Posted on 12/26/2020 4:38:44 AM PST by C19fan
I remember watching this movie when it was broadcast on TV during my youth. Perhaps this helped plant a seed for my later and current obsession with the Victorian Era. I re-watched on Christmas morning as the other members of the family were still asleep. In my mind, this is the best adaptation of the Dickens story. I know there are those who say the Alastair Sims version is the best. George C. Scott owns Scrooge. He plays him as not as an inherently wicked man but as someone whose life was broken as a boy and when it comes to matters of the heart has experienced nothing but regret. His composure reflects his heart of ice. I have read he spent six months preparing for this role including taking vocal lessons. As if Mr. Scott is not enough, there is an amazing cast of top notch British character actors: the Equalizer Edward Woodward, David Warner, Susannah York, and Roger Rees. I might add a young and so pretty Joanne Whalley plays Fan. In addition the settings are top notch. The adaptation was filmed in Shrewsbury where the location has not been blighted by modern architecture so you can really imagine yourself in Victorian London. The costumes are nice and there are plenty of bonnets. :) My little slice of heaven would be to wake up on Christmas morning put on my top hat with a nice Victorian lady holding my arm and walk the street saying Merry Christmas and tipping my hat. On my scale of 1 to 5 bonnets, I would give this 5 bonnets. P.S.: If you are interested in understanding how Victorian society influenced this work there is a special episode about "A Christmas Carol" from the excellent Age of Victoria podcast.
I enjoy “Scrooge” with Albert Finney
Fun musical and he played the part at 33...incredible make up and he plays the part very well.
His fiance leaving wasn’t just a footnote in this movie.
It seems as if he realized the life he gave up and it played on him throughout life, perhaps making him such a miserable person.
Dickens was broke and heavily in debt when he wrote the book.
Also, he based the character on a Very Mentally Ill (at least when it came to saving money) wealthy family.
Very wealthy and insanely frugal...to the point of the matriarch basically starving to death instead of buying food during a very bad hunting season.
The son would go on to the meat he caught even after it had turned rancid.
Interesting
I agree. My favorite adaptation of it, too.
This version IS one of the best. I agree that George C
Scott IS Scrooge...and I was a huge Alistair Simms fan.
It was beautifully done and had superior acting.
Just a treasure.
The Bionic Christmas Carol from The Six Million Dollar Man
https://www.nbc.com/the-six-million-dollar-man/video/a-bionic-christmas-carol/3762883
The Bionic Christmas Carol from The Six Million Dollar Man
https://www.nbc.com/the-six-million-dollar-man/video/a-bionic-christmas-carol/3762883
Just as Scott is Scrooge, Scott was Patton to a T. Great movies, beautifully done.
Sussanah York and George C. Scott also teamed up for the difinitive Jane Eyre, with tear jerking music from John Williams.
That said, I personally favour Alistair Sim’s version of Scrooge.
I watched that version of Jane Eyre on Amzon Prime. Damn shame the video quality leaves a lot to be desired. It would be nice if it was restored.
Yes
Difficult to find a good quality version
Even my DVD leaves a lot to be desired
Scrooged was a funny adaptation.
I could not agree with you more. This film is absolutely perfect, and even though I watch it every single year as part of our Christmas traditions, it never fails to move me deeply. It’s truly a masterpiece.
This is my favorite version of the movie. AMC channel has not viewed it in a few years though.
I watched it on IMDB on my firestick. It does have minimal interruptions with commercials, but the quality was very good.
Thank you. I will check it out!
I’ll see if I can get IMDB on Roku. Thanks for the tip!
We play 3 versions every year; the 1970 musical, George C. Scott, and Patrick Stewart.
Scott is the Gold Standard, he pours every ounce of himself into that role.
The musical is fun, the “Thankyou Very Much” song, the enormous camp of Alec Guinness as Marley (”the rats like to...nibble...things”), etc... It’s just joyous overall.
Stewart’s is ok, his politics notwithstanding. A little dry overall, but this version of Mrs. Cratchit is the best, she kills it with the “toast for your sake Bob, not for ‘is” scene.
I'm from the younger generation than most FReepers, so the childhood version I grew up with is actually The Muppet Christmas Carol, which I rewatched for the first time since I was a kid this year. Strangely, Michael Caine's version is top-quality, maybe an even more impressive performance considering how straight he plays it against puppet co-stars.
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