Many people will say it’s 1951’s Scrooge with Alestair Sim.
But for me, there are two that really stand out. One is the 1938 version with Reginald Owen. The other is the 1984 version with George C. Scott.
Both of those films are pretty faithful to the book. But for me, Scott’s version is the best. Why? Because he makes Scrooge human. Think of all of the versions and ‘special episodes’ you’ve seen. So often Scrooge or the Scrooge character is a one-dimensional meanie. Reginald Owen brought a lot of the ‘backstory’ that some versions omit. So did Scott. But upon seeing Owen’s version recently I think he didn’t quite get it. He often slips into the ‘Big Meanie’ trap. (And Terry Kilburn’s ‘Tiny Tim’ is just creepy.) On the other hand, Scott brings depth to the role. He is not just a Mean Old Man. Well, he is. But Scott brings dry wit and cynicism to the delivery of his lines. It was Scott’s version where I finally understood Scrooge. Owen’s version shows vignettes of Scrooge’s life, but it doesn’t really go into why he made the choices he did. Scott’s version did. He showed the anguish on Scrooge’s face when he made the choice between his fiancée and his career. ‘I almost went after her.’ ‘“Almost” doesn’t count.’
And I liked Edward Woodward’s portrayal of ‘The Ghost Of Christmas Present’. Scrooge says, ‘It’s a very small goose.’ Woodward’s retort of ‘It’s all Bob Cratchit can afford!’ is perfect. Scott’s cynical laugh when he says ‘You use my own words against me’ is also the best-delivered of any of the versions IMO.
But again, the reason I like this version is because of Scrooge’s humanity. He didn’t start out bad. He grew lonely and bitter because his choices left him without the love and home that everyone else around him had. When love is gone, there’s nothing left but to survive. And a cynical outlook (look up ‘humbug’ in the dictionary) is a common defense against the pain of being alone. Scott shows a Scrooge who wants to be good. Only he’s forgotten it. He’s lost his dreams. He’s not mean so much as wounded.
So for me, the George C. Scott version (1984) is the best. Reginald Owen’s version (1938) comes in second, and Alestair Sim’s 1951 version is third.
Patrick Stewart’s one-man show. Total command of the stage at all times, believable voices (even Tiny Tim). Hell, just his recording of a straight reading of the book beats any staged/filmed version.
They all have their good points.
But my favorite is Mr McGoo’s Christmas Carol.
For a person who is not big on musicals, this is yet another one I do enjoy.
Probably I am just one more aging Boomer who is feeling nostalgic for razzleberry dressing. Mr Magoo’s Christmas Carol
as noted in that other thread, I prefer the Alistair Sim version. I think the 1938 Reginald wen one was too cute – sim’s version carried the weight of respectability.
I agree that Scott’s version is very good, and I’d put it in my top three.
Mr. Magoo’s was the first one I ever saw, which gives it a special place in my mind. Even today I think it’s pretty good.
Alistair Sim, by the way, also did the voice of Scrooge in the Chuck Jones-produced cartoon version that used the original Leech drawings.
I’d love to see that one. The movie starring Patrick Stewart is my favourite, though. I must have seen it twenty times. Rewatched it just the other day.
I also vote for the version with George C. Scott. When I have kids, that’s the one I’ll show them first. They can see the other ones later if they want to; I’ve been there and done that and come back. Edward Woodward really is excellent as the Ghost of Christmas Present. He’s possibly the only person who ever made that role scarier than the Ghost of Christmas Future.
I haven’t seen Patrick Stewart’s one man show, but I’ve heard it’s excellent.
IMDB reminds us that Richard Harris rejected the role of Scrooge. Rex Harrison agreed to play the part, but had to back out due to a commitment to a difficult play. (Harrison was also having an affair with Harris’ then-wife, who he would later marry.) Albert Finney, who had been offered the role before Harrison but had initially rejected it, reconsidered once he read the script and asked for the role.
No.2 Alestair Sim’s 1951
No.3 the George C. Scott version 1984
No.4 Scrooged - Besides Bill Murray - had the still hot Karen Allen, Scary as Hell as the Marley Character John Forsythe, Unique (I don’t know how to bill him)BobCat Goldthwait and Carol Kane… All that and Cameos from Robert Mitchum and
Alfre Woodard, Robert Goulet, Buddy Hackett, Jamie Farr, John Houseman, Lee Majors, Pat McCormick, Mary Lou Retton.
Green folks, you may remember, were putting on the worst Scrooge ever for Murray’s TV show-- but I would have watched
I liked the Reginald Owen version until I finally saw the Sim version, which remains my favorite. I can’t find the previous thread on this subject, so I’ll keep this short. IMO the Sim version (like the original story) does in fact do what JLA says the Scott version does. The Scott version just goes further to make sure we got the point. And JLA and I will have to agree to disagree about this.