I watched 10 versions of ‘A Christmas Carol’ after reading the e book, here’s my ideas. : movies

Being a longtime fan of Charles Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’, and having grown up pretty-much solely on ‘A Muppets Christmas Carol’, I wished to re-read the unique e book after which evaluate a group of variations to see which of them had been most pleasurable and which had been closest to the unique literature. Here I’ve documented my ideas on the numerous versions I watched (with a tl;dr abstract at the finish!).

Because I wished to check these to the unique story, I opted to solely watch versions which occur round the similar time as the e book and never trendy reinterpretations (so no ‘Scrooged’, ‘A Diva’s Christmas Carol’, or different such classics).

Those I watched are as follows, with the 12 months of launch, title (if alternate from ‘A Christmas Carol’), and the actor taking part in Scrooge:

• 1935 – ‘Scrooge’ starring Seymour Hicks

• 1938 – starring Reginald Owen

• 1951 – starring Alastair Sim

• 1970 – ‘Scrooge’ – starring Albert Finney

• 1983 – ‘Mickey’s Christmas Carol’ – starring Scrooge McDuck

• 1984 – starring George C. Scott

• 1992 – ‘The Muppet’s Christmas Carol’ – starring Michael Caine

• 1999 – starring Patrick Stewart

• 2009 – ‘Disney’s A Christmas Carol’ – starring Jim Carrey

• 2019 – TV mini-series starring Guy Pierce

• I additionally watched 2017’s ‘The Man Who Invented Christmas’ which is (*10*)about Charles Dickens writing the e book, with the late Christopher Plummer taking part in “Scrooge”.

Again, to start out off, I learn Charles Dickens’ unique 1843 e book, ‘A Christmas Carol’ simply to re-familiarize myself with the (*10*)unique story to have one thing to check the movies to. It’s a timeless basic that makes for a fast learn, combining the then-traditional notions of Christmas ghost tales with the now-traditional concepts of Christmastime pleasure, charity, and love. We’re off to an excellent begin.

“Scrooge” – 1935 starring Seymour Hicks – (*10*)2/5 stars

• In this one, Scrooge and Cratchit have a bizarre, far more antagonistic relationship than what’s often seen or in the e book.

• However, I consider it was the just one (or one of only a few) to have a complete scene displaying Cratchit ice-sliding with boys on his means dwelling, which is talked about in the e book.

• It had quite a bit of bizarre 1930’s clearly ‘Three Stooges’-inspired antics.

• Marley’s ghost is invisible, which was variety of boring.

• The Ghost of Christmas Past is only a human-shaped glow that tasks flashbacks to Scrooge. I’m positive the impact was thought of cool at the time.

• The Ghost of Christmas Past’s flashbacks are unique to the film and don’t embody his childhood. For instance, one scene depicts his fiancé breaking apart with him after he forecloses on a pair. Very dramatic.

• The Ghost of Christmas Present may be very fats, however has no beard as usually depicted. He additionally solely reveals Scrooge the goings-on of the Cratchit household.

• During The Ghost of Christmases Yet-to-Come scenes, Scrooge solely seems as a face inside a shadow searching at what the Ghost is displaying him. A reasonably creepy and fascinating stylistic alternative.

“A Christmas Carol” – 1938 starring Reginald Owen – (*10*)4/5 stars

• A distinct opening that standard, displaying Scrooge’s nephew Fred sliding with Tiny Tim. Also Fred is just engaged, not married.

• Bob Cratchit is outright fired at the starting for throwing a snowball, and there is far more about him and his household.

• Scrooge has police come up to take a look at the bizarre goings-on with Marley.

• Mrs. Cratchit – somewhat than Bob Cratchit, as is common – is the one who proposes toasting Mr. Scrooge at their household dinner.

• The entire factor had a really 1930’s performing fashion and kind of whimsy, however I favored it far more than the earlier one which solely got here out 3 years prior (and we thought (*10*)we had it unhealthy in terms of frequent reboots!).

“A Christmas Carol” – 1951 starring Alastair Sim – (*10*)4/5 stars

• Whereas we usually do not be taught a lot about Cratchit’s household state of affairs till the Ghost of Christmas Present scenes, on this a lot of that’s established far earlier in the film, earlier than Scrooge has any ghostly encounters.

• This was the just one to have the rising clanging of Marley’s chains from the basement, as described in the e book.

• Goes into far more clarification of Scrooge and Marley’s historical past.

• This one can be one of the few the place Scrooge seems out the window throughout his Marley encounter and sees the souls of numerous individuals floating in the air. The means it is filmed in that is actually unsettling, with numerous pictures of actors writhing round, filmed at totally different angles after which all composited into one shot.

