Have at it! Likes, dislikes, favourites, least-favourites! All is welcome!
For the record (all IMO):
Best Overall: Scrooge (1951)
Best for sheer accuracy: A Christmas Carol (1972, Animated)
Worst : Christmas Carol: The Movie (2001, Animated)
I’m just here because I’m driving tonight.
I loved the Disney one (1983, I think), with Scrooge McDuck and Mickey Mouse.
Yes, that one isn't counted nearly enough, and it should be. It's a perfectly good version which covers all of the important beats of the story, and has the Disney cast on top of that. It's certainly toward the higher end of the animated spectrum.
I’m just here because I’m driving tonight.
There's one with Patrick Stewart.
Never even heard of the 2001 version. (And I've seen a lot of obscure versions.) How does the George C. Scott version rate for accuracy?
The 1970 musical Scrooge gets extra points from me for Alec Guinness as Marley, and Ebeneezer's brief visit to his own personal hell. Although I think someone involved in the production was projecting their personal kinks just a tad...
The Mickey Mouse version gets a little disturbing, since the Little Pigs are in the cast, yet a roast pig is seen in a holiday feast. What the hell?
Where were you in '77?
Reegar said:
There's one with Patrick Stewart.
I personally don't like that one. The pacing is a little odd to me. That's why I like the 1951 version so much. In my mind, the pacing is perfect.
I’m just here because I’m driving tonight.
SilverWook said:
Never even heard of the 2001 version. (And I've seen a lot of obscure versions.) How does the George C. Scott version rate for accuracy?
The 1970 musical Scrooge gets extra points from me for Alec Guinness as Marley, and Ebeneezer's brief visit to his own personal hell. Although I think someone involved in the production was projecting their personal kinks just a tad...
The Mickey Mouse version gets a little disturbing, since the Little Pigs are in the cast, yet a roast pig is seen in a holiday feast. What the hell?
The 2001 version is an animated one most notable for a bunch of additional subplots (including two mice) and Nicholas Cage as Marley.
As for 1970, I like the soundtrack, but not the hell scene. Also, I find Finney a tad goofy, as well as the Ghost of Christmas Past.
I’m just here because I’m driving tonight.
Of course, the number of sitcoms and tv shows that have used ACC for their holiday episode is nearly impossible to measure.
Where were you in '77?
SilverWook said:
Of course, the number of sitcoms and tv shows that have used ACC for their holiday episode is nearly impossible to measure.
Oh, we're only counting straight adaptations, don't worry.
I’m just here because I’m driving tonight.
Do adaptations that change the time and setting, such as An American Christmas Carol count? There's been more than a few of those.
Where were you in '77?
I have never seen the 2001 version. I have however seen 2009 animated version starring Jim Carrey. It was ok.
SilverWook said:
Do adaptations that change the time and setting, such as An American Christmas Carol count? There's been more than a few of those.
As long as most of the other details are the same, why not? After all, most of the Roald Dahl adaptations change the setting, yet those are still treated like straight adaptations.
I’m just here because I’m driving tonight.
Here is my list:
Best Overall: A Christmas Carol (1984) Starring George C. Scott
Best for sheer accuracy: A Christmas Carol (1999) Starring Patrick Stewart
Worst: A Christmas Carol (1938) Starring Reginald Owen
Aw, you're being too harsh on old Owen. I like that one. It's the corny golden-age version. Just like True Grit. You know the later, more accurate ones are better, yet you can't help but enjoy the earlier ones too.
Mr. Scott's (no not that one) was my first exposure to the tale, thus holds a special place in my heart.
I’m just here because I’m driving tonight.
Tack said:
Best for sheer accuracy: A Christmas Carol (1972, Animated)
are you referring to the Animated one starring Alastair Sim?
Warbler said:
Tack said:
Best for sheer accuracy: A Christmas Carol (1972, Animated)
are you referring to the Animated one starring Alastair Sim?
Yes. He happens to star in my two favorite versions. Although I like his performance in the 1951 version more.
