Scrooge

A Christmas Carol, by Dickens is transformed into a singing and dancing spectacular.
Genre: Christmas
Rating: G
Release Date: 23-SEP-2003
Media Type: DVD

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Editorial Review?
Who’s the idiot who wrote the editorial review? “There isn’t much to recommend this film” get a life dope!

5 Stars An Indispensable Seasonal Favourite…
Statistically speaking, “A Christmas Carol” appears to be my favourite story of all time, as I own no less than four different film interpretations of it on DVD, and it must be said that I adore each and every one of them (whether they star the likes of Alastair Sim, Michael Caine, Bill Murray, or the star of this version, Albert Finney).

It must be said though, the interpretation that I reach for most regularly is this version, directed by veteran British stalwart, Ronald Neame (who also directed the British screen classics, “Blithe Spirit”, “In Which We Serve” and “Great Expectations”) and featuring songs and music by Leslie Briscusse (who penned classics such as “The Candy Man” from “Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory” and “Talk To The Animals” from “Doctor Dolittle”) and I think this can be ascribed not only to the stellar cast (which features the likes of Sir Alec Guinness, Dame Edith Evans, Kenneth More, David Collings, Anton Rodgers, Gordon Jackson, Roy Kinnear and Geoffrey Bayldon) but to the truly spooky atmosphere of bleakness that pervades the film. Neame, in the best traditions of the festive Ghost story, really doesn’t pull any punches in putting the supernatural at the front and centre of his interpretation and goes to some very dark places in the course of this film (including a brief – and very literal – excursion to hell) – a stylistic decision which may alarm some younger viewers, but which ultimately makes the miserly Ebeneezer Scrooge’s redemption all the more joyous and important.

That said, let me assure any prospective viewers who I may have inadvertently put off, that this film is a joyous celebration of redemption, forgiveness and charity and features a brilliant central performance from a virtually unrecognisable Finney who completely envelops himself in the role of the world’s most famous miser.

Likewise the songs are superbly memorable: “I Hate People” is a perfect (and hilariously funny) misanthropic ballad; “See The Phantoms” is a brief but gloriously spooky sliver of supernatural menace; “December The 25th” is a roistering encapsulation of the gregarious Fezziwig’s philosophy; “You…You” is one of the most hauntingly sad odes to regret, lost love and roads not taken ever written; “I Like Life” is a fiercely caustic affirmation of just that sentiment in the hands of Kenneth More, and “I’ll Begin Again” is a breathlessly joyous hymn to the possibility of second chances.

It must be said though, my all time favourite song from this film is Anton Rodger’s epic coffin borne performance of “Thank You Very Much” – largely because it was my late paternal grandfather’s favourite song and tears are still want to prick my eyes whenever I hear it (but in a good way).

If you’ve never seen this version of “A Christmas Carol”, I recommend it unreservedly. It really is one of the finest ever made and, as has been previously mentioned, is certainly in my top four.

5 Stars Scrooge Lover!!!
This movie has to be one of the most amazing movies ever! I have grown up watching it every Christmas and I just can’t ever get enough of it. It’s a must see!

5 Stars Mandatory viewing for the holidays!
I debated on writing a review for this movie, thinking it would be a bit redundant, since the average shopper can tell very easily from the collective reviews of this film the level of quality that it is at, but what the heck.

This is the version of “A Christmas Carol” that I was introduced to and was raised on. My father is a huge Dickens aficionado, and I remember listening to the record with Lionel Barrymore playing Scrooge when I was very little. It was years before this movie was even released on VHS, so you had to be lucky to catch it on cable television or the rare time it was aired on network television in the late 70’s and early 80’s. My dad has and always will insist that the Alastair Sim version is the definitive telling of this great story, and it probably is, but again, it took years for it to even arrive on VHS, let alone DVD.

At any rate, this movie is a complete masterstroke, and is a must-own for every family for viewing during the holidays. It is just as important as White Christmas, It’s A Wonderful Life, Miracle On 34th Street, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Charlie Brown Christmas, and Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer. Some people have been critical of this film due to the fact that it is a musical, but that is just part of the charm, and only adds to the quality of the production as a whole. Albert Finney won a Golden Globe for his performance here, and it’s easy to tell why – one thing I love about this movie, compared to most of the other versions, is that Finney played Scrooge as a young man, and as an old man – this is one of the main reasons the film is so good. It is a very authentic, true, “British” film…the authenticity of the setpieces, the cinematography, the casting, the acting…it’s all top notch. And the special effects, while sparse, are phenomenal for when it was made. Check out how awesome the scene is where Marley’s face appears at Scrooge’s outer door and the subsequent fadeaway. The score was also brilliantly written, and the songs make you feel good and help to engage you in the story even further. I feel that this is the last, true, great adaptation of this story, be it film, television, or stage…all the George Lucas magic in hollywood these days is never going to produce a piece of art that will surpass the quality of this film. I have watched it every year on Christmas Eve for the past 20 years, and I still get choked up a half a dozen times throughout this movie, especially during some of the songs. Again, this movie is a must-own and a complete masterpiece of filmmaking.

5 Stars A Family Christmas Classic and tradition!
My 2 daughters and I began a tradition of watching this movie every Dec 23rd, over 20 years ago. I think the editorial review of this movie is terribly wrong. The music is absolutely wonderful! We especially love the scene of Scrooge’s debtors singing “Thank you Very much”. We hum the tune for days after viewing it, and the scenes are very memorable and funny!

My daughters are now age 30 and 32, and they want to watch this every year but it is rarely on TV. We have purchased over 3 DVD’s of this because they scratched over the years from frequent use. I went to the movies and watched Disney’s Christmas Carol with Jim Carrey, and was very disappointed. If you have small children, and like musicals, I recommend saving your money, and staying home to watch this version. you will be sure to avoid nightmares, and will have a great vehicle to bond with your family! It is a wonderful experience with great characters!

Buy/More Info