Posted on 12/13/2014 9:14:41 PM PST by Kartographer
Tells which is your favorite movie version of "A Christmas Carol' and why.
Alastair Sim/Reginald Owen.
All other versions are pale imitations at best.
1950’s version staring Alistair Sim, 2nd: The Disney Jim Carey version from a few years ago, 3rd: Mickey’s Christmas Carol.
-JS
“Scrooged” at Christmas time is a family tradition at our house.
I love the George C. Scott version, but I also love the musical with Albert Finney. They have different feels, but they are both fantastic in their own ways. I grew up watching the musical every Christmas, so it has a special place in my heart.
Scrooge (1970)
This is a musical version with songs by Leslie Bricusse that starred Albert Finney as Scrooge. The supporting cast is a 'who's who' of British cinema with Alec Guinness, Kenneth More and Dame Edith Evans amongst others.
The main pleasure in this production lies in watching the cream of British acting talent throwing caution and good taste to the wind as they have a whale of a time. The sheer enjoyment of this production makes it an irresistible film to watch. Kenneth More stands out amongst the supporting cast with his fruity and dominant Ghost of Christmas Present. His one-liners at the expense of Scrooge provide an interesting contrast with Edward Woodward's portrayal. Way down the cast list you find the excellent Anton Rodgers who seizes his chance with both hands as he leads the cast in the showstopper 'Thank you very much'.
The George C. Scott version is also my favorite. Perfect casting! I also enjoy “Scrooged” but then, I’d watch almost anything with Bill Murray (except what was that awful movie about him as a skin diver or whatever . . . I seem to have blocked that one from my memory! LOL).
George C. Scott version
My favorite
As a little bitty kid, I remember the ghost scenes scaring the pants off me.
Best....
(1) George C. Scott. Great actor, great peformance.
(2) Alstair Sim... same as (1), except Sim got caught up in a little overacting in a few scenes.
(3) Kelsey Grammar.... Just another example of the versatility of a great performer, Whether it is Frasier, Ebeneezer, or the the Boss.
The worst??.....
(1) Any of the saccharin Halmark TV versions
(2) Patrick Stewart.. Too typecast as a starship captain to be taken seriously. Is it me, but anything by Stewart that isn't ST, is treated like a Shakespearen blowvata.
(3) Bill Murray. Role corresponded to the time of the steep career decline of what was a great comedic actor.
We’re going to the Morgan Library In NYC. Christmas time they display the orginal manuscript of Dickens “Christmas Carol”
My favorite as well... I watch it every year. I adore it!
George C. Scott version. The film was shot in Shopshire, England for the obvious choice a good deal of Victorian architecture survived in that city. The costumes are real nice. Patton was the star and he owned the role but there was also a great supporting cast of Brits from the Equalizer Edward Woodward, Fred Finlay, Michael Warner, Susannah York, Roger Rees and a young Joanne Whalley.
The Alistair Sim version IS the best. Worth watching every Christmas Eve to see him go from a horrible old man to a totally lovable one. What an actor!
Right this second, if I could ask anyone to do anything, I’d ask Albert Finney to re-shoot “Scrooge” at his present age and cut in the 1970 sequences of young Scrooge (Christmas Past).
Only downside is losing Alec Guinness as Marley’s Ghost, unless (and it’s possible) they cut around him...
The Owen /Lockhart version.
Like most cases, the book is always better than the movie(s). I own and watch most every version of this classic. NONE of them follows the book exactly. Directors and actors always have to try and “put their mark” on a production. Just do the damned thing like Dickens wrote it.
Of the human versions, I prefer the 1951 Alastair Sim film.
Of the cartoon versions, I like the 1971 film that Alastair Sim voiced:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iN6IMZFwY50
I cant't get past Patrick Stewart's America hating stance to enjoy anything he does!!
I would say it was the start of his commercially successful film decline. He has done quite a few fine indie films, and is still a great comedic actor.
While I think the original version is the best (I have never been one for remakes), I have to admit I enjoyed the one where the original version was interrupted by James Earl Jones and Martin Sheen commentary.
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