I’m just here because I’m driving tonight.
Tack said:
Aw, you're being too harsh on old Owen. I like that one. It's the corny golden-age version. Just like True Grit. You know the later, more accurate ones are better, yet you can't help but enjoy the earlier ones too.
Mr. Scott's (no not that one) was my first exposure to the tale, thus holds a special place in my heart.
I'm sorry but I can't stand the Owen version cause screws up too much. It has Scrooge fire Bob Cratchit at the beginning, thereby ruining the scene of the 2nd spirit visiting the Cratchits' Christmas dinner. That scene is supposed to show Scrooge a poor with nothing of great note having a wonderful Christmas. Instead it is all about making Scrooge feel guilty about firing Bob Cratchit. The ending is also totally screwed up. Charles Dickens must have been turning in his grave when they released that movie.
Warbler said:
Tack said:
Aw, you're being too harsh on old Owen. I like that one. It's the corny golden-age version. Just like True Grit. You know the later, more accurate ones are better, yet you can't help but enjoy the earlier ones too.
Mr. Scott's (no not that one) was my first exposure to the tale, thus holds a special place in my heart.
I'm sorry but I can't stand the Owen version cause screws up too much. It has Scrooge fire Bob Cratchit at the beginning, thereby ruining the scene of the 2nd spirit visiting the Cratchits' Christmas dinner. That scene is supposed to show Scrooge a poor with nothing of great note having a wonderful Christmas. Instead it is all about making Scrooge feel guilty about firing Bob Cratchit. The ending is also totally screwed up. Charles Dickens must have been turning in his grave when they released that movie.
All true, I admit, but I still think it's better than Seymour Hicks' 1935 version.
I’m just here because I’m driving tonight.
SilverWook said:
How does the George C. Scott version rate for accuracy?
I'm curious too since it's my favorite. (Along with Mickey's which came out when I was a kid.)
You know what, I'll count that.
I’m just here because I’m driving tonight.
My favorite is the Patrick Stewart one, though, in fairness, I haven't seen it in some time.
I actually see a local theater company put on A Christmas Carol every year with my family, so I'm pretty familiar with the material and would probably be a good judge of any adaptations if I decided to watch them.
It has its hits and missing, but it is still my favorite. One mistake it and many versions get wrong is the timing of when the three spirits arrive. Many alter Marley's telling of Scrooge of when to expect them. In the Scott version, Marley says to expect the first spirit when the bell tolls one, the 2nd when the bell tolls two and the third "in his own good time". They depict all three visitations happening in one night. In the book, Marley says expect the first when the bell tolls one, the 2nd the next night at the same time, third on the following night "when the last stroke of 12 has ceased to vibrate". The timing of the spirits in important the scene near the end when he wakes up and asks the boy what day it is and is surprised to find out that it is Christmas and the spirits did it all in one night. If the spirits arrive when the Scott version and many others do it, Scrooge should not at all be surprised that it is Christmas morning that the spirits did all in one. In book when Scrooge goes to sleep after meeting with Marley, it was already past one. When he wake up again it is 12 o'clock, since it is nighttime, Scrooge released he slept threw a day. He waits an hour and the first spirit arrives. After he is done with the 1st spirit goes back to sleep and wakes up on the next night to wait for the arrival of the 2nd spirit at 1 AM again. He finishes with 2nd spirit as midnight, and when the last stroke o 12 ceases to vibrate, the third spirit arrives. Having it happen this way it makes sense that at the end of it Scrooge is confused as to what day it is and is surprised that it is Christmas morning and the spirits did it all in one night.
For me it's a tie between The Patrick Stewart version and the Muppets version.
Hated the Jim Carrey one.
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TV's Frink said:
I still think The Night The Reindeer Died needs to be it's own movie!
Anyway...
We should have gotten to see the whole TNG crew play this out on the holodeck.Which would malfunction of course.
Would have made one heck of a Christmas episode!
Where were you in '77?