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I'm not sure if this has ever come up but what is everyone's favorite version of A Christmas Carol?  I prefer the one starring George C. Scott that came out in 1984.    As a novelty I like Mickey' Christmas Carol which I grew up with as a kid. 

SCROOGE(1951) With Alistair Sim was my favorite as a kid...still is!  :smile:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CfpJ4X4bC0

Ditto

There is no other version.

I prefer the 1951 version Scrooge (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0044008/) (aka A Christmas Carol), starring Alastair Sim.

I also have a soft spot for the 1938 version A Christmas Carol (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0029992/).

I absolutely love Scrooged with Bill Murray.  I know that is probably blasphemy on this thread, but I just had to put that out there.  I haven't seen it yet this Christmas season, I better start looking for it!

I think the British version with Alsitair Sim is definitely the best but I didn't think that "Scrooged" was too bad at all.

To me, I would still say the most accomplished and ambitious adaptation was done in 1910 by J. Searle Dawley. If you're into silent films, this one is pretty tops. It's of course only 16-17 minutes long, breakneck pace; as if they were paying by the print. There are a couple of challenging aspects; for the most part, you are expected to know the story, each ghost gets seemingly no time to linger, and no Tiny Tim (*cough*cough). But the effects are amazing for their time, the acting is particularly good, and it really is a breath of fresh air (from 1910) compared to the now standard and complacent time-honored tradition of keeping this story as lifeless as possible. Give it a whirl. It surprises me every time I watch it.

Gotta go with Scrooged with Bill Murray.  Just good silly fun.

I actually grew up with the Mr. Magoo version. I was an adult before I saw any other (except for various stage productions). Of the non-animated versions, I suppose I like the Alistair Sim version best.

But can I just say that I hate, hate, hate the reformed Scrooge "get the biggest goose they have" scene at the end? I know that's the whole point, the thing we've been leading up to, but no matter who plays Scrooge, no matter what production I see, that scene really grates my teeth like fingernails on a blackboard and it's just something I have to get through. Including in the Dickens original.

I know this makes me a terrible person. But there, I said it.

I on the other hand love, love, love the ending, and yes, that is the whole point.  God bless us every one & all that --

Never heard of the silent version, and I do like silent film, so will have to seek it out.

Both the wife and I can sing all the songs from the Magoo cartoon, and frequently do.  We're weird.  We especially like the grave-robbers song . . ."We're just blankety blank blank -- NO GOOD!!".

I understand there was once a stage version, wherein Frank Langella played Marley.  It gives me goose-skin just thinking about it!

Alistair Sim sort of sets the bar, but I loved George C. Scott's meat-and-potatoes interpretation, especially when he doesn't overplay the familiar lines.  I guess the only version I don't care that much for is Albert Finney's musical version, and that only because I generally do not enjoy musicals.  I was once forced to watch a staged version of the musical, and will now walk on the other side of the street when I have to pass that theatre . . . brrr . . .

peter johnson/denny crane

Not to hijack the thread, but I've been lucky enough to see Langella on stage a couple of times, and we've been fans ever since we saw him as Salieri in "Amadeus". It's an amazing thing to see one guy in a wheelchair (toward the end of the play) fill an entire stage. His movie roles just don't convey the power of the guy.

Schmendrik, I believe you may be mixing up Langella and F. Murray Abraham.

I'm not a big fan of A Christmas Carol in general, so the only version I really enjoy is Scrooged, which I attempt to watch every Christmas season.

I also like the Mr. Magoo version.

I like Alistair Sim's version for the traditonal version of the story. But there are so many variations you could probably watch one a night for the entire month of December and not see them all.Hmmm, there's an idea. Scrooged is a favorite, it's freakin hilarious and has Buddy Hackett asn Ebenezer Scrooge and Marylou Retton as Tiny Tim, and who wouldn't want to date a hippie Karen Allen?

(http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee71/HammockRider/KarenAllen.jpg)

Nope. Abraham was in the movie, but Langella was definitely in the Broadway version I saw.

His credits show that he played the role from 1980 to 1983.

http://www.ibdb.com/person.php?id=15362

That entry shows that Langella was the replacement player for the production I saw. Apparently the main player for the role was Ian McKellen.

http://www.ibdb.com/person.php?id=6425

I definitely agree the 1951 Scrooge with Alistair Sim is the best of them all. Still there's quite a few good variations out there. Have to give props to the George Scott version from 1984, Scrooged, A 28 minute animated version from 1971 that also has Alistair Sim as the voice of Scrooge, the Albert Finney musical version is kinda interesting too if you're in the mood for something a bit different and I even enjoyed the 1938 version with Reginald Owen although it's a bit lesser than most of those others mentioned.

