# What's The Best Film Version of "A CHRISTMAS CAROL"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 7, 2003, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-film-version-of-a-christmas-carol/217603 "2003-12-07T20:28:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![jeanster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc348/32.png) [@jeanster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jeanster)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-film-version-of-a-christmas-carol/217603/21 "2003-12-08T00:31:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Eve \* > \*\*One vote for [Blackadder’s Christmas Carol](http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0094754/). \*\* And here’s another vote for A Blackadder’s Christmas Carol. ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-film-version-of-a-christmas-carol/217603/22 "2003-12-08T03:34:08Z")
Another one for the Muppets. I got it yesterday in the mail from [Amazon.com](http://Amazon.com) and I watched it as soon as I could. I love that movie. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-film-version-of-a-christmas-carol/217603/23 "2003-12-08T04:43:28Z")
A third for BlackAdder and a second for Albert Finney’s SCROOGE (even though I get those damned “I like life/life likes me/life & I fairly fully agree” and “happiness is whatever you want it to be” songs stuck in my head whenever I think about it). ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-film-version-of-a-christmas-carol/217603/24 "2003-12-08T04:54:12Z")
\*I’d like to offer Rod Serling’s reworking of the story in the 1964 movie “A Carol for Another Christmas.” It was shown once–and only once–on TV, and has never been released. Those of you living in NYC have the ability, though. It is sometimes shown by the Museum of Television and Radio during the Xmas season. \*I say “I’d like to offer” because I’ve never seen it. But that’s the one I’d most like to see. ---
**Author:** ![Ms\_Boods](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5e9695/32.png) [@Ms\_Boods](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms_Boods)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-film-version-of-a-christmas-carol/217603/25 "2003-12-08T05:11:16Z")
I’ll add a vote as big as a turkey that looks as if its mother was rogered by an omnibus for Mr Ebenezer Blackadder… ---
**Author:** ![CadburyAngel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c2a13f/32.png) [@CadburyAngel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CadburyAngel)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-film-version-of-a-christmas-carol/217603/26 "2003-12-08T06:00:40Z")
Sorry, Brandyfine, didn’t mean to yell at ya. I was trying to imply that nothing could ever be as funny as the Muppets, and I have concrete evidence now that I am nowhere near as funny as they are: NOBODY gets me! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![BrandyFine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrandyFine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrandyFine)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-film-version-of-a-christmas-carol/217603/27 "2003-12-08T06:19:59Z")
😃 Cool, I would never diss the muppets. They rock! ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-film-version-of-a-christmas-carol/217603/28 "2003-12-08T06:30:25Z")
The Alistair Sim version is excellent, the George C. Scott version is good also. The Mr. Magoo version is what made Mr. Magoo famous. It is my favorite one followed by the AS version and the GCS version. The rest follow in no particular order. My favorite version is the radio verson by Ronald Colman. ---
**Author:** ![well\_he\_s\_back](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3ab097/32.png) [@well\_he\_s\_back](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/well_he_s_back)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-film-version-of-a-christmas-carol/217603/29 "2003-12-08T17:56:51Z")
My very favorite version is the Mister Magoo. Those songs! I love it. ---
**Author:** ![Made\_in\_Macau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@Made\_in\_Macau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Made_in_Macau)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-film-version-of-a-christmas-carol/217603/30 "2003-12-08T18:16:04Z")
16 years ago I was working on Christmas Day on a haematology ward and ate lunch with an old lady too ill to go home (I ate - she picked). I sat with her because she had no living relatives. We pulled crackers and wore party hats and watched Finney as Scrooge. When the Spirit (not ghost dammit) of Christmas past showed him choosing money over love, Scrooge says ‘Spirit take me from this place - I can bear it no more’ I was choking tears back and trying to disguise this from my patient who said ‘Would you like a tissue lad?’ When I left the ward that afternoon I said goodbye and she said ‘When you watch that film, remember me’ She died that night. Merry Christmas Edith. Albert Finney - no contest ---
**Author:** ![Olentzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90ced4/32.png) [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-film-version-of-a-christmas-carol/217603/31 "2003-12-08T19:36:48Z")
I like the George C. Scott one myself, but I haven’t seen it in a number of years. The Sim one is just too syrupy for me. I have not yet seen Patrick Stewart’s version, but I remember hearing the laugh on an NPR interview, and that in and of itself makes me want to see it. ---
