Rating: 
Summary: Very good, but not the best
Review: Excellent production with uniformly fine performances. The only problem is the choice of George C. Scott for Scrooge. Although he is a superb actor and can play mean and crotchety as well as anyone, he is physically all wrong for the role. Scrooge should be wizened and shrivelled, whereas Scott exudes power and forcefulness. He does the best with what he has, giving a consistent reinterpretation of the part, but it is not the Scrooge we all know and love (to hate). Sometimes the difference is particullarly distracting, like when he bends his robust, healthy frame over his dinner of watery gruel. At the end, when we expect Scrooge to be bubbling over with uncontainable glee, Scott's performance is more restrained, especially in the scene with his nephew. Again, he is utterly believable and self-consistent, but it does not offer the joyous catharsis of more traditional portrayals. For that, I recommend the 1951 version with Alistair Sim, or the musical "Scrooge" with Albert Finney.
Rating: 
Summary: The best of all possible Scrooges.
Review: The celebrated version of "A Christmas Carol" is the one starring Alastair Sim, who gives the definitive version of the traditional, crabbed miser performance of Scrooge. It indeed is very fine, but this version is better. It is probably the most faithful of all the screen "Christmas Carols" to the original Dickens story. It pulses with color and life, and the ancient Midlands town of Shrewsbury makes a delightful stand-in for 19th-century London. But what really makes this version unforgettable is the superb, surprising casting, beginning with George C. Scott as Scrooge. Scott plays Scrooge not as a crabbed old coot, but as a man whose imposing, smug facade masks enormous sorrow and insecurity--a man who suffered greatly, lost his way because of it, and needs to find that way again. It is a brilliant performance, and the supporting players shine like rubies: Frank Finlay as a truly terrifying Marley's Ghost; "Tom Jones" co-stars David Warner and Susannah York as Bob and Mrs. Cratchit; Edward Woodward, taking time out from "The Equalizer" to make a delightful Ghost of Christmas Present. This version of "A Christmas Carol" remembers that the story is, first and foremost, a ghost story; when the Ghost of Christmas Present reveals Ignorance and Want to Scrooge, every viewer will be thoroughly unnerved, and thoroughly moved. The terror, of course, is all the better to appreciate the abundant joy with which the story ends. Once you see this version of "A Christmas Carol," you will settle for no other.
Rating:
Summary: Scott & Co. create an All-Time Classic
Review: There are many film versions of Charles Dickens' classic A CHRISTMAS CAROL, the tale of how miserly Scrooge was redeemed with the help of the spirits of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come. But few of them seem to have the care and attention paid to it as this version directed by Clive Donner and starring George C. Scott as Scrooge. The details in this production are amazing. For example, Tiny Tim actually looks ill and is not the overly-healthy looking lad of previous versions. Scott anchors this film with an amazingly well-rounded portrayal of Scrooge. He shows wit, fear, insight, and even humor in his portrayal, while fleshing out the character. Scrooge is seen as a fully realized character, and not the stereotype we often think of. Scott is also supported by top notch talent, with Edward Woodward's Ghost of Christmas Present, David Warner's Bob Cratchit, Susannah York's Mrs. Cratchit, and Frank Finlay's Marley especially praised. But there is NOT ONE weak portrayal in the entire film, and that is a rare thing indeed. If you have to get only one version of this time-honored story, I would heartily recommend this one above all. It reminds us that Dickens' story is a classic for our time...and all time as well. A must have for your video or DVD collection.
Rating:
Summary: If I could give this movie more stars I would!
