ChicRawIdol A brilliant film that helped define a genre

AutCuddly Great movie! If you want to be entertained and have a few good laughs, see this movie. The music is also very good,

Humbersi The first must-see film of the year.

Portia Hilton Blistering performances.

Kirpianuscus a well known story. and its impeccable adaptation. this is all. George C. Scott does the perfect Scrooge because he has the gift to impose to you to ignore the expected story of Dickens. all begins in the moment of the first scene. and this change everything. because Elbenezer Scrooge is...different. its story is not exactly a metamorphose but result of evolution. George C. Scott explores in the right manner the frustrations and the meet with the spirits and the new day who impose a new perspective about life. and this does this version special. because it is a film of details more than the film of a classic book. the atmosphere of London, the small gestures, the humanity of each character are admirable. and, after the final credits, you discover a significant truth who is out of aesthetic rank or moral lessons- it is the expected story from the period of childhood.

jimbo-53-186511 Ebenezer Scrooge (George C. Scott) is an old miser who hates Christmas, is generally uncaring and unfeeling toward both his own family and his employee Bob Cratchit (David Warner). Scrooge receives a visit from the ghost of his friend and former business partner Jacob Marley who warns Scrooge that he will receive a visit from 3 ghosts (past, present, and yet to come). Initially, Scrooge is sceptical, but in each subsequent visit from the ghosts he starts to see the effect that his behaviour has on everyone around him and starts to realise that he needs to change his ways....We all know that in this day and age that Christmas is far too commercialised... I mean don't they start advertising for Christmas now before we've even got Halloween out of the way?? A Christmas Carol works so well because it does help to remind us of what Christmas is really about and the 'commercialism' of Christmas that we see is given a positive spin which is great to see.The story arc here sees Scrooge being visited by 3 ghosts (past, present, and yet to come) and at every stage in the story Scrooge is shown little insights into what could have happened by him not changing his ways and what will happen if he doesn't change his ways - clearly the latter hits home with him more than the former. As a piece of escapism, it is enjoyable enough, but I really liked the narrative arc and in some ways found it to be a sort of voyage of self-discovery for Scrooge.There was one really powerful scene where Scrooge is abandoned by one of the ghosts in an area that he doesn't know and he quite literally becomes isolated. Prior to this moment, Scrooge had always been calm and assured whilst he figuratively walks round wearing his rose-tinted spectacles. The scene where he is abandoned gives him a general idea of how the people he condemns must feel; alone, frightened and vulnerable. It's a strong moment in the film made great by a fine performance by George C. Scott. This is just one example of excellence from Scott, but across the whole film he is brilliant - hard-faced and miserly at the start, he's able to bring a sort of humility to Scrooge in the later stages and seemingly does the impossible by allowing the audience to be able to identify with this man. His wealth is treated as a negative at the start, but again this is given a positive spin at the end which is another strength with this film.A Christmas Carol is clearly a morality tale that highlights that Christmas is a time for giving, a time for sharing and a time for caring and in all fairness the film does a wonderful job of conveying this message to the audience (without being preachy, sentiment or heavy-handed) which is a feat in itself.A Christmas Carol is very much worth checking out as it does remind us of the true meaning of Christmas whilst simultaneously providing an enjoyable piece of escapism and as mentioned George C Scott was also terrific.

Prismark10 The striking thing of the 1984 television movie starring George C Scott as Scrooge is the faithfulness to the text, not only in the lines spoken by the cast but in director Clive Donner bringing it in the visuals such as the door knocker changing to the face of Marley and bringing to life the sparse Victoria setting of Scrooge's lifestyle.Of course there is no issue that an excellent actor such as Scott will have no issue playing the miser Scrooge and there are excellent turns from Frank Finlay as Marley and Edward Woodward as the gigantic Ghost of Christmas present with a touch of malevolence.Maybe the casting of David Warner did not feel right as Bob Cratchit, an actor who spent most of the 1980s playing villains and maybe was a little too old for the role.The film is filled with British character actors, sadly many of whom along with Scott are no longer with us. However if you want to see a traditional adaptation of Dicken's festive tale then you cannot go wrong with this one.

SnoopyStyle It's a lavish TV film of the classic Dickens tale. Ebenezer Scrooge (George C. Scott) is a ruthless businessman and employer to Bob Cratchit. Scrooge rejects Christmas cheers and his nephew Fred Hollywell's invitation. That night, he's haunted by the spirit of his late business partner Jacob Marley who tells him about the impending visit by the three Ghosts of Christmas.The great George C. Scott brings another level to Scrooge. He's not simply misery but also a ruthless businessman. The words "Greed is Good" come to mind. This is a better made than the usual TV production. This is cinematic. The sets are good looking. It's as compelling as any of the traditional A Christmas Carol and Scott is simply brilliant.