What's Your Favourite "A Christmas Carol" Movie?
What's Your Favourite "A Christmas Carol" Movie ?
This being a fitting time to post this article, I took note that there are actually 33 fantasy or animated movie versions, or adaptations based on Charles Dickens' story A Christmas Carol, starting with a silent 1908 film which is thought to be lost. I have seen a number of them, including the 1938 version starring Reginald Owen as Scrooge, the 1984 one with George C. Scott playing Scrooge, the 1988 movie called "Scrooged" starring Bill Murray as the "Scrooge" type character, the one made in 1999 starring Patrick Stewart, and one or two animated versions. However the one that was always, and remains, my favourite, is the 1951 movie originally titled A Christmas Carol, but renamed "Scrooge" in the USA, starring Alastair Sim as Ebeneezer Scrooge.
I watch that movie every year at this time and enjoy it every time. Watching movies more than once is in my opinion a good thing to do anyway, because every time one sees the same film they might notice or hear something they did not notice or hear before.
Sim plays his part to perfection. He is at first unbelievably mean-spirited in appearance, in action and verbally. He utters iconic lines - "Are there no prisons..." "Bah! Humbug!" etc., and after his redemption they change to "...which gives me no choice but to raise your salary." "I don't DESERVE to be so happy." and for me the line I feel indicates his self-realization and guilt for his prior meanness, addressing his nephew Fred's wife: "Can you forgive a pig-headed old fool for having no eyes to see with, no ears to hear with, all these years?"
The lines uttered by Tiny Tim are also iconic: "God bless us, everyone" and the dialogue when the Cratchits receive the turkey: "I think I know who sent it." ["Who? Who?" his siblings ask] "Mr. Scrooge." [His mother asks "Oh! dear, oh dear! Whatever made you think it might be him?"] "I don't know. I just think it."
There is such a contrast between the joy in the household of the poor Cratchits with the miserly existence of Scrooge.
A week ago I finished reading a book written by Bill Bryson, called "At Home" which is full of historical descriptions of lifestyles in England at the time Dickens wrote the story. Because of it I was able to understand better things about the movie that didn't seem right to me before, such as descriptions of the dead-end life within workhouses, and that even many who had little income would still have servants. It made the contrast between Scrooge's lifestyle and that of his "penniless" nephew more accurate, in that Scrooge, who could well afford servants had only a part time cleaning woman while his nephew kept at least one servant (the one who let Scrooge into his nephew's home).
All in all, it is the accuracy of what was current at the time of the writing of the story, and the amazing acting of Alastair Sim and the others, that is why the 1951 movie is my choice.
So what is YOUR favourite "A Christmas Carol" movie, and WHY (please give a reason, not just a title)?
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There are many Christmas movies, but in my opinion, this one is the best of all, better than any other version of A Christmas Carol, better than Miracle on 34th Street, better than It's a Wonderful Life, or any other. It is the iconic Christmas movie.
The best X-Mas movie ever is a toss up between Chevy Chase's "Christmas Vacation" or the original Die Hard.
I know they're not 'A Christmas Carol' type movies. But they're still freaking awesome.
Yup, hands down. I think Charles Dickens, if he were brought to life to see the 1951 movie version of his book, would say, that's it, that's what it was all about!
My favorite Christmas Carol movie is the one with George C. Scott as Scrooge made in 1984.
Why? That would have been my second choice.
I guess because I always liked G.C. Scott and David Warner as actors.
All were fine in their own way of course.
Good enough. I like some of the dialogue in the 1984 version better than in the 1951 one, but all in all I still prefer the 1951 film.
Kind of like the one with Bill Murray and Carol Kane.
Scrooged. A classic.
You'll shoot your eye out with that Red Ryder BB gun.
Why do all Christmas movies involve pain and redemption? Fuck all Christmas movies!
If that's how you feel, why did you bother to comment?
Because my observation and opinion is as valid as any other.
How many of your family and friends did you lose to "god's will" in the past year.
First Christmas ever that I will be home alone due to a rash of deaths among friends and family.
Now in my mid 60's and everybody seems to be dropping like flies.
Although some of what you've posted is not exactly on topic, I think everyone will realize your pain, and that this was an opportunity for you to give vent to it, and for that reason I will allow your comments to stand.
