Scrooge and A Christmas Carol
December 2, 2017 8:07 AM Subscribe
There are so many choices when it comes to selecting a version of Dicken's A Christmas Carol to watch. I have a 9 year old son I'd like to watch this with this year. I love the classic old ones. Bill Murray's Scrooged was funny but I think you need to see the original first. What is the best version of Dicken's A Christmas Carol in movie form?
Best answer: In my humble yet correct opinion, the George C Scott one is the best, which I know I watched as a youngin'... but it can be a little dark, so maybe the muppet version?
Aww, ch1x0r beat me, but I have a hyperlink!
posted by Drosera at 8:14 AM on December 2, 2017 [2 favorites]
Aww, ch1x0r beat me, but I have a hyperlink!
posted by Drosera at 8:14 AM on December 2, 2017 [2 favorites]
Best answer: The Muppet Christmas Carol is my absolute favourite! Michael Caine is great as scrooge, and who doesn't love Kermit the frog as Bob Cratchit? Plus, it's a musical! What's not to love? I've been watching it every year for like, the past 15 years, and it never gets old.
posted by winterportage at 8:23 AM on December 2, 2017 [31 favorites]
posted by winterportage at 8:23 AM on December 2, 2017 [31 favorites]
I agree that Muppets Christmas Carol is superior! It’s so true to the text.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 8:35 AM on December 2, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 8:35 AM on December 2, 2017 [5 favorites]
Nthing the George C Scott version. My family has watched it every year since it aired in 1986 and we've never found a better one.
It is pretty spooky in places, but being a wee bit scared of your Christmas ghost story is part of the fun, to my mind.
posted by darchildre at 8:42 AM on December 2, 2017 [1 favorite]
It is pretty spooky in places, but being a wee bit scared of your Christmas ghost story is part of the fun, to my mind.
posted by darchildre at 8:42 AM on December 2, 2017 [1 favorite]
My kids are grown now but they still want to snuggle on the couch and watch the Muppets Christmas Carol. Not only is it great for kids, it has the adult in-jokes that make it equally delightful for grownups.
Be aware of of the big Muppet Christmas Carol controversy though: there's a sad, romantic song that is present only in the VHS version. It wouldn't be of much import to your 9yo, but MCC fanatics get very exercised about this topic!
posted by scorpia22 at 8:43 AM on December 2, 2017 [3 favorites]
Be aware of of the big Muppet Christmas Carol controversy though: there's a sad, romantic song that is present only in the VHS version. It wouldn't be of much import to your 9yo, but MCC fanatics get very exercised about this topic!
posted by scorpia22 at 8:43 AM on December 2, 2017 [3 favorites]
Best answer: I love the 1951 version with Alistair Sim. My sister and her family have a tradition of watching every single one during the holiday season, which I think is cool.
posted by FencingGal at 8:45 AM on December 2, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by FencingGal at 8:45 AM on December 2, 2017 [8 favorites]
Best answer: Seconding the Alistair Sim version.
Here's a list with detailed info. on all the various versions.
posted by gudrun at 8:50 AM on December 2, 2017
Here's a list with detailed info. on all the various versions.
posted by gudrun at 8:50 AM on December 2, 2017
Nthing George C. Scott version.
posted by oflinkey at 9:01 AM on December 2, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by oflinkey at 9:01 AM on December 2, 2017 [1 favorite]
Another vote for George C. Scott!
posted by Bardolph at 9:08 AM on December 2, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Bardolph at 9:08 AM on December 2, 2017 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thanks! Follow-up question, anyone seen the 1999 Patrick Stewart version? I'm considering buying it.
posted by Roger Dodger at 9:13 AM on December 2, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Roger Dodger at 9:13 AM on December 2, 2017 [1 favorite]
The Patrick Stewart one is amazing and is the only one I ever watch.
posted by ilovewinter at 9:15 AM on December 2, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by ilovewinter at 9:15 AM on December 2, 2017 [4 favorites]
The patrick Stewart one wins for me everytime. Great cast and especially Elizabeth Briggs to look out for. Just the right amount of cheese to make it a proper christmas film.