All good choices, JASE, though I don't care for the REGINALD OWEN version (it's too "Hollywood" and hardly faithful.)  I certainly agree it's "lesser."  That animated version you refer to is superb. 
The 1951 ALASTAIR SIM version is the best, by far. 

I have yet to see a version that trumps "A Muppet Christmas Carol". Everything is better with Muppets.

Ozzymandias speaks: I like most versions already mentioned, but how many remember a TV special from the 70's called (I believe) Grand Ole Opry Christmas Carol with Hoyt Axton (Scrooge), Mel Tillis (Cratchet), Tom T. Hall (Marley) and Minnie Pearle (the ghost of Christmas Past). Maybe I dreamed this.

Also, there was a show called "George Burns Comedy Theater" had an episode with James Whitmore as Scrooge, who had become to loose with his money. The ghost try to turn him back around. One sequence featured Ed Begley Junior as a gay Tiny Tim filing for Chapter 11.

Scariest prophecy (for me at least) is the WKRP Christmas Carol. Johnny is the ghost of Christmas to come. He shows Mr. Carlson that in the future WKRP is just a big computer run by Herb. His sales calls are prerecorded, just like every thing else on WKRP. The radio industry hasn't started prerecording the sales calls...yet.

Ozzymandias has spoken!!!

The Alastair Sim version is my favorite, followed by the musical version with Albert Finney.  I saw the Albert Finney one when I was a kid during its original theatrical run.  I thought the scene where Scrooge goes to hell and gets chained up by the guys in black hoods was sort of scary.  For several years they edited this scene out when they showed the movie on television, but I think they show it in its entirety now.  I also have the DVD and I watch it at least once every year.

Muppets Christmas Carol.
There is no equal.

The only one I will watch is Mr Magoo.

Another vote for SCROOGE (1951) With Alistair Sim.  And for the Muppet Christmas Carol.

Actually, the book is the best version.  Did anyone mention that one yet? 

Patrick Stewart did a TV version for TNT back 1999 and it's a pretty good effort at the classic tale.  It was shot in England.


http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0216621/

Stewart also does a one man stage show where he plays all the characters.

(http://www.andrewzeller.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/muppet-christmas-carol.jpg)

One of the most enjoyable to watch.  :drink:

While I've seen most of the live action versions, and enjoyed them, my favorites are a couple of the lesser known, relatively speaking, animated versions. First . . .

"Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol'

While the voice talent--Jim Backus, Jack Cassidy, Royal Dano, June Foray, Morey Amsterdam, and the late, great Paul Frees--is quite good, what makes this one for me are the songs. There are so many types of songs, and they're mostly quite good.

There is the humor of a "Ringle, Ringle" and "We're Despicable." the sadness of "Winter Was Warm" and "Alone in the World," and the joyeousness of "The Lord's Bright Blessing." The only song that I dislike is the first song, "It's Great to Be Back on Broadway," which is sometimes cut out of the showing on TV.

All this and some nice humor, and it works as well as any of them for me.

The second is . . .

"Mickey's Christmas Carol"

Here it is the cast, which includes . . .

Scrooge as Scrooge
Donald as Scrooge's Nephew
Daisy as Belle
Mickey as Bob Cratchit
Minnie as Mrs. Cratchit
Goofy as Marley
Jiminy Cricket as the Ghost of Christmas Past
The Giant as the Ghost of Christmas Future. The one who couldn't say: "Pist- Pist- Green gravy."
Pete as the Ghost of Christmas Future
Toad as Fezziwig

All that, plus cameos by Badger; The Big Bad Wolf;  Chip 'n' Dale;  Clarabelle the Cow; Grandma Duck;  Horace Horsecollar; Huey, Dewey, and Louie; Madame Clara Cluck; Mole and Rat; The 3 Little Pigs; and The Weasels, and you have almost anybody who was anybody in a Disney cartoon.

The fun then becomes seeing how many you can remember.

Frankly, I prefer the book but other than that the Alsitair Sim version.

Muppet Christmas Carol ;)

Seriously... that's the one I prefer.  It's sad, I know... but...