# The Best Scrooge **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 9, 2017, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-scrooge/804019 "2017-12-09T14:34:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2017, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-scrooge/804019/21 "2017-12-09T18:28:11Z")
How about the most [slappable](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-bx2VQAKwY) Scrooge? (Santa could also use a good mugging, there) I think Tracey Morgan, Bieber, and David Beckham should give the character a whirl. (or maybe a daring, slightly androgynous turn from Tilda Swinton) ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2017, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-scrooge/804019/22 "2017-12-09T18:34:17Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > The world would be a better place if nothing included Jim Carrey. This is so right. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2017, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-scrooge/804019/23 "2017-12-09T23:21:11Z")
Coincidentally, I’m off to see a stage production of The Klingon Christmas Carol tomorrow. You can’t really appreciate Dickens until you’ve heard it in the original Klingon. [https://edgeoforion.com/klingon-christmas-carol/](https://edgeoforion.com/klingon-christmas-carol/) ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2017, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-scrooge/804019/24 "2017-12-09T23:24:37Z")
I would also vote for Jim Backus as Mr. Magoo. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2017, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-scrooge/804019/25 "2017-12-09T23:41:35Z")
I voted [Bah, Humduck!](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bah,_Humduck!_A_Looney_Tunes_Christmas) starring Daffy Duck, or Joe Alaskey, if you prefer the actor. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2017, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-scrooge/804019/26 "2017-12-09T23:50:21Z")
> [@Rhiannon8404](#): > > I can’t vote as I have never seen any of the mentioned versions. I’m probably an anomaly. My first thought was Bill Murray, then Scrooge McDuck, then Rowan Atkinson. Rowan Atkinson was my first thought, before even opening the thread. Then I saw the options and thought WTELF? Just an unconscionable oversight. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2017, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-scrooge/804019/27 "2017-12-10T00:03:22Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > Reginald Owen, the best Scrooge. It is also the best movie version. The Alistair Sims version is highly overrated, in my opinion. I agree with this, Sim only wins because it’s shown a lot more often. Sidenote: I remember when I was little (maybe 5 or 6?) my parents waking up me and my older sister one evening and bringing us out to the living room to watch the Sim version of this movie. I think they were trying to counter our childlike greed for presents that we were probably displaying ad nauseum. Anyway, the reason I don’t think Sim is as good is that, as an actor, he tended towards the good-natured wiseacre sort of role (at least from what I’ve seen) and too much of that shows through in this performance, even when he’s supposed to be grouchy. And his acting in the ghost scenes is too broad. It’s not a bad version by any means, just not the best. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2017, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-scrooge/804019/28 "2017-12-10T00:09:06Z")
George C. Scott was excellent as Scrooge – Scott was the consummate actor. But I have to admit that my overall favorite version has now become the Zemeckis/Carrey version, which is not only the most faithful to the letter and spirit of the book, but also to its illustrations. I’ll forgive them their visual extravagances and the slapstick – the overall acting is superb. I never thought I’d say this, but Jim Carey really did an incredible job, not only as Scrooge, but as the Spirits of Christmas Past and Present as well. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2017, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-scrooge/804019/29 "2017-12-10T00:50:31Z")
I still don’t understand it. Alistair Sim was good. George C. Scott was great. Every poll I have ever seen on the board comes out the same. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2017, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-scrooge/804019/30 "2017-12-10T01:10:23Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > the reason I don’t think Sim is as good is that, as an actor, he tended towards the good-natured wiseacre sort of role (at least from what I’ve seen) and too much of that shows through in this performance, even when he’s supposed to be grouchy. And his acting in the ghost scenes is too broad. It’s not a bad version by any means, just not the best. I now can’t stop picturing a production with Lionel Barrymore as Ebenezer Scrooge, getting shown the error of his ways by a stammering Jimmy Stewart. After all, we were pretty much almost there already, right? ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2017, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-scrooge/804019/31 "2017-12-10T04:02:20Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > I now can’t stop picturing a production with Lionel Barrymore as Ebenezer Scrooge, getting shown the error of his ways by a stammering Jimmy Stewart. > > After all, we were pretty much almost there already, right? I would watch that. ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2017, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-scrooge/804019/32 "2017-12-10T04:08:38Z")
Bill Murray is of course the correct answer but i went with my number two and voted Sim. ---
**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 10, 2017, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-scrooge/804019/33 "2017-12-10T04:14:22Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > I still don’t understand it. Alistair Sim was good. George C. Scott was great. > > Every poll I have ever seen on the board comes out the same. Scott is the better actor. But Sim is the better portrayal. Sim wins. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2017, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-scrooge/804019/34 "2017-12-10T05:30:02Z")
Inspired by another thread, what would a Tarintino _Christmas Carol_ be like? ---
**Author:** ![Anamorphic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/anamorphic/32/3057_2.png) [@Anamorphic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anamorphic)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2017, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-scrooge/804019/35 "2017-12-10T05:48:40Z")
I freely admit the Alastair Sim version is probably a better movie, but I’m a sucker for the Albert Finney version. And this is coming from someone who is not much of a fan of musicals. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2017, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-scrooge/804019/36 "2017-12-10T05:58:33Z")
No love for Stewart, man, tough crowd! ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2017, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-scrooge/804019/37 "2017-12-10T10:51:24Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > I voted “fraud” in protest of a poll that doesn’t include Murray, Quincy Magoo, and Starlight Glimmer. However, I do have to give you props for not including Jim Carrey. The world would be a better place if nothing included Jim Carrey. Mr Magoo. I’ve read the book many times, but if I picture Scrooge, it’s Magoo (and McDuck) that come to mind. And perhaps you never saw “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” – not a very popular movie, but the one which revealed that when Jim Carrey isn’t playing the “Jim Carrey” character, he can play other characters. In fact, to my surprise, it seems that he’s a very good actor. It’s a pity he got paid so much money for being crap. ---
**Author:** ![kiz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7feea3/32.png) [@kiz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kiz)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2017, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-scrooge/804019/38 "2017-12-10T11:50:52Z")
Scott, hands down. Ans this is coming from somebody who adored the Finney version as well as grew up with both the Owen and Sim versions, neither of which I cared for. The Finney version scared me to death, especially the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come. The scene in the graveyard…:shudder: Upthread somebody mentioned how Scott played Scrooge “with a twinkle”. I agree, and it makes his portrayal much more human than the others. You actually garner sympathy for him as the story continues. I don’t ever remember feeling that with anybody else’s version. I’ve seen the Stewart version a couple of times. It’s almost like they gave him the role just because of his accent. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2017, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-scrooge/804019/39 "2017-12-10T14:11:49Z")
Curly, of course. Wait. Best what? ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2017, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-scrooge/804019/40 "2017-12-10T14:52:25Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > Reginald Owen, the best Scrooge. It is also the best movie version. The Alistair Sims version is highly overrated, in my opinion. I vacillated between Owen and Sim for a a bit before settling on the latter. I have both in my DVD library, though. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-scrooge/804019.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-scrooge/804019.md?page=3)