A Christmas Carol
Brief Description:
On Christmas Eve, tight-fisted businessman Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by the Spirit of Christmas Past, the Spirit of Christmas Present, and the Spirit of Christmas Yet to Come. Is there any chance his frozen old heart will change, and that he can escape the frightful destiny that awaits him?
(written by me)
Date: 1984
Genre: American British Christmas fantasy drama
Running time: 1 hour 41 minutes
Cast:
George C. Scott (Scrooge)
Mark Strickson (Young Scrooge)
Frank Finlay (Marley)
Angela Pleasence (Spirit of Christmas Past)
Edward Woodward (Spirit of Christmas Present)
Michael Carter (Spirit of Christmas Future)
David Warner (Cratchit)
Susannah York (Mrs. Cratchit)
Caroline Langrishe (Janet)
Lucy Gutteridge (Belle)
Nigel Davenport (Scrooge's father)
Joanne Whalley (Fan)
Timothy Bateson (Mr. Fezziwig)
Michael Gough (Mr. Poole)
John Quarmby (Mr. Hacking)
Peter Woodthorpe (Joe)
Liz Smith (Mrs. Dilber)
John Sharp (Mr. Tipton)
Director: Clive Donner
Production company: Entertainment Partners Ltd.
Based on: A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
(watched free on Tubi)
Setting/Aesthetic/Feel: 5/5
Oh my stars I LOVED THIS!!! I loved the 1951 and the 1938, and this version is just as good... maybe best. A little better than the 1938, anyhow. It was amazing! I love seeing Victorian England in colour. :D And this film has allllll the Christmas feels and alllll the Victorian feels!!
Characters: 5/5
Scott is a FANTASTIC Scrooge. He portrays him as a heartless, cold old man, a broken, fearful old man, and a jubilant, reinvigorated old man all so well! Finlay was a terrifying Marley (probably not for kids??) but probably the most accurate to the book, so I have to give him that. I didn't quite like Angela Pleasence as a Spirit of Christmas Past, but she was okay, and Edward Woodward was a SPLENDID Spirit of Christmas Present. The best I've seen so far!! As for the Spirit of Christmas Future, I don't think anyone else has captured the eeriness of that spirit so well before. The Cratchits are all excellent--specially Susannah York as Mrs. Cratchit--and Fred & Janet are well done too, and Belle & her family... oh, everybody!
Plot: 5/5
Oh yes, yes! This aligns SO well with the book--I was really delighted how accurate it is, and I love the extra scenes--like the homeless family... that was SO GOOD!!! I love how many Christmas carols it includes, too... the one written for the film is quite good and all the other random carols sung throughout are lovely. And Susannah York actually made me cry for Tiny Tim, which no one else ever did...
Theme/Message/Topics: 5/5
Excellent, excellent portrayal of the themes of the book. Just splendid.
Content: 4/5 (low)
1 instance of D**mit; 1 instance of my G**.
Overall: 5/5
We watch the 1951 A Christmas Carol every Christmas, so I must say I'm very attached to that one...but perhaps I should try this one; I've heard very good things about it. Although I think it would be strange for me to see a female Ghost of Christmas Past; I'm so used to him (her? Hehe) being male! It also might feel strange to see Susannah York as Mrs. Cratchit - I've seen her so many times as Margaret More in A Man for All Seasons :P
ReplyDeleteOh, yeah, I can definitely see that. I love the 1951 too. But I have to say, having seen it and the 1984 in a row, I love the 1984 a biiiiit more ;) Yeah, that part was a bit weird! The 1951 got the GOCP much the best. I've never seen Susannah York before, so that wasn't an issue for me, but I can totally understand that. :D Hey, I hope you enjoy it if you do watch it!
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