Scrooge

The story of "Christmas Carol" is well known, so I'm not going to relay it here in detail: old guy is stingy, gets visited by ghosts that show him how much of a jerk he is.

This story has been retold and refilmed more times than most tales. However, I think this may be one of the best versions. I watched it in color, though I believe it was originally in black and white, and it would have been just as good in that form.

The songs are pretty good, but what I really enjoyed was how much personality Scrooge (Albert Finney) had. I really enjoyed the scene where his nephew is playing the Minister's Cat game. Scrooge just came alive! The film also stands out for portraying Hell and mentioning Lucifer. I am used to them Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come showing Scrooge a grave, but not actually taking him to Hell. I was a little taken aback by that... what was a pretty light tale suddenly got very, very dark. I suppose that is the point, though, so they did it well.

If you watch only one version of "Christmas Carol" this year, make it this one.

This film is an underrated classic family musical. In the spirit and tradition of Oliver! and My Fair Lady, with an energetic memorable score and an eclectic cast all on top form. Sir Alec Guinness, Dame Edith Evans and the wonderful Kenneth Moore support magnificently. Moore in one of the last roles before his untimely death, clearly enjoying hamming it up as the ghost of Christmas present carrying the miserable scrooge along for the ride of his life whilst singing `I like life!' is a joy to see.

But Finney's performance is the standout. At a time when he was making films like Charlie Bubbles and Gumshoe, and with a reputation of being one of Britain's foremost angry young men this role was as unexpected as it was wonderful.

As a side note I was lucky enough to be able to see Anthony Newley as the miser in Bricusse's early nineties theatrical revival, and although good was no where near as cutting or humorous as Finney.

A must see at Christmas time, you too will be singing `I like life' and `thank you very much' for days afterwards!

Special . This, I suppose, is the fair term about this adaptation , offering to Albert Finney the privilege to craft a great Scrooge , to Sir John Gielgud to impress as Marley and to viewer to feel a great state of spirit.

All is seductive in this musical . Maybe because it represents more than a real inspired adaptation but a pure energetic dialogue with viewer. The huge goblets, the Santa costume, the dances in spirit of old fashion musicals - just few admirable good points, provocative in same measure.

Sure, some innovations, so smart made than are more than good reflection of book spirit.

Delightful sounds reasonable for a film admirable for honesty and clever remind of the heart of Christmas.

So, spectacular in same measure.

And, no doubts, one of films fair to see time by time.

There have been so many versions of this literary masterpiece filmed that it is high praise indeed from me when I say this is easily my favourite version and one of the best. Albert Finney gives a tour-de-force performance as Ebeneezer Scrooge. He is barely middle-age when making the film yet gives one of the best cranky, curmudgeonly old man performances seen in film. Finney gives such life to lines that have become tainted by overuse over the years. All the performers do excellent jobs with some old English stalwarts lending a hand. Dame Edith Evans plays one of the most charming and pithy Ghosts of Christmas Pasts I have seen. Kenneth More, an under-appreciated actor, adds so much life as the Ghost of Christmas Present. And let's not forget Alec Guinness as the Ghost of Jacob Marley. In some moments he is a clown and others a very scary spirit. The scene where Scrooge sees his fate as being a co-worker of Marley's in Hell is one of the most innovative plot additions I have seen to this classic, timeless tale. Guinness hams it up; watch how he walks with those chains all over him. The actors playing Cratchit, Tiny Tim, Nephew Fred, Mr. Fezziwig, and so on are all very believable and give genuine performances. I love the music. I know some people are not musical people, but each song is catchy and some like "I Hate People," "I Like Life," "December the 25th," and the best "Thank You Very Much" will possibly remain in your head days after having seen the film. Because of its status as a tale of redemption and forgiveness and the possibility each of us have in changing our lives, A Christmas Carol(Scrooge) gets little recognition for being one of the greatest ghost stories ever written. I cannot say enough good about this film. What more can you ask for than good, solid acting, mellifluous tunes, authentic Victorian settings, and one heck of a good ghost story with a moral that each of us can relate to. If you don't like musicals, you will be put off by people combusting into song. As for me, Scrooge is the one version that my family and I make a point of seeing every holiday season. It just isn't Christmas here without it!

Are you interested in seeing A Christmas Carol as a musical? You've got several options (since the Public Domain makes it easy for budding songwriters to write music without securing any exclusive rights). I've seen at least four musicals, and I recommend the Albert Finney version. Leslie Bricusse's songs are delightful, the production values are surprisingly good, and Albert Finney is the lead! In a wonderful treat (and the only version I can remember that does this), Albert plays both the main Scrooge and the younger version in the past flashbacks. Usually, it's a role sought out in an actor's middle-age, but since Albert was so young in 1970, he merely covered himself up in unrecognizable makeup during the main meat of the movie. For a few minutes, we get to see him in his true handsome glory, and it's a lot of fun. In either case, young or old, he's a great actor believable in hero or villain roles, which makes him a wonderful Ebenezer Scrooge.

And did you know that he could sing? You'll get to hear a variety of original songs in this movie, from the sweet to the sad, the heartwarming to the funny. Alec Guinness, Kenneth More, Laurence Naismith, Suzanne Neve, Richard Beaumont, and David Collings join in on the musical fun; and Anton Rodgers leads the chorus in the most memorable "Thank You Very Much." It's a very sad scene (the entire town is thanking Scrooge for dying), but the song itself is adorable and will keep you singing it for years to come.

This version might not be the one you watch every year on Christmas Eve, but if it's been a while since you saw it, rent it again this December. There are many little touches that will continue to impress you whenever you do watch it. Details remind you that the writers clearly studied the original text, the production design and costumes make you feel as though you're experiencing the bitter cold alongside them, and Albert Finney makes you want to wrap him up in a hug. No, not because of his twinkling eyes and sparkling smile. Just as he completely transformed himself as Hercule Poirot, you'll forget there's a young, handsome man underneath the makeup of Ebenezer Scrooge. He's a lonely, crotchety old man you'll feel sorry for, and when you see the Ghost of Christmas Past flashbacks, you'll practically forget it's the same actor!