Rating: Summary: I am a regular guy from Maine, and I HATE musicals! Review: But I love this film! First and foremost, Albert Finney played the best Scrooge ever...bar none. This character was not simply a miserable miser as seen other films, he is mean! Damn mean! Ronald Neame directed this film perfectly. Scrooge was not only mean, but he LOOKED cheap, right down to his dirty face and filthy fingernails. All of the other casting was done just as brilliantly. The ghost of Jacob Marley was played by Alec Guiness of Star Wars' Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi fame, (you would never know it...shows what a versitile actor he is!). Tiny Tim was not just some kid, he seems ill. Bob Cratchit was not some sniviling whelp, but a fun loving individual who worked under Scrooge's thumb without question, (he was so much more like the Cratchit in the book than in any other film). Old Fezziwig ACTUALLY make you feel merry. Anton Rodgers plays Tom Jenkins flawlessly, (Thank You Very Much!). Every other cast member from Isabel to the ghosts fit their parts perfectly. I am not much of a movie stats buff, but hats off to whoever did the casting. I was also impressed with the fact that you could really see how forlorn Scrooge was as he reflects on his life. Also, unlike other films, he does not change miraculously all at once. While the ghost of Christmas present shows him the party at his nephew's home, Scrooge turns slowly from angry to having the time of his life playing a game of the minister's cat with the party folk. At this time of merryment, (obviously none can see/hear him). He ridicules people and calls someone stupid while he is reveling gleely. This, unlike other films shows the true nature of his transformation. This is my favorite Christmas movie of all time...
Rating: Summary: The best Scrooge ever played! Review: This version of The Christmas Carol is one of the best! Albert Finney does a wonderful job of portraying the miserable Scrooge. A must for a "Christmas Carol" collection!
Rating: Summary: THIS IS THE ULTIMATE 'SCROOGE', THE BEST EVER! Review: THE BEST SCROOGE MOVIE OF THEM ALL! A great movie, a great musical; a great Christmas Treat! I adore this movie, it has a slight 70's feel, but is absolutely the best scrooge movie ever made, the music is sublime, the singing is inspired and the casting is absolutley 100 percent perfect. Albert Finney is FANTASTIC in this, as are the whole cast!i reccomend this movie so much, everyone should buy it. It gives such a warm feeling inside, and has a sincerity other Scrooge films do not. BUY IT, SEE IT! Ross, Australia.
Rating: Summary: A Great Christmas Classic Review: This is a wonderful christmas movie for the whole family. Albert Finney is wonderful as scrooge and the songs are splendid! For anyone wanting to watch a great adaptation of a Christmas Carol this is the one!! I only wish they made a DVD! Do not hesitate and get this one for your christmas video collection.
Rating: Summary: It wouldn't be Christmas without SCROOGE! Review: Every year the family loves to gather and watch SCROOGE. The songs are great, the sets are great and it puts a smile on your face. And every year we have to hear my mother say "I just can't believe that Ryan O Neal was Oscar-nominated for Love Story instead of Albert Finney for SCROOGE!"
Rating: Summary: THANK YOU VERY MUCH! Review: This is undoubtedly the finest adaptation of Dickens' "immortal" classic. In fact, if I may say so, this one was even better than the book! I first saw this movie when Iwas about 3 or 4, and it scared the living daylights out of me, with all the ghosts and ghouls Scrooge is haunted by before he finally begins his musical trek into his past, present, and future, aided by Dame Edith Evans (Ghost of Christmas Past) and Sir Kenneth More (Christmas Present).Albert Finney is unrivaled as the means-spirited Ebenezer. The Bob Cratchit character (the actor's name eludes me for the moment) is also expertly played, displaying forgiveness and compassion. Sir Alec Guiness portrays an hilarious, quick-tempered Jacob Marley. But probably my favorite performance in this film, though he was only seen for a short while, was Sir Laurence Naismith as the eternally optimistic Fezziwig. "What a marvelous man!" Also better conveyed in this film than in other adaptations is the guilt Scrooge relives (actually, he may have never lived it to begin with) as he trades his beautiful would-be wife in for a pocketful of money; this guilt is vividly expressed in the song, "You Were Good For Me". Yes, the music is superb throughout, as well as is the acting. I'm always fascinated every time I watch the scene where Scrooge is at his nephew's house on Chirstmas Eve (invisible, of course), parading around the gathering of guests playing The Minister's Cat game. And as he keeps cheering them on or joking them when they lose and talking above everyone else's voices, every actor in the room does a superb job of ignoring him. I always look close, but I've never seen a single person even accidentally nod their head or bat their eye at him, even when he's up in their faces. This is a wonderful Christmas movie, as good a musical as any other ever made, and a heartwarming story of redemption. Life and I made a mutual vow / Till I die / Life and I / We'll both try to be better somehow...
Rating: Summary: A message of salvation Review: This is the best version of A Christmas Carol I have ever seen. We've seen it so many times the tape is wearing out. The message of salvation and love for you neighbor comes through loud and clear. Two thumbs up!
Rating: Summary: Thank you very much Review: I first saw this movie during Christmas of 1999 with my 4 year old, and by the end we were both literally dancing to 'thank you very much' around the house! What a great movie! I agree, ignore all the proffesional critics, watch the movie during the holidays, or even in April, as we did today! It really is by far the best and truest holiday film to view. It is so outstanding and uplifting to hear and watch everyone singing 'thank you very much' whilst dancing down the street, incredible! Yes yes yes, release the real movie soundtrack, PLEASE! We should organise the worlds largest street party and get thousands of people to dance and sing to 'thank you very much' for a world record!
Rating: Summary: The best overall "Christmas Carol"(though titled SCROOGE) Review: I know it's sacrilege to challange the wonderful classic Allister Sim's scrooge character, but regardless what Leonard "Bah Humbug" Maltin says about Albert Finney's Scrooge, he IS Scrooge. Scrooge is a caricature of himself, anyway. This version is a musical, but not so much as to get in the way of the story. The songs are good to great, with two in particular bringing tears at one point and "Oliver-like" dancing numbers, in another. Mr. Malkin says that Albert Finney is "hamming it up," but if you've ever read "A Christmas Carol," Finney has Scrooge down pat! All the cast members are top notch. It's got Sir Alec Guiness in it, for heaven's sake! This version is great to watch with the whole family, since it has aspects that appeal to everyone.
Rating: Summary: ONE OF THE BEST EVER Review: Often people will say that alistar sims portrayal of mean ol scrooge is the best and indeed it one of my favorites also..this despite the fact that tiny tim and bob cratchit are not as compeling as the actors in the albert finney scrooge and despite the fact that the alistar sims scrooge shows a bespectacled stage technician peeking into the mirror along with scrooge as he recites how happy he is to be alive after his ghostly visit. the magic of the finney's scrooge is in the music the performance and the set which is very detailed in relating life in mid 19th century England. As we all know the magic of Dickins's "Chrismas Carol" shines thru any heartfelt portrayal of this truly spiritual story no matter who performs and here is no exception...with a little something extra
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