If had to choose one of the versions of A Christmas Carol, it would be the one with Scott. My favorite movie after that is The Christmas Card, a Hallmark movie. For pure entertainment...Scrooged.
The other evening I was flicking through the t.v. and ran across the 1935 version of A Christmas Carol, Scrooge with Seymour Hicks. It was only about one hour 15 minutes long. I didn't really care for that version. There seemed to be some gaps in the story line and I couldn't resonate with the lead actors performance of Scrooge.
I had mentioned in another seed that my favorite version was with Alastair Sim. Although I liked this version, I forgot about the 1938 version with Reginald Owen. I think this version is the best one for several reasons. His Christmas morning performance was suburb. I also think this version dove more into the other characters, imo.
I was watching the 1951 version the other day, and a couple things occurred to me about it. The set design is very good, as it appears to have had a sufficient budget to effectively portray London in the 1840's in the sort of bleak way required in the story. I don't think the 1935 version had that level of production values. Another thing about the 51 version is that it contains dialogue and narrative that is not in the Dicken's original story. Not much, but enough to notice.
My favorite version though is George C Scott's version. Scott brought a lot of facial expressions to the character that other actors previous have not and I thought it added something to a very well known character of literature and film.
I tried to watch the 1970 musical version "Scrooge" starring Albert Finney. The songs were not Christmasy, Albert Finney was too young at the time to play Scrooge, and I thought the movie was boring.
Thanks, John, for providing a reasoned account of your choice, which is what I was calling for with this article. I was not as successful as you in describing the authentic settings and situations (servants), and I have noted in a comment above that the 1984 Scott version was my second choice.
Hallmarks "A Crown for Christmas" !
What's Your Favourite "A Christmas Carol" Movie?
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Well, not sure I'd call it my " Favorite " Christmas Carol movie but there was one that I saw on TCM several years back that has really stuck with me and it's one I'd recommend to anyone interested in a unique take on the classic Dickens redemption tale.
Carol for Another Christmas (1964 TV Movie)
Sure it's a bit heavy handed, preachy even, with it's pitch for the UN and how his ghost use scenes from World War I, WW II and the bombing of Hiroshima to show him his past, present & future, but just look at that pedigree!
I mean, a screen play by Rod Serling, stars like Peter Sellers, Richard Harris and Peter Fonda and a sound track by Henry Mancini.
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Henry Mancini "Carol For Another Christmas"
This one's for you AH.....
1964 A Carol for Another Christmas
Since AH has already introduced it.....
And Buzz wanted to see it.....
Enjoy my friends!
Merry Christmas!
NWM
Thanks for posting the movie NM, and thanks to you Buzz for requesting it.
Just finished watching it again.
Yep still preachy, still very much a period piece but, to me, still very enjoyable!
I'd forgotten how well Peter Sellers played the ultimate Libertarian leader, (Imperial Me);
As well as how poignant the children survivors of Hiroshima scenes played out.
Again, thanks. I enjoyed that.
My pleasure, but alas I'm going to have to do some restoration work to it before I add it to my archive, there are sound sync issues and I'm going to try and find a better video copy. This was a VHS recording from a TV broadcast way back. And whomever ripped it didn't do a very good job....
And the great "Imperial Me" isn't any libertarian leader I would recognize.. {chuckle} (I don't know, maybe in Europe) Sound more like selfish punk than a real leader...
And the Doc's response is one of incredulity at such a crass statement..... Very poignant indeed!
I may repost this when I've corrected it's mechanical flaws..... But it's a very good movie for a TV movie but that is Rod Sterling's handiwork, pure genius.....
I had not seen a Rod Serling production for many years and the style of this one brought back the memory of them. I wasn't particularly subtle in making its point, very VERY loosely following the format of Dickens' A Christmas Carol, but somewhat disappointing at the end - only that he involved himself to be not by himself but with others. I think it would have better made the point that as long as people were talking they were not killing each other had he told his nephew Fred (the name of Scrooge's nephew) that he decided to support the academic interchange.
It was interesting to see the blond woman knitting in the future scenario, reminiscent of the "tricoteuses", the knitting women watching the guillotine during the French Revolution.
Oh, and I've been accused of picking out details in movies that others don't pay attention to. Here's one for you. When Fred first visited Grudge he had been in the house for a while, and when he put his coat back on to leave there were little flakes of snow on the shoulders which is impossible - they would have melted by then.
