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Post by Greg C. on Dec 22, 2006 15:50:37 GMT -5
There have been so many adaptations of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" over the years and I'd like to know what your favorite is. The top three choices are the post popular versions and then there is Other. My personal favorite is the one made in 1984 with George C. Scott. He is one of my favorite actors and continued to amaze with this wondeful performance as Scrooge. It is also is rather frightening and perfectly gets across the point that Dickens had in mind. P.S There is another Christmas Carol movie in the works right now scheduled for a 2008 release. When I find out more details I'll post them.  George C. Scott as Scrooge  Movie Poster |
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Post by neferetus on Dec 22, 2006 19:09:19 GMT -5
Alastair Sim (SCROOGE, 1951) remains my all-time favorite Scrooge. He seemed born to the role. Sim could speak with his eyes and you almost know what he is going to say, by watching his expression, before he even says it. And his is the only version where I end up with tears coming out all over, when its done. The scene at his nephew's house when he meet the nephew's wife to the strains of Barbaba Allen (a song related to Scrooge's deceased sister) always chokes me up.
George C. Scott put a different twist to Scrooge that is quite satisfying. I just take it as a different film and try not to compare it to Sim's version at all. Glad you like it, Greg.
Least satisfying of all, I think, is the 1938 version with Reginald Owen. His Scrooge comes off as more of a caricature and is not frightening at all.
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Post by Bromhead24 on Dec 22, 2006 19:13:01 GMT -5
I like to 1951 version better than George C Scotts. Haven't seen it in a while though..
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Post by Greg C. on Dec 22, 2006 21:38:52 GMT -5
i have seen the '51 version and Sim is very good. the story is a little more realistic becuase you actually see him eat dinner in a pub before going home and it makes more sense when he tells marley "You could be a piece of spoiled meat or a blot of mustard." in scott's version he says the same thing, but he has only eaten a little porridge. which version is tcm playing this year on christmas eve?
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Post by neferetus on Dec 23, 2006 21:53:49 GMT -5
I DON'T KNOW. MY NEW CABLE SERVICE DROPPED TCM, THE SCROOGES!
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Post by Greg C. on Dec 24, 2006 8:19:38 GMT -5
I DON'T KNOW. MY NEW CABLE SERVICE DROPPED TCM, THE SCROOGES! thats terrible! maybe AMC will show something. |
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Post by neferetus on Dec 24, 2006 19:28:02 GMT -5
I saw the Patrick Stewart version this week and was disappointed in it. Stewart's one man show of "A Christmas Carol", however is something to see. He becomes all the characters and voices, while doing a reading of the tale. The film producers should've just filmed the stage show and had done with it.
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Post by Greg C. on Dec 25, 2006 8:56:29 GMT -5
I got up at 6:00 today to watch the version with Reginald Owen. What a terrible adaptation! Owen must me the worst scrooge ever made. He doesnt sound mean, he talks to fast, he's hunched over, and walks like he has crap in his pants. I could go on and on!
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Post by Greg C. on Nov 24, 2007 11:03:24 GMT -5
Reggie Owen, anyone?
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Post by neferetus on Nov 24, 2007 22:53:45 GMT -5
"An ant is what it is and a grasshopper is what it is and I say, Christmas is a humbug!"  |
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Post by neferetus on Nov 26, 2007 22:45:44 GMT -5
Just finished watching the (colorized) Alastair Sim version of SCROOGE, after a day's visit to San Antonio. The Riverwalk lights and the Christmas tree on Alamo Plaza are really something to see.
