A Christmas Carol - favourite version?

[CaptainCanada]

It's been done a hundred times over: which did you like best?

I voted for the Disney one with Mickey Mouse and friends, for two reasons:

1) Sentimentality; this is the first version I remember seeing, and, hey, it's the Disney crew.

2) Brevity; unlike pretty much all the other versions, it doesn't need to pad the story to achieve feature-length. It gets to the point.

Oh, and casting a write-in vote for the Kelsey Grammer version will result in summary execution, so fair warning.

 

[Trekker4747]

It's been a while since I've really seen any of the old versions of the movie but I do think the CGI Jim Carrey version from last year is very good.

The Mickey Mouse version is decent enough for kiddies and the like but I think it dilutes the story a bit. And the first person to mention "The Muppets" version is going to get smacked by me.

 

[Eld Phaedrus]

Mine is the 1951 version of 'Scrooge' starring Alistair Sim, by far. Superb.

 

[Trekker4747]

Mine is the 1951 version of 'Scrooge' starring Alistair Sim, by far. Superb.

I think I've seen that one, that is a good one.

 

[DonIago]

Patrick Stewart's one-man show, easily.

 

[auntiehill]

I think the Alastair Sim one is the best overall, although I liked Edward Woodward as the Ghost of Christmas Present in the George C. Scott version.

 

[Gepard]

And the first person to mention "The Muppets" version is going to get smacked by me.

*decides against clicking the "vote now" button*

 

[scotpens]

Chuck Jones produced a wonderful half-hour cartoon version in 1971, with Alistair Sim as the voice of Scrooge. The animation is gorgeous.

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5njLlMmrh4[/yt]

Some of the odder versions of the story are the 1979 TV-movie An American Christmas Carol, starring Henry Winkler and set in Depression-era New England; Ms. Scrooge (1997) with Cicely Tyson as a black female Scrooge; and Rich Little’s Christmas Carol (1978), a Canadian production with the comedian/impressionist playing all the characters -- each as a different celebrity. (W.C. Fields as Scrooge, Paul Lynde as Bob Cratchit, and Truman Capote as Tiny Tim!)

 

[Subcommander R.]

Patrick Stewart all the way.

On a sidenote, the Kelsey Grammer one doesn't really count since its a musical. Apples and oranges.

 

[scotpens]

On a sidenote, the Kelsey Grammer one doesn't really count since its a musical.

So does the 1970 Scrooge with Albert Finney not count either?

 

[Subcommander R.]

On a sidenote, the Kelsey Grammer one doesn't really count since its a musical.

So does the 1970 Scrooge with Albert Finney not count either?

That would be my stance, yes. Musicals are a different genre to be judged and viewed differently and separately from regular films.

 

[Gaith]

None. Not a fan of the story, which is all well and charming as a modest fable, but as George Orwell himself noted, its implicit message that individual charity can heal society's wounds is flat wrong. Even the reformed Scrooge could easily be a Republican.

(And before heaping on me about taking the matter way too seriously and not being able to enjoy the Christmas spirit, know that I don't really give a fig about Christmas anyways.)

 

[Reverend]

Not that I'd dare to contradict Orwell or anything, but I never saw the story to have anything to do with large social change. I thought it was about personal redemption, introspection and individual social responsibility against the backdrop of larger social injustices. I don't think it says anything about Scrooge curing world hunger, ending poverty or aiding the workers to control the means of production and throw off the shackles of the bourgeoisie (since I'm pretty sure he was bourgeoisie.)

If there was meant to be any larger message, I think it had more to do with just making the middle class aware that there was something wrong with the way the world was working at the time and that they were the cause of many of the problems. No small feat at the time, if you now anything about typical Victorian attitudes.

I suppose you could see it as an allegory with Scrooge and Bob Cratchit obviously representing the rich and poor respectively and Tiny Tim as society's future. Then the message would be something to the effect of "if we keep abusing the working class, we're all buggered." Not that I want to see it in those terms mind, I generally dislike allegory, but I can't deny the possibility exists in this case.

And the first person to mention "The Muppets" version is going to get smacked by me.

Bring it! I love that version.

 

[od0_ital]

The George C Scott version is my favorite of the ones I've seen.

Why wasn't Scrooged included? Bill Murray was awesome in that one!

 

[Servo]

The Patrick Stewart one. I watch it every Christmas Eve, before going out for a drink with friends.

 

[Lonemagpie]

A tie between Muppets and Patrick Stewart - but I voted for Patrick as he's currently the underdog between the two in the poll...

And cos the Blackadder one isn't included...

 

[McCoy]

Rich Little’s Christmas Carol (1978), a Canadian production with the comedian/impressionist playing all the characters -- each as a different celebrity. (W.C. Fields as Scrooge, Paul Lynde as Bob Cratchit, and Truman Capote as Tiny Tim!)

I just found the album of that. Gotta give it a listen soon.

 

[Neroon]

Maybe we ought to revisit this after the Doctor Who version has been aired in a couple of weeks.

My favorite is still the version with Alistair Sim. It is still regarded critically as one of the best of all time, and I can see why. He brings a glowering, scary Scrooge to the table and eventually is transformed into one I pity. And his exchange with the housekeeper at the end is among the most hilarious.

It's an enduing story that lends itself well to the many different and creative versions out there. The musicals are entertaining, the Muppet version is a nice sentimental version. And thanks Camel for mentioning the Rich Little version. I had forgotten all about that one!!! But this story will continue to bring about new performances and interpretations, because of its wide appeal I think. The themes do seem to strike at the heart of humanity: how "we must care for each other, because if we don't ... who will?"

 

[Greg Cox]

What, no love for Mr. Magoo?

 

[Bird of Prey]

I voted for Alistair Sim's version. I watch that every year with my wife and her parents on Christmas Eve. A close second is the Muppet Christmas Carol, which we watch on Christmas Day morning.