Review: This 1984 version of "A Christmas Carol" is the best I've ever seen, and believe me, I've seen everything from the early black and white movie versions to cartoon versions to the present-day sitcom versions to the "adaptations based on" versions. The only one I haven't seen yet is the one starring Patrick Stewart.But Stewart's attempt would have to be above excellent to beat George C. Scott's marvelous turn as Ebenezer Scrooge. I watched this movie when it first aired in 1984, and I looked forward to it every year since then. There were some years when it didn't air, and I would be absolutely crestfallen. But one day I walked into my local Wal-mart and there it was after all these years! I snapped it up immediately. Sorry to all the Reginald Owens and Alistair Sim fans out there, but George C. Scott does it best in my opinion. I will watch the other versions if they come on in my area, but I usually fall asleep or struggle through them. I can watch Scott's versions over and over again throughout the season and never get tired of it. It tops the list of my live-action Christmas movie favorites. It's hard for me to see why the critics rate the Sim version over this one. Donner's movie draws me in to the time and place. I feel as if I'm really there! The sets are lush, the costumes beautiful, and actors superb. This movie has just the right amount of darkness and haunting needed so that the change in Scrooge and the lightness that follows is so welcome. It's also the most faithful to Charles Dickens' book, which I like to read as a companion to the movie. Despite what the critics say about this version, I hardly notice that Scott doesn't have a convincing British accent. There's so many other things that are so right about this production, and Scott's performance is so convincing, that's it's hard to take points off for the few things that might be subpar. Having said that, I think I'll pull the video out again and watch it. Happy viewing!
Rating:
Summary: A real scrooge
Review: This is the best rendition of "A Christmas Carol" I have ever seen. George C Scott is a truly believable scrooge, and the setting is true to Charles Dickens' book. For a truly memorable Christmas, you must watch this version of the classic tale.
Rating:
Summary: The way Dickens would have wanted it filmed!!!!
Review: I have always been a fan of Dickens in general and specifically "A Christmas Carol". The story of an aged miser being challenged and changed by supernatural beings has helped this story to be one of the all-time classics, causing it to be filmed many times in many ways. When I heard that George C Scott was filming a made-for-TV version I was elated. I wasn't in the least disappointed. This version, originally broadcast in the mid-1980's, is probably the closest I've seen to the original book. Scott's Scrooge is at once arrogant and sorrowful. His portayal takes you from disgust to pity, as the character begins to change with each ghostly visit. As good as Scott is (and he IS good) the film has a wonderful supporting cast that brings all the characters to life. David Warner as Bob Crachett is believable as the down-trodden employee who is a vision of strength for his family. The music here is also very good. It helps to set the tone of every scene, from the festivities of Christmas day to the dark gloom of the graveyard scene. I would strongly recommend this to any one looking for that one film that could become a family holiday tradition.
Rating:
Summary: Dickens himself must have overseen this production!
Review: I guess what makes this version so special is the feel of it. You are literally brought back in time to 1843. Matter of fact, it was filmed not on a sound stage but in actual buildings that were standing in Dickens' time. And it follows the book closer than any other filmed version. I also agree with the other reviewers that the DVD version is truly amazing. If you do not watch this at least twice each season, I would be very surprized. Definitely the version to get above all others.
Rating:
Summary: A Christmas Tradition
Review: I first saw this on TV in the late 1980's (sponsored by IBM!) It was sooo good, the next year, we taped it on VCR. We have watched it on Christmas Eve ever since. It is undoubtably the BEST version ever filmed - and I have seen them all. George C. Scott is excellent, the supporting cast supurb, and the music and production values great. Buy it, watch it with people you love on Christmas Eve - It will become a tradition for you, too!
Rating:
Summary: The best ever!A must have on DVD!
Review: All I can say is that I have watched them all and none of the other versions impressed me as much as this one did. The reason why is probably George C Scott's performance. I bought this one on DVD immediately and I know this will be cherished in our family for a lot of christmases to come.
Rating:
Summary: The best version yet of this classic story.
Review: I can't imagine a finer cinematic version of A Christmas Carol than this one. George C. Scott gives a superb performance as Scrooge, convincingly conveying his gradual transformation from a hard-hearted miser to a man who eventually comes to embody the spirit of Christmas. Scott's performance, in my opinion, surpasses even the widely-praised performance by Alistair Sim. Everything else about this film is also excellent: the supporting cast, the scenery, and even the musical score. This is probably my favorite movie and I recommend it highly. However, please note that this version of A Christmas Carol was unavailable for several years, so you might want to buy it right away now that it's at least temporarily available on DVD.
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