Scrooge

Rating:
Summary: My favorite holiday movie!
Review: My kids and I love this movie. It's the best version of
Scoorge that we have ever seen! And we have seen them all. None of them come even close. It has become a tradition in our house to watch this movie every Christmas Eve. Don't miss buying this timeless classic, it took me years trying to find someone had this movie in stock. Happy holidays and God bless.

Rating:
Summary: Albert Finney's Masterful Performance in SCROOGE
Review: The professional critics have never been particularly kind to this wonderful film. Albert Finney is one of the finest film actors of our generation. Part of his immmense talent lies in his ability to completely change his physical persona from role to role. (See him as Hercule Perot in the film "Murder on the Orient Express") In "Scrooge" he accomplishes this trick as he goes from young, handsome Ebeneezer to the miser with which we are all familiar. The entire Christmas Past sequence is wonderfully touching as we see Scrooge grow up, fall in and out of love, and come to regret the loss of his one true love. The rest of the film also remains true to Dicken's vision and retains his humor and social conscience.

The musical score by Leslie Bricusse may not be a parade of hits, but each song serves to support the action of the film and evokes a wide range of moods and emotions. The lyrics of "I Hate People" are worthy of Stephen Sondheim in their complexity and wit. Two of the ballads, "You...You" and "The Beautiful Day" (sung by Tiny Tim) are as gorgeous as any to be found anywhere. The supporting cast is uniformly excellent and the rich technical elements are effective in evoking Dicken's London.

This has long been one of my favorite films. Do yourself a favor and buy the complete VHS recording and do not watch the horribly cut versions which appear on TV during the holiday season. I will be watching my copy this Christmas for the 12th year in a row.

Rating:
Summary: Children and adult entertainment at its best
Review: Heighty ho its English entertainment at its best. Since it is Christmas time I had to play one of my favorite Xmas musicals.I was again reminded of how great this film is and what a possitive movie for both Children and adults. After all it is Xmas. Albert Finney Does such a great job on this movie.

Rating:
Summary: nice old-fashioned christmas musical
Review: I'm not usually a big fan of musicals, but I enjoyed this one, especially since I have a fondness for "old-fashioned Christmas" movies.

A couple of reviewers didn't think the songs were that great, but I enjoyed them. I especially liked the part when Scrooge sang "I hate people" - I'm sure many folks can relate to that, at least from time to time ; ) - and then had a bunch of street kids tease him and chase him down the street as they sang "Father Christmas."

However, I have to disagree with the reviewer who didn't find it scary and disagreed with another reviewer who did. I first saw this movie when I was a little kid, and it frightened the living daylights out of me. The parts that really made my blood run cold were Marley's ghost first when he first visited Scrooge, the scene when the Ghost of the Future pushes Scrooge into his grave, and Scrooge in hell. Even when I saw the movie again many years later on video, I still found the way Marley's ghost walked like he was floating in hot air chilling...and I have seen many "slasher" horror movies like Halloween and found them more amusing than scary.

Other than that, I enjoyed it. I liked the actors in it...not just Albert Finney and Alec Guinness, but also a guy whose name I forget who later on played the butler in the TV show "Upstairs, Downstairs." Other than the scary parts, I definitely recommend this as family entertainment.

Rating:
Summary: SCROOGE IS THE VERY BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIE EVER!!!!!!!!
Review: PLEASE, PLEASE PLEASE!!!!! IGNORE THOSE SO-CALLED 'PROFESSIONAL CRITICS'... THE PUBLIC NEVER LISTENS TO THEM ANYWAYS!!!! THIS MOVIE IS WONDERFUL AND ENTERTAINING FOR ALL AGES... MAYBE SOME SCENES MAY NEED SOME PARENTAL HELP BUT ALL AND ALL IT IS THE BEST ADAPTATION I HAVE EVER SEEN... INFECTIOUS MUSICAL NUMBERS AND TOUCHING MOMENTS AND THEY ARE NOT AFRAID TO TOUCH ON THE SERIOUSNESS OF ITS MESSAGE... I HAVE SEEN THIS MOVIE ALMOST 20 OR MORE TIMES AND I NEVER GET TIRED OF WATCHING IT... ALBERT FINNEY AS WELL AS MOST OR HEY, ALL THE CAST DOES A SUPER JOB... BUY THE MOVIE BEFORE IT GOES OUT OF PRINT.... YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT...