posted by RandomInconsistencies at 9:33 AM on December 2, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by RandomInconsistencies at 9:33 AM on December 2, 2017 [3 favorites]
I love all of these AND the hammy Patrick Stewart version. (Also featuring Richard E. Grant! Laura Fraser! On preview: among others) You can't go wrong with FencingGal's advice.
posted by pepper bird at 9:35 AM on December 2, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by pepper bird at 9:35 AM on December 2, 2017 [1 favorite]
Oh, you guys. For a nine-year-old? Mr Magoo, the first cartoon Christmas special, and still the best, after all these years. Incredible UPA animation and wonderful music, so what if we have issues about the character.
posted by Rash at 10:01 AM on December 2, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by Rash at 10:01 AM on December 2, 2017 [4 favorites]
Muppet. Christmas. Carol. A classic for a reason. Exquisite, imaginative, and both true to the work while also presenting some lovely meta information about the text.
posted by merriment at 10:28 AM on December 2, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by merriment at 10:28 AM on December 2, 2017 [5 favorites]
Yup, Muppet Christmas Carol is the best one, bar none.
posted by fimbulvetr at 10:45 AM on December 2, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by fimbulvetr at 10:45 AM on December 2, 2017 [1 favorite]
Muppet Christmas Carol. I hate Christmas movies but love this one.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 11:25 AM on December 2, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by EndsOfInvention at 11:25 AM on December 2, 2017 [1 favorite]
My family watches a lot of versions of A Christmas Carol every year (like...a lot of versions.) and argue fiercely over it. The majority of us go for the 1951 Alistair Sim version; the runner up is the 1984 George Scott version. All of us have a soft spot for the Muppets one.
Each year, I mean to go through and compare each character and scene, and then mash them together into a Frankenstein film of all the best versions. Maybe this year!
posted by punchtothehead at 11:54 AM on December 2, 2017 [1 favorite]
Each year, I mean to go through and compare each character and scene, and then mash them together into a Frankenstein film of all the best versions. Maybe this year!
posted by punchtothehead at 11:54 AM on December 2, 2017 [1 favorite]
Has no-one mentioned the 1970 musical Scrooge yet? Let me redress that oversight. Peak British '60s/'70s Lush Nostalgia Musical. Albert Finney an excellent Scrooge. A very camp Alec Guinness as Marley's ghost. Instantly hummable songs by Leslie Briscusse with fun choreography throughout. Ronald Searle title sequence. And beautiful art direction.
My favorite of the Carols from childhood on.
posted by the sobsister at 12:33 PM on December 2, 2017 [4 favorites]
My favorite of the Carols from childhood on.
posted by the sobsister at 12:33 PM on December 2, 2017 [4 favorites]
MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL. It’s so funny. And the rat muppet is so cute. And Michael Caine.
posted by pintapicasso at 2:01 PM on December 2, 2017
posted by pintapicasso at 2:01 PM on December 2, 2017
Scrooge with Albert Finney (a musical take, works incredibly well).
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 7:25 PM on December 2, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 7:25 PM on December 2, 2017 [2 favorites]
I have to put in a bid for the Cbeebies Christmas Carol. :) It has fun songs and (importantly, for some children) isn't at all scary.
posted by low_horrible_immoral at 6:30 AM on December 3, 2017
posted by low_horrible_immoral at 6:30 AM on December 3, 2017
The version that stands out from my childhood was the 1971 animated film with Alistair Sim. The animaton has a lovely 'period' style and the voices are superb.
posted by amestoy at 6:38 AM on December 3, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by amestoy at 6:38 AM on December 3, 2017 [1 favorite]
The 1970 Leslie Bricusse Scrooge with Albert Finney was the definitive Christmas Carol rendition of my childhood. Everything the sobister said about it is true.
posted by All hands bury the dead at 3:44 PM on December 3, 2017
posted by All hands bury the dead at 3:44 PM on December 3, 2017
Muppet Christmas Carol not only my favorite Christmas Carol but my favorite Christmas movie, period.
posted by naoko at 4:06 PM on December 6, 2017
posted by naoko at 4:06 PM on December 6, 2017
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by ch1x0r at 8:14 AM on December 2, 2017 [1 favorite]