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Post by neferetus on Dec 7, 2007 1:50:19 GMT -5
Here's a sample page from the comic.
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Post by neferetus on Dec 7, 2007 2:11:17 GMT -5
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Post by seguin on Dec 7, 2007 2:57:47 GMT -5
That comic book from 1961 is a collectors item now! If the condition is not too bad, it should fetch a nice price, but I would hang on to it if I were you. Judging from the sample page, I would say that it´s drawn by Tony Strobl, a well know Disney artist. Yes, "Mickey´s Christmas Carol" is indeed from 1983. I know, because I have it! I have 7 of those Disney Treasures boxes each containing 2 dvd´s. 5 of them are with Mickey or Donald cartoons. Btw, "Chronological Donald - Volume three" is being released Dec 11. Great Donald cartoon on Youtube! It´s "Donald´s Snow Fight" from 1942. Carl Barks worked on that as a writer and it´s directed by Jack King. Jack King directed a lot of those early Disney cartoons...
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Post by Greg C. on Dec 7, 2007 7:04:59 GMT -5
Mickey Mouse Christmas carol is one of a kind...
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Post by neferetus on Dec 7, 2007 11:08:25 GMT -5
Mickey Mouse Christmas carol is one of a kind... Yes it is. But, as I mentioned, it could've and should've been longer if they'd only included all of the songs from the LP album of the same name. The songs were already there, were good ones and would've been joyous on screen. Was Disney going through some sort of budget crunch at the time? As a full-fledged film, MICKEY'S CHRISTMAS CAROL could be released theatrically each and every Christmas season. As it is, few people are aware of it, or else already have it on DVD. Question: Does the DVD have other Disney Christmas cartoons on it? it would be a waste to release a mere 25 minute DVD, in my mind, anyway.
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Post by Immortal alamo on Dec 7, 2007 13:59:42 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 Immortal Alamo on Dec 7, 2007 14:03:38 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. Oops, sorry. I hit "send" before I wrote anything. Yeah, Ned, the music for "Magoo" is one of the elements that makes the show so heartfelt and memorable. I do, however, also like the Albert Finney "Scrooge." The music isn't quite so great as that in "Magoo" but there are some fine songs anyway. And when we're talking great versions of "Christmas Carol," let's not forget "Scrooged."
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Post by seguin on Dec 9, 2007 0:39:39 GMT -5
Question: Does the DVD have other Disney Christmas cartoons on it? it would be a waste to release a mere 25 minute DVD, in my mind, anyway. "Mickey Mouse In Living Color - Volume Two" is a 2-DVD set. Besides "Mickey´s Christmas Carol" there´s "Pluto´s Christmas Tree" - a short cartoon 7-8 min. long, and there´s "The Prince And The Pauper" - 24 min. long, which takes place at winter. There´s snow all over but I don´t think you could call it a Christmas cartoon specifically, since it´s not about Christmas per se. It stars Mickey, Goofy and Donald. The rest of the cartoons are the usual Mickey cartoons 7-8 min. long.
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Post by neferetus on Dec 12, 2007 12:08:35 GMT -5
I guess I am rather behind my time in reporting this, but I did go to the New Braunfels Theatre Company's production of A CHRISTMAS CAROL at the Brauntex, this past Saturday and enjoyed it very much.
Though I'd seen this Israel Horovitz adaption of the Dickens story before in Glendale, CA. , it was like seeing it for the first time here. Whereas the Glendale production boasted a rather lavish set and ditto costuming, the Brauntex production was rather spartan, in comparison. But no matter, for that just added to its charm.
Our Ghostly Host and narrator of the production was none other than Scrooge's old business partner, Jacob Marley (Marshall Lord), particularly ghoulish looking and dragging a chain. His appearence soon induced some parents with younger children to rush them out of the theater, before their shrieks interfered with the story that was enfolding on stage.
Ebenezer Scrooge was portrayed by Kent Hofstad, an account executive for a technology company who swears that he was not type-cast for the role. Mr. Hofstad did not seem to attempt to parody any screen adaption Scrooge, but rather gave the character his own spin. Still, if I had to describe his performance, I would have to say that he came off as a sort of cross between Richard Burton and Anthony Hopkins. (There's a combo for you!)
Ken Schrein's Bob Cratchit came across as a sympathetic character in that you really felt for him having to work for such a tight-fisted, nose to the grindstone, wrenching, grasping, covetous old sinner as Scrooge.
Michael Hindman's Nephew Fred was a right jovial sort and should be. He and his wife (Elizabeth Long) were well met on that important character trait.
For me, the most haunting portrayal came from Sydney Watt, as the Ghost of Christmas Past. Though only in the 6th grade, Miss Watt seemed mature far beyond her years, just as the Ghost of Christmas Past was described by Dickens as both old and yet child-like, at the same time. Her stoic face and unsymparthetic demeanor showed that she wasn't going to let Scrooge off so easy, as many other Ghosts of Christmas Past have done in the past.