Rating:
Summary: This is by far MY favorite "Scrooge" movie!
Review: I own this version of Dickens famous Christmas Carol story. I too watch it every year with my husband and 2 boys(they love it too). The music is very enjoyable, in fact I wish there was a soundtrack of the music from this version of "Scrooge", I'd buy it! I like Albert Finney and think he did a Fantastic job of recreating the "crochety" old Scrooge. You'll love the ghosts that visit him especially the Ghost of Christmas Present. You won't be disappointed by the 1970 version of this great old story of "Scrooge"!

Rating:
Summary: No Better Scrooge, Period!!
Review: I was delighted to find other souls that feel the same as I about this version of Dickens tale. I've seen all of them and this is the only that ALWAYS brings a tear to the eye and a lump to the throat. Sims, Scott and the rest do a decent job but how can you compare with the voice, mannerisms and character representation that Finney brings?! He is absolutely wonderful. I'm often reminded that Sims' performance is a classic and while it is good it's no Finney. Sims voice is drab and monotone while Finney gives you odd noises, high pitches and facial expressions that are indeed those of a bitter old man. Need examples: the way he rationalizes Marley's ghost being caused by consumption of a "bit of rotten potatoe"; when the ghost of Christmas Present appears and says, "You're an odd little man!"; he then begins to sing "I Like Life", a very appropriate score, and makes Finney sing along. He even sings like a little old man! He doesn't just play Ebenezer Scrooge, he becomes him in every way possible. Every movement, gesture and syllable!
This tale adds the life and the sorrow that should be in a story such as this. It's perfect, from the characters and the script right down to the notes of each well placed tune.

Rating:
Summary: Classic Story Becomes Classic Musical
Review: Excellent acting and well written dialogue, true to the style of the original Dickens classic and filled out with pleasant musical numbers which enhance, rather than take away from the story. The style of music and street choreography may remind you of the film musical,Oliver. Added dialogue includes a more detailed look at the many paupers who owe Scrooge money and the very clever twist of Scrooge seeing himself in hell. (curtesy of the ghost of Christmas Future, of course.)

I do not let a Christmas go by anymore without watching this movie. It has joined my list of classics such as It's A Wonderful LIfe and Miracle On 34th St.

Although most professional reviews praised the acting and gave obligatory kudoes to the Dickens story itself, I was disappointed to see many critics unhappy with the songs. Some labeled the music as "bad to mediodcre" and I couldn't disagree more. If you have read such reviews, do yourself a favor and ignore them. Oh certainly, in any musical there will be one or two pieces that you could have done without, but most of the score is excellent. From the extremely clever and fun number, "Thank You Very Much" to the sweet melodic "Happiness", Scrooge, the Musical should take its place with the greats and perhaps will someday. Remember, there was a time when It's A Wonderful LIfe was considered a flop too.

Rating:
Summary: Oh, Please, It's Not That Great!!
Review: Sorry, folks, but the critics are right about this one. Not one of the better CHRISTMAS CAROLs (the Patrick Stewart or George C. Scott versions are far more faithful to the original text), and Albert Finney would have to wait a few years before he could better play Scrooge's age. Some of the songs are a delight ("December the 25th" and "Thank You Very Much" are toe-tappers for sure) but most of them are forgotten as soon as the movie is over. Roy Kinnear (better remembered from WILLY WONKA or Dick Lester's THREE MUSKETEERS movies) has little more than a cameo, so to say that his work stands out is absurd. The biggest sin this version commits, though, is to dismiss the social message that Dickens was attempting to convey. Where are the demon children, Ignorance and Want, sheltered by the Ghost of Christmas Present? Not in this version. It's nice, light entertainment, but, on the whole, it's pretty lame ... for musicalizations of this story one would do better with MUPPETS CHRISTMAS CAROL or even MR. MAGOO'S CHRISTMAS CAROL.

Rating:
Summary: Best Scrooge Film EVER!!
Review: It is the best film I have seen with reference to A Christmas Carol or Scrooge. (Charles Dickens Story).

As a family we have always watched this film at Christmas, it has become tradition and it is not Christmas without it.

In the future I hope I will have this film in my collection. I will be able to watch this film and think of my wonderful family when they are not with me to enjoy this experience. I can watch this film and be taken back to those hours where I sat with my Mum and Dad and enjoyed our family film. Have warm thoughts and remember. Hopefully showing it to my family one day!!

Unforuntaley I have had to video it from the TV because it is not available in England on VHS and my Video does not play (US, Canada Version). So I am hoping for it to be issued on DVD and all regions so I can watch this fanastic film in England.

Thank you