suggest an unassimilated Eastern European immigrant character, came by his obviously Anglicized family name of "Saunders." It just never made any sense to me. I am still greatly impressed by the remarkable performance of Rod Steiger as the Rebbe. Steiger's effort reminded me of a similar power that often appeared in the acting of Lee J. Cobb. Steiger almost made me believe that he actually was Jewish (which he was not) until in one scene toward the end of the film, he inadvertently stumbled over pronunciation of the Hebrew word ""Tzadik"------which may be loosely translated to mean a righteous person. Steiger said Zadik" leaving the letter "T" silent. That is incorrect.

Fourth-----in retrospect, many (if not most) of the films made in Hollywood over the years that dealt with problems arising from various interactions with the American Orthodox Jewish community seem rather contrived and unrealistic.. This has been true from The Jazz Singer (1927) through A Stranger Among Us (a/k/a Close to Eden) (1992) and A Price Above Rubies (1998). On the other hand, The Chosen represents a sincere attempt to tell its story with honesty and conviction and only a minimal amount of artifice. Again----what more could you reasonably expect out of Hollywood?

Fifth-----I have always regretted that the film version of The Chosen never included an in-person scene between the two fathers (Steiger and Maximilian Schell) that would have provided an opportunity for them to debate with each other their respective views about the great ideas that kept them so far apart. They were two honorable and decent characters and both admirable in so many different ways. How would you like to have been a fly on the wall if that ever happened?

Sixth----The Chosen is one of the great Hollywood films made during the 1980s, and it deserves to be rescued from obscurity by a contemporary audience.

The first word to define it was "magnificent". For the delicate freshness. For the precise definition of tradition, fatherhood, Hasidic life, friendship. For the inspired portrait of the birth of a world. For lovely performances. For the grace of atmosphere. And for its status of film about fundamental things defining each of us. A great film, a pure gem.

This story is as old as the world! I don't write long reviews but this movie deserves a word!

I absolutely love the chosen. It is so educational for those who maybe need to understand a little bit more about Christianity. The actors are brilliant, the story is so wonderfully told. Every time I leave one of the chosen movies you just feel so incredibly empowered, and it just makes you remember what the true meaning of things really are. It is brilliantly written, and so brilliantly done as a movie and I can understand why people paid money to actually be in this movie it is just one of those movies that only comes across once in a lifetime, and you need to see every single season and episode of the chosen . But you do need to see each episode! Start from the beginning and watch each season even though most of you watching this movie know the story you learned growing up but it is so much more and you remember so much more of what you were taught. And it makes you just remember what is right and what is good because in today's society and the way the world is going right now you really need to remember.

Let me start off by saying, the movie wasn't bad. It just wasn't good. It was decent to be kind. The movie was based on 'The Chosen' by Chaim Potok (My Name is Asher Lev, Davita's Harp), which was published in 1967. The book itself is an incredible read and would recommend reading the book as opposed to seeing the movie. To start off, the film quality was pretty awful as was the sound. The casting was less than stellar, with the exception of Maximilian Schell who was great as Professor David Malter. Robby Benson, who in his 70's peak of teenage heartthrob, was waning by this point when he portrayed Danny Saunders. Benson's acting seemed a tad bit forced, kind of like Donny Osmond trying to come back as a pop star in the 80's. Benson's line, 'Freud was a scientist, not just a dreamer!' still makes me cringe at the thought of it. Barry Miller was relatively decent (once again, being kind) of Reuven Malter, however didn't quite fit the book's description of him. The movie's transitions weren't particularly smooth, and they didn't age the characters well at all. The adaptation of the book to script left a lot to be desired. This movie, truly, did not do justice the book. Hopefully, someday, someone will make a remake of it.