...and Albert Finney's best work. Earlier and later versions fall flat, and don't begin have all the qualities of acting, special effects, background scenery and musical enrichment this film has to offer.
Only a stingy father Christmas would have a problem with this film.
Well everyone is entitled to their own opinion but I agree that Albert Finney has rarely been better. In terms of the actual character of Scrooge as Dickens wrote it, I think this is the closest to of all the versions. Michael Hordern in the BBC version of 1977 comes closest. I watched Sim a few days ago and although he gives a superb performance, his failing (and that of George C Scott)is the portrayal of the miser as a deliberate creation. Dickens was at pains to say - and demonstrate, that Scrooge was a result of a gradual decline and wrong choices. The sort any of us could make in life. He wasn't a pantomime bad guy. Finney gets this and portrays it - he's a grubby little bloke like many others but there's the basis of someone nicer still in there waiting to come out. Add that to Dame Edith Evans playing GOCP as herself, More hamming it up as Present and some great songs and what's not to love !
shareAgreed!
Everything about it is so festive! I've tried a few of the others & none come close to me. George C. Scott, though a fine actor, was too subtle & subdued to me as Scrooge. The early ones in b&w were also flat for me, the Henry Winkler one was lame, etc.
This version was just the right blend of humor, emotion, creepiness & cheer.
This is my favorite version as well though there are several others I also enjoy. (Alistair Sim, Patrick Stewart, George C Scott, Seymour Hicks)
I tend to pick holes in a lot of the others - George C Scott, Patrick Stewart (who should know better) and even Alistair Sim n fall into the trap of thinking Scrooge is deliberately nasty - a pantomime villian rather than just falling into bad ways (which is how Dickens envisaged him) More entertaining on film maybe but loses the nuances that make the book so powerful.
shareEvery year I watch several versions, but if I could only watch one version for the rest of my life, this would be the one. It's just great.
Listen, brother, forty percent of all accidents represent nearly half of all accidents.
It's not the best version of Christmas Carol but I happen to love this version as well.
shareI wonder how many of the fans of this version who thinks it's the finest one first saw this version before any other.
shareNot for me. First one I ever saw was the 1951 Alistair Sim version which happens to be my dad's personal choice.
shareSame here. Saw the '51 version first with my dad (who loved it), but later fell in love with the '84 version as well. Watch them both. Saw this in the 70s after seeing the '51 and just don't get this version at all.
But I was wondering if those who think this is the best one ever saw this one first. I suspect so.
Finney doubtlessly does the most sympathetic version of Scrooge. While I'm not a fan of musical styled films I really do like this one.
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