Another vote for the musical version with Albert Finney. This was the one that played on tv when I was growing up, and I still love it. I caved in and bought on VHS less than one year before it came out on dvd – drat!
George C. Scott, hands down. Bob Cratchet was perfect, the ghosts were terrific, and Marley was simply the best. Mr. Scott seemed like a man, not a caricature. His scene with the men asking for donations (“I wish to be left alooone!”), his response to his nephew’s cajoling, and his rapture at discovering he was still alive were all memorable.
Another vote for the **George C. Scott ** version (I love the part where Scrooge gets hit in the groin with a football), if only for the magnificent supporting cast; **David Warner ** makes a perfect Cratchit, **Roger Rees ** as a fussy and fidgety Fred, of course **The Equalizer ** as Xmas Present and mad props to the ingenious **Frank Finlay ** as Marley (film buffs will remember Finlay as Iago to Olivier’s Othello and Blackadder obsessives like myself will recognize him as “The Witchsmeller Pursuivant.”) Another obsessive Britcom note; alms collector Mr. Harking is played by John Quarmby, who also played the hotel inspector in the **Fawlty Towers ** finale “Basil the Rat.”
What, I’m the only fan of the Blackadder Christmas Carol?
“Sorry, I got confused and dropped a bomb on our lot.”
I vote for the Alister Sim version, I have just bought the DVD.
But did you realize that by enjoying any version of this film you are being indoctrinated by communist propaganda? I found this comment by somebody on the IMDB .
*This story has been handed down through generations as the quintessential morality play on charity. In reality, this story is pure propaganda for Socialism/Communism. Listen carefully to what the characters say. They imply that one should celebrate christmas in the way that is approved by society(Socialism). That something is wrong with you if you don’t. Charitable giving to deserving underpriviledged is not encouraged. Rather, a sense of entitlement is implied, especially by the ghost of christmas present. The word “profit” is spoken with disgust. The entire setting is skewed toward a zero sum bias where people are only rich by causing misery to others.
I don’t see how modern day people can watch this without seeing this. This work is a political protest that ranks with The Jungle as propaganda. Dickens wrote this story at a time when England was going through the Industrial Revolution. Social injustice was the newest cause of the scholarly and the political left. Out of this atmoshpere the Communist Manifesto was written. The beliefs espoused by this story, when taken to their farthest conclusion, result in misery for more humans than not.
To uplift this movie as moral entertainment to children year after year is detrimental to a Liberty minded people. It, along with countless other movies, books, songs, etc., contributes to the long slide into socialism that we are sinking into. Don’t watch it. I never will again.*
I suppose that’s a new take on this well-loved story . 
I grew up on the Albert Finney musical. So there’s my vote.
Cute. But Dickens’ appeal to charity as opposed to “all for yourself” miserliness also supports the actyion of those private charities sponsored and encouraged by the recent Republican administrations, like George Bush I’s “Thousand Points of Light”. Is this guy saying that Compassionate Conservatives are the Spawn of Godless Commies?
Yeah, I know that hardly anyone here takes this seriously, but read thye historical introduction to The Annotated Christmas Carol, like I re-did last night (after makibng my comments in another thread here), and you’ll see what Dickens had gone through immediately prior to writing his book – he toured the mining operations that employed child labor in back-breaking long-hour work, and saw the appalling poverty of the workers, and was being asked and encouraged to write a pamphlet on their behalf. Far from being written “just tio make a quick buck” (As another poster suggested), the far-from-starving “most important” author of his publisher, with his best-selling “American notes” and his just-to-be-published “Martin Chuzzlewit” was writing a popular appeal to the British public to help support their oppressed brethren.
What the hell are you talking about???
The Sim version?
Is that some expansion pack?
The Sim version by far.
I am a huge fan of A Christmas Carol and am slowly building a collection of each (non muscial) version There is something about the moment when Sim suddenly anounces “I must stand on my head” that is just so wonderfully funny. He makes the giddy as a school boy work. It is as if he is full of so much joy he can not control himself.
What’s more the character has a sense of humour through out. Now don’t get me wrong. He isn’t a fun guy. At first his humour is caustic, cynical and biting. It seems only Sim understood the play on words were supposed to be said by a man who had wit which was twisted. (“I’ll retire to Bedlam.” “There is more of gravy than grave in you”)
Sim starts his change earlier than most do. Some Actors have him change upon meeting the third ghost or (worse) after he sees the name on the gravestone.
Sims attitude changes throughout. Note his sudden pang when he is at Fezziwig’s thinking he’d like a talk to Cratchett. Each experience chips at him and Sim’s personna slowly shifts so that his final exuberence seems the most genuine to me.
(Look at the scen where he watches himself in teh office on teh day of Marley’s death. You can see the Bitter Scrooge of the start of the film and how far he came by the end of his first visit.)
I also like the added scene of how Marley and Scrooge obtain control of the company.
Oh yeah… no nof to Henry Winkler and his “An American Christmas Carol”?
Those are balls.
I heartily vote for Scott’s version.
I also like the Kelsey Grammar version, because as I have stated elsewhere, Jane Krakowski is totally hot, incredibly talented and absolutely steals the show from Kelsey.
I’m another fan of the Blackadder version; it warms my cockles.
Daniel
Sim version for sure.
Slight hijack if I may, when Scrooge (Sim) throws open the shutters near the end and asks the boy if he knows the butcher with the large goose in his window, the boy says something like “What? Curr?” Does anyone have a clue what he’s talking about?
I vote for the musical, also.
thank you very, very, very much!
It’s time to start looking for it on TV!
This intruiged me so I’ve just checked out this part of the film, and the book. The boy says “Walk-ER!”
As for the literal meaning of “walk-ER”, not a clue. In context it is a sarcastic Cockney “Yeah, right.” The boy thinks Scrooge is telling him to buy something he could never afford and pay for it himself. Scrooge then explains and offers him a reward to sort it out.
Here’s the text from the book, which is pretty close to the film:
And add my vote for the Sim version - the delivery of the above lines is wonderful.
Thanks!
I have to go with the Dickens version. Try curling up with that one night instead of watching any of the adaptations. It’s massively better.
A jittery, poorly written post, I admit. I’ll be more clear:
I like the George C. Scott version because it has a lot of actors I like, including two guys from a couple of TV shows I like.
I was mainly puzzled about Scrooge getting hit with a football in the groin. 