In this New Braunfels Theatre Company production, everyone pitched in together to make it work. Even the stage dressers were members of the cast and sang Christmas carols as they shifted around the props for a new scene. A live keyboardist (Katie MacDonald) had her hands full providing all the music for the production and received her own ovation on the conclusion of the play.
I took particular delight in the Fezziwig ball scene. Jeff Fowler (Mr. Fezziwig) and Sherry Hardwick (Mrs. Fezziwig) were a delightful dancing team, while the other younger dance couples, all done up in their Christmas finery, were nothing less than charming. Even the audience was soon clapping along in time.
When scenes called for revellers to be passing in the streets, the revellers themselves sang Christmas Carols and even overlapped into the aisles of the theater to such effect that it sort of drew the audience itself into the production.
The special effects, while minimal were well done and served their purpose rather adequately, through use of sound effects and lighting.
Well, I'm getting a bit overlong here. Even Scrooge himself begged old Marley to "Pray, don't be flowery, Jacob."
I'll be heading for California for my Christmas holiday on the 18th, but plan on taking in at least one more performance of A CHRISTMAS CAROL before I go. (The production runs through the 17th.)
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Post by seguin on Dec 12, 2007 18:16:01 GMT -5
Seems like you had a great time there since you want to see it again. That´s great! I´ve only seen a few of the movie adaptations on TV over the years...
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Post by Greg C. on Dec 12, 2007 18:54:10 GMT -5
I used to see a small production of this in Spring Lake, New Jersey. To paint a picture of how small the theatre was, the last row was about 25 feet from the stage. There wasn't a bad seat in the place and I actually wanted to sit in the last row (its an Italian-back-to-the-wall thing). It was always very good even though it was not Lavish by any means. They served cider and cookies during intermission and afterwards, the cast waited in the lobby and you could talk to them or a get a picture with them. It was all around good afternoon of fun!
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Post by neferetus on Dec 12, 2007 22:01:14 GMT -5
Sounds like a memorable time, Greg. How long ago was that?
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Post by Greg C. on Dec 13, 2007 15:28:25 GMT -5
Sounds like a memorable time, Greg. How long ago was that? Had to be 4 or 5 years ago but I remember it well....
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Post by neferetus on Dec 13, 2007 16:29:09 GMT -5
I'll be going back to the Brauntex for another performance tomorrow night.
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Post by neferetus on Dec 15, 2007 17:47:21 GMT -5
The George C. Scott version of A CHRISTMAS CAROL is starting RIGHT NOW on AMC.
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Post by Greg C. on Dec 15, 2007 19:16:16 GMT -5
The George C. Scott version of A CHRISTMAS CAROL is starting RIGHT NOW on AMC. I own it on VHS and will watch it with the family sometime this week...
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Post by Greg C. on Dec 22, 2007 13:55:14 GMT -5
Gonna sit down in a little while and watch the George C. Scott version of A Christmas Carol. I've watched it every year for God knows how long...
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Post by neferetus on Dec 27, 2007 21:42:14 GMT -5
On Friday, the 21st, I went to Knotts Berry Farm with some friends. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the place, back in the 1940's Cornelia Knott and her husband Walter created the hybrid 'boysenberry' by crossing blueberries with raspberries on their berry farm in Buena Park, CA. Mrs. Knott later opened a chicken dinner restaurant on the site that became so popular that the clientele would stand in long lines just to get a table. Walter Knott, meanwhile, had bought the Calico Ghost Town, a real abandoned gold mining community near Barstow in San Bernardino County. In order to give the folks who were waiting in line for their chicken dinners something that would pass the time, Mr. Knott buit a replica of the Ghost Town along side the restaurant in Buena Park. It had a train with bad men holding it up, a stagecoach ride and a wagon camp where cowboy shows were put on. Admission was free...in the beginning. When the Knott's Berry Farm and Ghost Town became a popular tourist site, admission was charged, rides were added and it became a full-fledged amusement park. For me though, it was and is, always the Ghost Town that keeps me coming back. That and all the berry preserves that the farm is so famous for.
Anyway, enough background...
T'was the season and the park was all decked to the nines with holly, berries, lights, Christmas trees, you name it. The Calico Saloon, known for its rowdy can can shows, had a Cowboy Christmas themed show with actual religious carols and Merry Christmas wishes. Over at the Birdcage Theater, a 30 minute production of A CHRISTMAS CAROL was put on that was quite good, in spite of its brevity and the fact that only three actors were playing all the parts. It really worked out rather well. When the lone ghost would show Scrooge his past, present and future, it was through means of narration and pantomime. Scrooge himself, once redeemed, was a jolly old curmudgeon who echoed some of the actual sentiments from Alistair Sim's Scrooge.( "I haven't taken leave of my senses Bob, I've come to them.") All in all, it was quite a nice surprize, especially since it was free with admission to the park. Anyhow, a pleasant time was had by all.
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Post by neferetus on Dec 29, 2007 12:08:19 GMT -5
Has anyone here ever been to Knotts Berry Farm?
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Post by Greg C. on Dec 29, 2007 17:08:37 GMT -5
Has anyone here ever been to Knotts Berry Farm? I've eaten there berry filled cookies before...
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