MovieChat Forums > A Christmas Carol (1999) Discussion > Ruins my very favorite scene

Ruins my very favorite scene

posted 18 years ago by amybeth68
57 replies | jump to latest

In every adaptation...Alastair Sim...George C.Scott..hell, Michael Caine with the muppets...I just love when Scrooge encounters the little boy outside his window, asking him to go and buy the prize turkey...and is beside himself to realize how bright and charming he finds the child..muttering to himself..."delightful boy, intelligent boy..a pleasure talking to him"...and then offering him a shilling to run the errand or half a crown, if he's back in 5 minutes... This version broke my heart when Patrick Stewart so grudgingly says "I'll...give you a shilling..."(so obviously not wanting to) then condescends to 2 shillings...all the magic of Scrooge's transformation was just completely lost for me at that moment.

[–] gtbarker 9 years ago

It shows the road to transformation and redemption is almost but not quite complete and he is getting used to his new outlook

'Well I've got two words for you - STFU'

[–] fiatlux-1 8 years ago

It shows the road to transformation and redemption is almost but not quite complete and he is getting used to his new outlook

Exactly! Well-put.

I'd say this cloud is Cumulo Nimbus.
Didn't he discover America?
Penfold, shush.

[–] CoriSCapnSkip (2755) 3 years ago

Yeah, that was disappointing and the other Scrooges did better.

[–] Martoto (5191) 2 years ago

I completely disagree.

Scrooge isn't used to paying handsomely. He doesn't know what a generous payment is. When he doubles the amount he shouts with joy.

One of the things I like about this version is how we see Scrooge finding his feet with his new life. In other adaptations he just magically switches over to being Santa Claus. In this we see him straining to be magnanimous, but he's not experienced enough and is also carrying a little bit of contrition and embarrassment over with him. Rather than just acting like he has the right to be full of himself.