Standing out in the crowd

Year after year I always get into the same discussion with my family about this movie. At least half the people I talk to insist that The Alastair Sim version of "A Christmas Carol" is the best, while the other half, myself included, agree that this version, with George C. Scott, is the best. It's really just a matter of preference I suppose, but here are some of the reasons I've come to this conclusion.

The Cast

Ebenezer Scrooge - George C. Scott. What's there to say? George C. Scott was one of the greatest names in Hollywood and true to his style, he plays the role remarkably well. In my opinion, the role of Scrooge is a challenge to an actor's ability. Yes, some actors pull off the "evil" Scrooge well, while others play the good, kind-hearted Scrooge well. It takes talent, however, to play both the good and evil Scrooge convincingly enough to make you believe he really is a reformed miserly old man at the end. George C. Scott did this without the least bit of strain, as far as I could tell.

Bob Cratchit - David Warner. Brilliant! That's all I can say about him. He has, perhaps, quickly become one of my favorite actors since seeing him in this movie. He just seems to be one of those actors who's played a part in every movie I've seen at some time or another throughout my life. He's been Jack the Ripper in "Time After Time", the Evil Genius in "Time Bandits" and Ed Dillinger/Sark/Master Control Program in "Tron". Today he has become popular with roles as Spicer Lovejoy in "Titanic" (you know, the bodyguard/former police officer with the gun), Morpheus (voice) in "Fallout" - video game and Jon Irenicus (voice) in "Balder's Gate II" - video game.

Not only is he a multi talented actor with a wide range of roles already under his belt, but he always seems to stand out in any movie he's in.

Ghost of Christmas Present - Edward Woodward. At the point in time when I first saw this movie, I had no clue who this actor was. It wasn't until my grandmother, a huge fan of the TV show, "The Equalizer" pointed him out one year while the family was watching this movie. Normally, I could either take or leave this character in this story. In this movie however, he was spectacular! His sharp, cunning wit and overly boisterous personality all stand out remarkable well in this movie. There are times where he'd lean over to make a comment to Ebenezer and you just have no choice but to let out a little "you asked for that" smirk.

Fred Holywell/Narrator - Roger Rees. Here's another actor who's been in everything you can imagine. He's been in everything from "Macbeth" to "Robin Hood: Men in Tights" In his role in this movie, he plays a very convincing, but rather preachy Fred Holywell, Ebenezer's nephew - But doesn't Fred just come across as the preachy type no matter who the actor?

Jacob Marley - Frank Finlay. I've never seen him in any movie other than this one, nor do I seem to be able to get my hands on any other movie he's been in. I probably wouldn't mention him if it weren't for the fact that he played the ghost of Jacob Marley better than any other actor I've seen in the role. I once had to act out this scene in a class I was taking. After studying and remembering different actors I've already seen play this character, I decided to use his example and put on the performance. In his speech alone, he captures the essence of Jacob Marley, a tortured soul, better than I ever could. (I received my highest grade in that class with this performance by the way.)



That just about covers all of the main characters (for the purpose of this review at least). This movie, like many other versions, takes some liberties with the original story. None of them are so overly obvious that they detract from the appeal of the movie though. In fact, just enough parts were cut out of this movie to allow it to remain entertaining throughout, without ever getting dull.

Details

I suppose I could go on about the plot of the movie. Who here hasn't seen, or read the Story in one form or another before? Thought so. Well, since you all insist, here's the very abridged version.

Setting: Early 19th century London

Ebenezer Scrooge ran a counting house with his Partner Jacob Marley, 7 years ago. Since then, Marley has died and Scrooge runs it alone. Scrooge is a bitter old man who squeezes his pennies tighter than any other man around, the perfect description of a miser.

On Christmas Eve, Scrooge is visited by the ghost of his old partner to be warned of three spirits who will visit him that night. Yeah yeah, Scrooge laughs it off as a bit of "bad beef" or a "blot of mustard" playing with his senses. Well, it turns out old Marley was right. That night Scrooge is visited by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future.

On Christmas morning, Scrooge awakens a changed man. He now dedicates his life to helping out fellow human beings and spending his money for the better of man kind.


Now, other than the acting and the story, the reason I love this version of this classic tale is the atmosphere present throughout the entire movie. Granted, the early 80's effects were rather limited, especially for a made for TV movie, but those effects add to the atmosphere. When the Ghost of Christmas Future appears, for example, a small beam of light, shadowing a dark, robed figure is all that can be seen through the dense fog. Those effects are rather cheap but highly effective.

The focus on the social conditions and the accuracy with which they are portrayed are amazing as well. The streets are not all clean and pretty, in fact they're rather run-down and worn out in certain parts of town. The buildings are eerie and decrepit when the story calls for it and the market is busy and packed with people wearing shoddy clothes on Christmas day. This movie goes through great lengths to make sure each of these details is evident. Other versions of this story underplay the importance of the social conditions and simply try to focus on Scrooge and the other main characters. This is one are where this movie is different form the others.

This movie is now a tradition in my house. Even when I'd have to go to work (when I worked in a video store) around Christmas, I'd bring this version with me to put in the VCR at the store. I even had to argue with a customer who wanted to rent my copy of the tape after the store ran out of copies. I intend to watch this movie every year until it simply does not exist anymore. Fortunately, as of a few years ago, it was re-mastered and re-released onto video :)