Yeah making that clear would have been good. But, Serling's genius was to get people to think..... and in that he left people understanding what should have been. The real thinker is when in the kitchen he turns back on the Christmas music and states he will take his coffee in the kitchen, the hesitation of the servants tells of the change. the real poignant ending would have been not only to be with people, but to invite them to join him......
At least that is how my thoughts went at the ending....
Again a masterpiece in getting one to think of the alternatives.... Which is the argument his nephew made in the beginning.....
Yeah, asking his servants to join him for breakfast would definitely have underlined his change of heart (although they probably would have eaten already, but then he could at least have asked them to have coffee with him and had a friendly conversation with them). Keep in mind, though, they were not enemies or ones with whom he would have had arguments, such as he had with Fred.
Not sure I have a favorite, they all have good and bad points.
Every Christmas I DO make it a point to watch Bad Santa.
Ha. I just get sick of the Christmas movies. They start way to early.
When I was a kid, I loved the animated (claymation) Little Drummer Boy. I never see that one on anymore. I'll admit, when I was a tot, I cried when his sheep died.
This year I have only watched the new Grinch movie and a show called Happy, with Christopher Meloni. Talk about dark.
I remember that one, good stuff...
LOL. Then I'm glad I waited until Christmas eve to post this article.
Haha On our tv package, we get two Hallmark channels. Both of them have been showing non stop Christmas movies since before thanksgiving.
As far as a Christmas Carol, I have seen the black and white version. The only other one I can think of is with Bill Murray.
'The Polar Express' is touching too.
Uncle Nick is my favorite Christmas movie. For those that have not seen it, put it on your must see list.
Storyline
Lewd, drunken Uncle Nick (Brian Posehn: Mr. Show & Sarah Silverman Program) stumbles his way through his brother's cookie-cutter family's annual Christmas gathering in the hopes of hooking up. Presented by Errol Morris, Uncle Nick is a comedy of inappropriate behavior, uncomfortably interrupted trysts, and a monumental over-serving of ten-cent beers.
Well, I wish I could say I'm surprised by your choice ........ but I'm not. It sounds exactly like the type of show you'd go for. Pushing the limit.
I think my favorite "A Christmas Carol" type film is "It's a Wonderful Life" starring Jimmy Stewart. The reason I put it into this category is that George Bailey ends up getting to see what life would be like without him ever existing. His brother dies at the age of 9, the town is renamed from Bedford Falls to Pottersville, all the businesses he knew were turned mostly into bars and gentlemen's clubs. And, Mary became an old maid whom was the town's librarian. Of course, most of the film is about George's real life up until the time he decided to commit suicide by jumping off the bridge.
I agree that It's a Wonderful Life and Miracle on 34th Street are two of the best Christmas movies. I understand your explanation why Wonderful Life is an "A Christmas Carol" type of movie - the angel who gets his wings for helping Jimmy Stewart by showing him the possible future has some similarity.
1946 Its A Wonderful Life
Enjoy
NWM
I've been hearing about that version for a long time, but I never see it anywhere to watch it. Of the ones I have seen, even though I'm a big Patrick Stewart fan, I have to give it to George C. Scott. He's fantastic and everything about the production seems just right.
The George C Scott version was the first one in color (other than the musical "Scrooge" from 1970) and it is logical it would be the favorite of many people. And George C. Scott is great in the role.
The others have "flaws" that people associate with movies that are many decades old. I think the '51 version is good, but I am not as enthusiastic about it as Buzz is, and Alastair Sim is no better than any of the other Scrooges, imo.
I've posted it below from You Tube.... @13
I discovered a couple of (non-Chinese) web sites here that showed the whole movie that even I could open.
1951 A Christmas Carol (titled "Scrooge" in the USA)
In my opinion, the definitive version. (although the George C Scott version has it's finer points also)
I believe it captures the point Dickens was conveying better than any other......
WE are only as happy as we choose to be.
Your opinion is in lockstep with mine.
But did you see what Arkansas Hermit posted about the Rod Serling movie? That is one I would LOVE to watch.
I have it brother, (a VHS rip) I'll be prepping it tonight and posting it tomorrow under his comment.
I saw Disney's latest version of ACC. It was downright creepy, dark, and disappointing.