# Do you like modern versions of " A Christmas Carol" **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 6, 2001, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-modern-versions-of-a-christmas-carol/97278 "2001-12-06T19:03:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Kaitlyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/73ab20/32.png) [@Kaitlyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaitlyn)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2001, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-modern-versions-of-a-christmas-carol/97278/21 "2001-12-07T02:04:34Z")
Favorite all time: Alistair Sim. Favorite modern (post 1980): Patrick Stewart. In both cases, Scrooge is prior to the visitations, a viscious prick, which is one of the strengths of the performances. It gives more weight to the Christmas past and The next day sections. It’s kinda like Eliza Doolittle in “My Fair Lady”. To be truly effective, she has to be utterly convincing as a guttersnipe and as an elegant lady. Scrooge must be completely effective as an uncaring miser and as a generous benefactor. IMO, Sim and Stewart do this the best. ---
**Author:** ![LorieSmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a587f6/32.png) [@LorieSmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LorieSmurf)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2001, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-modern-versions-of-a-christmas-carol/97278/22 "2001-12-07T02:29:59Z")
Every year i have to watch “Scrooged” with Bill Murray. I guess it’s my favorite modern version. But i really dig the Muppet Christmas Carol. Rizzo the Rat just kills me! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2001, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-modern-versions-of-a-christmas-carol/97278/23 "2001-12-07T03:04:38Z")
> [@](#): > > Scrooge must be completely effective as an uncaring miser and as a generous benefactor. I still think George C. Scott played it better because it gave the audience a _reason_ why he was the way he was. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2001, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-modern-versions-of-a-christmas-carol/97278/24 "2001-12-07T03:04:50Z")
I like the b&w Sim version best. Scott’s version had three rather glaring flaws that ruined it for me. 1. Scott laughed on the “stake of holly” line. Scrooge does have a sense of humor - see his line “there’s more of gravy than the grave” to Marley. But explicitly showing it this early is just wrong. I think Dickens intended Scrooge to be almost a caricature. As Dickens gradually reveals Scrooge’s vulnerabilities, they have more effect on us. 2. That buzzsaw-like sound effect for the GoCPast was way too loud and obtrusive. 3. Tiny Tim looked like he had already died and returned from the grave as a zombie, rather than just weak and not long for this world. I had never seen the Sim version until I was in my 20s. Before that I liked the Reginald Owen version. When I saw it again I thought it was okay. Leo G. Carroll as Marley was very good. But that scene with the Cratchit kids and the toy carousel at the end just didn’t fit. I saw the Mr. Magoo version when I was a kid, and I still have a soft spot for it. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2001, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-modern-versions-of-a-christmas-carol/97278/25 "2001-12-07T03:15:47Z")
Argh. Change that “GoCPast” in my previous post to “GoC Yet To Come”. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Johnny L.A. \* > I still think George C. Scott played it better because it gave the audience a _reason_ why he was the way he was. I don’t understand. That’s what Dickens did with the GoCPast. Doing it earlier simply reduces the dramatic tension. Not the best idea (IMO, of course). ---
**Author:** ![Mofo\_Rising](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Mofo\_Rising](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mofo_Rising)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2001, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-modern-versions-of-a-christmas-carol/97278/26 "2001-12-07T03:20:37Z")
**Scrooged** is the only version of A Christmas Carol I can stand. That includes the original. So in answer to the OP, I like modern versions, but just one of them. I’ll also second the Mr. Magoo version, but that’s more of a Mr. Magoo thing than a Christmas Carol thing. ---
**Author:** ![Kaitlyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/73ab20/32.png) [@Kaitlyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaitlyn)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2001, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-modern-versions-of-a-christmas-carol/97278/27 "2001-12-07T03:41:38Z")
Johnny, I was going to respond, but rowrrbazzle beat me to it. What he said. ---
**Author:** ![Ferggie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e99b99/32.png) [@Ferggie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferggie)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2001, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-modern-versions-of-a-christmas-carol/97278/28 "2001-12-07T04:37:56Z")
Modernized versions I can generally take or leave. Being my mother’s daughter, I cannot end a holiday season without one more viewing of the musical with Albert Finney … and I don’t even celebrate Christmas. ---
**Author:** ![Sweet\_Sota\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@Sweet\_Sota\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sweet_Sota_Girl)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2001, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-modern-versions-of-a-christmas-carol/97278/29 "2001-12-07T06:28:34Z")
My two favorites have been covered… Muppets and Mickey Mouse. =) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-modern-versions-of-a-christmas-carol/97278.md?page=1)