Rating: 
Summary: A great VERSION of Dicken's A Christmas Carol
Review: Every time I watch this film I love the dialogue that the characters use and the haunting score. The movie looks and sounds much better on DVD. The score is almost deafining in a 2.0 Dolby Digital surround soundtrack. If you own this on VHS you haven't experienced it yet on DVD!
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Summary: The BEST Christmas Carol
Review: For some unknown reason, most critics love the Alister Sim version of Christmas Carol. It is NOT faithful to the Dickens story. There are added scenes, rewritten parts of the story and in general an almost unwatchable, hammy, bordering on amateurish performance by Mr. Sim. He must havegained 50 pounds from chewing the scenery. However, the George C. Scott performance is a marvel. It is completely believable, a multilayered absolutely real person. This is THE Scrooge for all generations. Everything about the production - script, settings, music - are just right. And what a supporting cast! Any production that can boast Susannah York, David Warner, Edward Woodward, Roger Reese just screams QUALITY. Even though this version was made for television, it has all the production qualities of the finest film. Had it played the theaters, there is no doubt that it would have been nominated for, and received, Oscars.The Dickens book is one of my favorite work of literature. I read it every year. This production is the perfect realization of Dickens!
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Summary: Thanks Be For The Love Of Family And Friends!
Review: There have been numerous and different versions of this classic tale through the years, but never has there been one that drives home the message of how important it is to have caring and loving family, friends, and associates in our lives. Were it not for Jacob Marley's ghostly visit out of concern for Scrooge's redemption, his cheerful nephew Fred Holywell's persistent devotion to staying in touch with his unfriendly Uncle, and even Bob Cratchit's unending patience and submissive obedience as the devoted employee, then old Scrooge would truly have been doomed to his dark, heartless and loveless life forever. Superbly acted, beautifully scored and filmed, this version will enlighten you to just what Dickinson was trying to say as no version ever has. Without a doubt born to play the title character, George C. Scott is the ultimate Scrooge, his every ugly look and wicked verbal statement perfectly played, and his take on the gradual softening and redemption of this hard, old man is a wonder to behold. Roger Rees is simply outstanding as Scrooge's loving and caring nephew, Fred Holywell, and their scenes together after Scrooge's redemption has firmly taken hold are beautiful and tear-inducing. Edward Woodward's Ghost of Christmas Present is fabulous, and he more than holds his own in his scenes with Scott. His verbal throw-backs, sarcastic wit, and total physical presence are worth watching time and again. David Warner beautifully underplays the oppressed Bob Cratchit, with a truly heartfelt and caring attitude towards his tough-as-nails employer. And watch for the under-appreciated Susannah York as the feistiest and most honest Mrs. Cratchit ever! The entire production is a gem, through and through. Your Christmas won't be complete until you sit down with family and friends and watch this from beginning to end. Turn off the phone and the computer, lock the front door, put away your pagers, cellphones and anything else that might interrupt you, and REALLY WATCH this beauty! You won't be the same, ever again.
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Summary: A Christmas Carol Rocks!
Review: I love the story! The way it is portryed is wonderful. If you hate Christmas time watch this. If you love Xmas watch it anyway!
Rating:
Summary: Patton, Scrooge & Oz
Review: Some have said the rest of George C. Scott's career pales against his portrayal of Gen George Patton. Though of vastly different content, this version of "A Christmas Carol" comes close in treating us to a consumate character performance. As much as I liked the Sim version while growing up, this version surpasses it. One almost feels as though he is allowed to peep through time at events as they would have happened in Dickens' world...to actually, really watch characters as they lived the story. The cast, detail, and realism are enhanced by the color of this version...not a statement which can always be made of remakes of classics. The patina of time will only enhance film copies shown on TV.The old standards must usually be pried from my fingers. In this case, I willingly let go of "A Christmas Carol"s past to embrace this version. It, as "The Wizard Of Oz" and a few other peerless movies, has become an annual viewing tradition in our family.
Rating:
Summary: four star classic - first rate, etc.
Review: This is probably the best version of Dickens' legendary story and is also one of the best Christmas stories of any genre. How my satellite provider's rating system came up with two stars (out of four) for this version is unfathomable. I do not want to be downwind of whatever their reviewer must have been smoking. There are simply no weaknesses in this presentation - none. If you haven't seen it, see it. If you have seen it, see it again. With Christmas seemingly getting more crass and commercial with each passing year, this story gets all the more poignant...
Rating: 
Summary: Good Adaptation but....
Review: This is an excellent adaptation with Scrooge played by one of my favorite actors, the late George C. Scott. But unfortunately after seeing the Sim version, you are ruined for all other versions because no Scrooge holds a candle to the Sim portrayal. He crushes all of the other Scrooges like little poser bugs beneath his feet. For this reason, and this reason only, does the Scott version get four stars, because to give this one five stars would mean that it is as good as the Sim Scrooge, which it is not. But this version definitely gets kudos and is well worth a view. Warning: make sure you watch this version (or any version) BEFORE the Sim version or, alas, it will seem small and puny in comparison and you will be unable to look at the Scott version as anything more than a cheap imitation, which it is not.
Rating:
Summary: Dickens on screen
Review: The Alastair Sim version was very good but this is better. The late George C Scott is the definitive Ebenezer Scrooge and the supporting cast is uniformly excellent. The film boasts that rare combination - careful attention to Period detail and an engrossing storyline that remains faithful to the original novel. The penultimate scene when Scrooge is reconciled to his nephew [ Roger Rees ] is particularly moving. You'll be lucky to sit through this one without recourse to a box of hankies!
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Summary: By Far the Best Version
Review: This is simply the best version ever filmed of Charles Dicken's classic tale! George C. Scott captures so completely and believably the character of Ebenezer Scrooge. He is amazing. The supporting cast is magnificent to the last. Their characterizations are so real and touching. It is beautifully and meticulously acted and filmed, with great attention to every detail. And the music is, well, in a word magical! It transports you and captures so finely the pure essence of Dickensian England. Try this one for yourself. I am moved and captured by it's brilliance every time that I see it. In this version the tale's timless message isn't just told, it is astoundingly revealed!
Rating:
Summary: Dark but excellent adaptation.
Review: This is possibly the grimmest and darkest film version yet. There are scenes of homeless people in poverty, Tiny Tim looks like a corpse, Jacob Marley's face shows signs of despair and horror, and the usually happy scene of Scrooge's sister taking him away from his lonely schoolings ends dramatically with the father planning to send Ebenezer to work three days after. What light there is in this film is shown by the Cratchits, Scrooge's nephew, and the wonderful music by Nick Bicat. George C. Scott gives a memorable performance as the miser. He is a stubborn old man, trying hard not to admit his mistakes and stinginess, and is capable of a sense of humor ('You're devilish hard to have conversations with!' he tells Christmas Yet-to-Come). Accompanying him is a fine cast including David Warner (for a villain actor, he is a convincing Bob Cratchit), Edward Woodward (As a smug Christmas Present who delightfully steps on Scrooge's words), and Angela Pleasance (in my book, the BEST Christmas Past Ghost). The production is also first-rate, with realistic costumes and sets, and excellent visual photography (especially in the scenes concerning the Christmas Yet-to-Come ghost, in tall black shroud and a voice like scraping metal). This 1984 Television production stands with the 1951 Alastair Sim version as the best film adaptations of Charles Dicken's oft-told tale.
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