• Scrooge, ever the heartless outdated miser, is (*10*)particularly chilly on this one.

“Scrooge” – 1970 starring Albert Finney – (*10*)1/5 stars

• Great opening titles! (sadly that is about the smartest thing I can say about this)

• The first of two musical variations on this record.

• Albert Finney, relaxation his soul, delivers a very (*10*)bizarre efficiency on this. He enormously overacts each scene and has this actually annoying high-pitched mumble voice, which I suppose was him making an attempt to play an outdated man (in contrast to many actors taking part in Scrooge, on this he was clearly a lot youthful than Scrooge was imagined to be). It was fairly annoying and the essential motive I dock this film so many factors.

• Not making an attempt to be political in any respect, I could not assist however suppose he additionally regarded a (*10*)lot like a sure former US President who some might liken to a real-life Ebenezer Scrooge. Does anybody else see it?

• Sir Alec Guinness, who most know as the OG Obi-wan Kenobi, performed Marley on this and had a bizarre sashay/dancy kind of stroll. Dude should’ve actually favored to play ghosts.

• Marley takes Scrooge on a ghost flight and sings, variety of like a spooky model of the “can you read my mind?” scene from ‘Superman: The Movie’.

• The Ghost of Christmas Part is an outdated woman in a purple gown on this model.

• The scenes displaying Scrooge courting his fiancé happen in summer time/spring, which will get away from the entire “(*10*)Christmas previous” factor, and I consider is the solely time in any of these movies to have non-Christmas scenes.

• The entire factor is (*10*)very 1970’s.

• The Ghost of Christmases Yet-to-Come part may be very totally different than standard, going down saying Scrooge’s demise at his office.

• There’s a trippy, prolonged scene towards the finish which reveals Scrooge and Marley in Hell the place Scrooge turns into Lucifer’s “Cratchit”.

“Mickey’s Christmas Carol” – 1983 starring Scrooge McDuck – (*10*)1/5 humbugs

• I really feel like I’m going to get hate for this one as a result of it is a childhood basic for a lot of, however I simply did not prefer it. The story suffered enormously from its extremely brief 26-minute runtime, inflicting vital plot components to be reduce and leading to a movie that had so misplaced sight of the story’s message that I simply did not see the level. If it’d been an hour lengthy then it most likely might’ve achieved much more.

“A Christmas Carol” – 1984 starring George C. Scott – (*10*)4.5/5 stars

• Being a 90’s child myself, seeing Michael Gough (Alfred from the Burton/Schumacher Batman movies) as one of the charity takers was a pleasing shock!

• This very enormously expanded on the unique story, overlaying Scrooge’s dwelling life, displaying how and why Scrooge grew to become so hateful. I favored this half.

• The Ghost of Christmas Past was (*10*)very 1980’s, trying like Glenn Close taking part in David Bowie in a Meat Loaf music video.

• Like with the deeper exploration into Scrooge’s backstory, I discovered this film to be extra dramatic than the story is often advised.

• In this one Scrooge is much more of a jerk. Just a imply, grouchy outdated curmudgeon.

• At that, the Ghost of Christmas Present a lot harsher, very stern in the direction of Scrooge somewhat than the tremendous jovial Santa Claus sort of man he is often performed as, however I truly somewhat favored it.

“The Muppet’s Christmas Carol” – 1992 starring Michael Caine – (*10*)5/5 stars!

• Okay, I cannot faux like I’m capable of be completely goal about this one. I’ve watched it almost yearly because it got here out and discover it endlessly pleasurable. So my 5/5 evaluate (*10*)may be biased, however given the movie’s reputation I really feel prefer it may actually deserve that ranking.

• If you are conversant in the film however aren’t conscious, there was initially a heartbreaking track in the scene between Scrooge and his fiancé that was reduce from the theatrical model of the movie. It was later re-added in some early dwelling releases however has in any other case been tough to search out in tact in the film, which to me was infuriating as a result of the track is reprised at the very finish of the film and so with out it the ending tune simply comes out of nowhere. However, just some weeks in the past Disney+ lastly restored the footage and reinserted it into the movie in a model you may entry by way of the ‘Extras’ tab.

• Despite being a musical with puppets and the addition of Gonzo’s Charles Dickens narrator character (and Rizzo!), the film is surprisingly correct to the e book. The most vital plot distinction (puppets apart) I observed was the way it ends at Cratchit’s home with Scrooge by no means going to his nephew’s dwelling for dinner or selecting up the subsequent day in the workplace the place Scrooge historically has his interplay with Cratchit.