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Post by Greg C. on Nov 27, 2007 15:55:01 GMT -5
Just finished watching the (colorized) Alastair Sim version of SCROOGE, after a day's visit to San Antonio. The Riverwalk lights and the Christmas tree on Alamo Plaza are really something to see. Make sure to post some pics of the decorated Alamo plaza in the Christmas Greetings thread! |
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Post by neferetus on Nov 28, 2007 10:23:43 GMT -5
Just finished watching the (colorized) Alastair Sim version of SCROOGE, after a day's visit to San Antonio. The Riverwalk lights and the Christmas tree on Alamo Plaza are really something to see. Make sure to post some pics of the decorated Alamo plaza in the Christmas Greetings thread! All the photos were taken on my brother's digintal camera. When he get's home today, he will make me a disc. After dropping my guests off at the airport this morning, I headed on into San Antonio and ended up on Alamo Plaza at 6:00 AM. It was 38 degrees! Hung around the 'Mo, just taking in the Christmas lights, while watching those scantily clad, foolish joggers go by. After the traffic cleared on the freeway, I headed back home. |
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Post by neferetus on Nov 30, 2007 0:54:37 GMT -5
Later that evening, I watched a VHS tape of EBENEZER, starring Jack Palance in the title role and Rick Schroeder as part of the supporting cast. This Canadian 'Western' version of A CHRISTMAS CAROL takes place in the Pacific Northwest and is a nice variation on the SCROOGE story. (I especially liked the young Indian maiden who portrays the Ghost of Christmas Past.)
I would recommend EBENEZER for your holiday viewing, although I don't know how easy it is to get. Perhaps Netflix might have it.
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Post by Immortal Alamo on Dec 6, 2007 21:02:12 GMT -5
Just finished watching the (colorized) Alastair Sim version of SCROOGE, after a day's visit to San Antonio. The Riverwalk lights and the Christmas tree on Alamo Plaza are really something to see. Colorized? For shame! But I'm with you on the sim version. Absolutely the best of them all. Perfect performances, a wonderful, quite underrated musical score, and an ending that always brings me to tears. There is, however, another Scrooge that no one has mentioned -- Mr. Magoo. I saw "Magoo's Christmas Carol" the first time it aired in 1964 and have never -- not once -- gone through a Christmas without it. Of course, I can recite it by now. Luckily, I have a nice DVD of it and don't have to. FT |
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Post by neferetus on Dec 7, 2007 0:23:22 GMT -5
Frank, for the purist, the disc of Sim's SCROOGE is double-sided and the original B&W version is on the flip side.
You know, for it being an on the cheap TV production, the musical score for Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol remains the best of the bunch. Albert Finney and the Muppets have nothing on this production. Particular stand-outs for me are "Brightest Christmas" and "Winter Was Warm". Makes you wonder why the fool ever left Belle. I fell in love with her voice.
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Post by seguin on Dec 7, 2007 0:29:15 GMT -5
There´s also Disney´s "Mickey´s Christmas Carol"! AIt´s a 25 min. long cartoon from 1983, with Uncle Scrooge as Ebenezer (of course). You can get it in the DVD series, Walt Disney Treasures: "Mickey Mouse In Living Color - Volume Two, 1939-1995" (same series as the Davy Crockett episodes were in).
And don´t forget all the other wonderful Christmas cartoons from Disney!
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Post by neferetus on Dec 7, 2007 1:28:12 GMT -5
Gosh, does Mickey's Christmas Carol date back that far? Now I really feel old. I remember back in the 1970's there was a musical version of Mickey's Christmas Carol on LP record, with an accompanying picture book. Some of the songs were pretty good, including "Under The Mistletoe". When I finally saw the movie version on the big screen, I was disappointed that all of the songs had been axed. It could've run for an hour, or so, with the music included. (And they charged the full theatrical ticket price for the 25 minute film, to boot!
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Post by neferetus on Dec 7, 2007 1:31:45 GMT -5
I love the Disney Christmas cartoons! Especially the one where Mickey is going out to chop down his Christmas tree and Chip & Dale are in it. Didn't I post Donald Duck's Christmas antics with Chip & Dale on here somewhere? It was from You Tube.
Donald and his nephews having a snowball fight is also a good one.
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Post by neferetus on Dec 7, 2007 1:48:40 GMT -5
 Here's a 1961 Comic of Donald Duck at Christmas that features Uncle Scrooge and the Beagle Boys. |
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