Posted on 11/30/2004 7:18:48 AM PST by nypokerface
Not only was Alastair Sim made for the role - he's entirely convincing both in his menacing pre-reformation state and his giddy happiness - the entire cast is astounding. The British train character actors like nobody else in the world. Even the little parlormaid who lets Scrooge in the door at his nephew's house, and never says a word, is absolutely perfect in her first surprise and hesitation, her shyness, her realization that Scrooge is hesitant, and her ultimate encouragement to him to enter the room (all to the strains of "Barbara Allen" - the theme for his lost sister Fan). Understated British direction throughout. Great film.
"It's a Wonderful Life" is a great film too - the acting is so American (in contrast to "Scrooge") but perfect for the story, the photography is particularly wonderful. My kids adore it - they watch it every Christmas and sometimes even in the middle of summer.
I've never been able to get into "Miracle on 34th Street" - it seems too contrived to me (why it should seem contrived when "Scrooge" doesn't is a mystery).
Everyone forgets "The Lemon Drop Kid" with Bob Hope. The very first appearance of the song "Silver Bells."
You can probably get it here
http://www.tvparty.com
I love "A Christmas Story." But my all time fav is "Scrooge" with Alistair Sim, one of the best I've seen.
"...Does "Die Hard" qualify as a Christmas classic?..."
Also, what about "Lethal Weapon"? The time period is around Christmas.
And my family often says to each other if they interrupt or answer a question directed to someone else:
"Is your names Miss....?"
(fill in the blank for the offender, replacing the movie line "Is your names Miss Linda?")
I love the Magoo version. The Muppet version isn't bad either (but not as good as Magoo).
Classic.
The director of "Scrooge" tried, with the sequence of the blind man under the arch - but nothing can replace Dickens's comment that even the blind men's dogs knew to pull away from Scrooge -- "No eye is better than evil eye, dark master."
I'm something of a fellow con-a-sewer . . . I didn't like George C. Scott, he was not convincing in his reformation, and I also always had the impression that he was mugging a bit as the evil Scrooge. Finney is great, but the musical is very uneven and some of the songs are just not up to par. And the Muppet Christmas Carol can't decide whether it's going to be serious or go for the cheap laughs - it's a quarreling Siamese twin of a movie. Michael Caine's performance is a star turn wasted.
You might like this website that I just turned up . . . especially the scene-by-scene comparisons.
One of our local theaters did the Magoo version (great songs!) with an actor who was fantastic in the Magoo/Scrooge part. It transfered well to the real stage. The audience sang along to the "La, la, la, la, la, la, la" song when the low-lifes were selling the deceased Scrooges's meager belongings. It was hilarious and fun to boot. I used to look forward to the cartoon version every year while I was growing up.
I liked Scrooge with Bill Murray, too.
Every year or so, I pull out an old leather-bound edition of A Christmas Carol with gorgeous Victorian-style illustrations and read it aloud to my family.
The Lemon Drop Kid and "the Home for Old Dolls." I did forget that movie until you mentioned it. I saw it a couple of times when I was a kid. I believe the story was originally a popular radio play. I love the song "Silver Bells."
When I was very young, the "Ghost of Christmas Future" scared me in the Magoo version (but I liked and still like it!).
I did just go see "Christmas with the Kranks". It sure as heck isn't going to replace any on Mr. Mathews' list. It won't even replace "Santa Clause".
All of these fine flicks are, by the way, available at Best Buy and on Amazon (and probably a few more outlets). If you like movies during the season, they're available!
Happy watching.
"Home Alone" is touching and hysterically funny.
How about "Meet John Doe" another Capra classic. The finale takes place on Christmas Eve.
This is my favorite movie of all time. It really shows the sewer side of politics. I keep waiting to hear Edward Arnold speak with a high-pitched Texas drawl when his cabal is looking at the maps and charts, ala Ross Perot!
The scene in the book where Bob goes upstairs to the body of Tiny Tim simply cannot be duplicated on film. That's one long read too.
Right. Again, Stewart's dramatic reading was, I thought, very good, if you don't want to read it yourself. A very "low-tech" recording - only one or two "special effects." Stewart does it all.
There's a 1972 animated 1/2 hour version of Scrooge for which Alitair Sim does the voice. Some people might remember it - ABC showed it for the kiddies. Not the best but somewhat of a trip down memory lane.
I haven't seen the Magoo one lately. I'll have to watch again.
Bill Murray is a surprisingly good actor, in the right role.
Scott was not as convincing as the reformed Scrooge. He also didn't come off as a miserly old skinflint, hard as coal and cold as January. But Scott was intimidating in the role. A smirking man devoid of love.
The perfect Scrooge has not been perfected yet. Sims was darn close. The guy who played Capt Sobel in Band of Brothers (David Schwimmer) might be a good candidate.
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