“A Christmas Carol” – 1999 starring Patrick Stewart – (*10*)5/5 stars!

• This was positively made on a TV funds.

• However, it was the most correct to the e book, right down to some fairly minor, unimportant issues (like a complete scene devoted to the Cratchit household pudding).

• Patrick Stewart is simply an absolute treasure. Love that man.

• Although he was very stern in the 1984 model, I would say this film had the least (*10*)jolly Ghost of Christmas Present.

“Disney’s A Christmas Carol” – 2009 starring Jim Carrey – (*10*)3/5 stars

• This one was nearer to e book than quite a bit of interpretations in some ways, however was additionally too cartoony and gimmicky in others.

• Moreover, it is like the movie could not determine whether or not to decide to being (*10*)scary or a child’s film. The demise of the Ghost of Christmas Present is a really terrifying scene, as is the portrayal of the Ghost of Christmases Yet-to-Come, however then there’s an overly-long scene of Scrooge having been shrunk down with somewhat helium voice and sliding by means of gutters throughout London.

• The Ghost of Christmas Past might be the most correct to his description in the e book, principally trying like an enormous candle.

• Also price noting that Carrey performs the ghosts of Christmas Past and Present along with taking part in Scrooge, which was a bizarre alternative that I do not suppose fairly labored. I’m positive it was meant to personalize the ghosts to Scrooge himself and permit Jim Carrey tons of vary, however I discovered it distracting largely.

“A Christmas Carol” – 2019 BBC mini-series starring Guy Pierce – Quality: (*10*)1.5/5 stars

• I know, not technically a film however with a 3-hour complete runtime I felt prefer it might rely.

• It tried waaay too arduous to be edgy and classy. Scrooge, performed by Guy Pierce, is means youthful and Cratchit is extra attitudinal and enticing. Stupid horny Scrooge and Cratchit. The entire factor begins displaying with a reasonably gross scene of a boy pissing on Marley’s grave.

• I did, nevertheless, like the added backstory for Scrooge – there’s a complete factor about his enterprise and it leading to quite a bit of individuals getting killed, his dad was abusive and went bankrupt which instilled in Ebenezer an avoidance of “unprofitable affections”.

• Also to its credit score, this model had the loveliest portrayal of Tiny Tim in any of the variations. Played by a younger actor named Lenny Rush who has Spondyloepiphyseal Dysplasia congenita leading to some bodily disabilities.

“The Man Who Invented Christmas” – 2017 – Quality: (*10*)4/5 stars

• Cute, loved fairly a bit as a form of bookend to the movies I’ve watched. It’s tacky, positive, however surprisingly true and a candy sort-of meta tackle the e book. Worth a watch if you would like ‘A Christmas Carol’ however after having watched 10 totally different versions you need one thing somewhat totally different.

General ideas and observations:

• Despite not being described in the e book, the visible of Scrooge falling right into a purple glowing grave occurred in a number of versions: 1970’s Albert Finney, Mickey’s, 1999’s Patrick Stewart, and 2009’s Jim Carrey.

• Three movies ended with an in-story character narrating: the 2009 Carrey model had Cratchit, the 1999 model had nephew Fred, and the Muppets model, of course, has Gonzo as Charles Dickens.

• Names for Scrooge’s fiancé: Alice, Belle (that is her identify in the e book), Isabelle, and Clara

• To me the “haggling over bedsheets” yet-to-come scene just about all the time drags in each model.

• In 4 versions the Ghost of Christmas Past is feminine: 1938, 1970, 1984, and Muppets. In the e book the spirit seems to be male although with a grasp “gentle as a woman’s hand”.

Conclusion:

If you are on the lookout for a model to look at this season, my high three had been, in no explicit order, 1984’s (George C. Scott), ‘The Muppet’s Christmas Carol’, or 1999’s (Patrick Stewart).

Children are most-likely to take pleasure in the Muppets model (it is enjoyable for adults too although) however of the three I’d say it is the most faraway from the e book, although nonetheless surprisingly shut.

The Patrick Stewart model is closest to the e book however suffers attributable to its apparent TV funds. Still extremely pleasurable, perhaps not as a lot for youths although.

The George C. Scott model is a reasonably good middleground between the different two – it is had a better-looking manufacturing worth (although additionally apparently being a made-for-TV movie, which I do not suppose I knew till trying it up after) and energetic/dramatic than the Stewart model, but additionally nearer to the e book and extra severe (whereas nonetheless being enjoyable) than the Muppets model.

I hope you and yours have enjoyable watching whichever model you select, and let me know if there are any must-sees that I skipped. I hope everybody has a Merry Christmas or no matter vacation you rejoice!