**Author:** ![ddgryphon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8c91f0/32.png) [@ddgryphon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ddgryphon)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-film-version-of-a-christmas-carol/217603/32 "2003-12-08T21:08:23Z")
I own nearly every version mentioned here. Most all have their merits, all have their faults. However, for me the Patrick Stewart version is the most layered and successful adaptation I have seen. Stewart is everything Finney is and more. Scrooge is a wonderful musical adaptation and is made more wonderful by Finney’s performance. Every time he sings “You, you were all things to me” I begin to cry. For amusing adaptations, the Muppets leaves me alternately rolling and crying. It is the most successful Muppet movie I’ve seen and really worth your time. “Light the lamp, not the rat!” There are a few others worth mentioning: Certainly the Sim Scrooge and a very intersting animated adaptation based on the original art from the published edition. It is quite eerie and plays the ghost aspect well. Enjoy, whichever one you choose. Unlike many, I can take or leave George C. Scott, but I don’t think it is wholly terrible. ---
**Author:** ![Intaglio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/71e660/32.png) [@Intaglio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intaglio)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-film-version-of-a-christmas-carol/217603/33 "2003-12-08T21:17:54Z")
I also like the Patrick Struart version of Scrooge in A Christmas Carol, I hope it is on this year, or I can get it in either Video or DVD. ---
**Author:** ![Olentzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90ced4/32.png) [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-film-version-of-a-christmas-carol/217603/34 "2003-12-08T21:32:28Z")
DVD?! Bah, [humbug](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0780623746/qid=1070919150/sr=1-5/ref=sr_1_5/002-8114691-9749650?v=glance&s=dvd)! ---
**Author:** ![kmg365](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ec9cab/32.png) [@kmg365](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kmg365)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-film-version-of-a-christmas-carol/217603/35 "2003-12-08T23:09:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Made in Macau \* > \*\*Albert Finney - no contest \*\* I second that. Finney was classic in his portrayal. When I first saw _Scrooge_ in elementary school just a few years after it came out, the scenes with all the spirits scared the holy crap out of me for some reason. But now I love it, and Christmas w/o it wouldn’t be the same. Thanks for sharing the touching story about your patient btw. After I read it, I had to use the back of my hand being that I’m all out of tissue. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-film-version-of-a-christmas-carol/217603/36 "2003-12-08T23:31:08Z")
Traditional versions: 1. Sim; 2. Scott; distant 3rd: Stewart. Non-traditional (ie, animated and/or musical): 1. Magoo; 2. Muppets. I must admit I’ve never seen the Albert Finney version, but now I’m intrigued. Worst version is on the other thread…but here’s a hint: “who’s the leader of the club that’s made for you and me…” ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-film-version-of-a-christmas-carol/217603/37 "2003-12-09T03:36:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jsc1953 \* > **I must admit I’ve never seen the Albert Finney version, but now I’m intrigued.** You may have seen a clip of Finney and _Scrooge_’s most catchy song (“Thank you very much, thank you very much, that’s the nicest thing anyone’s ever done for me…”) being used to advertise some credit card on TV recently. ---
**Author:** ![Second\_Star\_to\_the\_Right](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3bc359/32.png) [@Second\_Star\_to\_the\_Right](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Second_Star_to_the_Right)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-film-version-of-a-christmas-carol/217603/38 "2003-12-09T04:01:16Z")
Muppets, definitely. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-film-version-of-a-christmas-carol/217603/39 "2003-12-09T04:45:00Z")
Patrick Stewart: Sun @ 9PM on TNT Alastair Sim: Sun @ 1PM KTLA (Los Angeles) Reginold Owen: Sun @ 11AM TCM George C. Scott: Sun @ 3PM KTLA (Los Angeles) Mr. Magoo: Wed. @ 8PM Cartoon Network Simpsons: Sun @ 8PM Fox Jetsons: Tues @ 9:30PM Cartoon Network Tori Spelling Thurs @ 8PM Hallmark All Dogs: Fri @ 7PM Toon Disney Muppets: Wish I knew. I love this too Finney: Wish I knew. Never seen it ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Mapp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miss_mapp/32/369_2.png) [@Miss\_Mapp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Mapp)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-film-version-of-a-christmas-carol/217603/40 "2003-12-09T14:00:33Z")
I collect Christmas Carols, and just watched 3 of them over the past weekend: the Sim, Scott, and Stewart versions. I’ll probably watch Owen, Finney, and the Muppets next week. I don’t know if I can call any one of them the overall “best.” All of the first three listed above do a good job as Scrooge, with different takes on the character. It’s really a matter of individual taste. For me, Finney’s gibbering can get annoying, and he seems remarkably clueless at points (during the “Thank You Very Much” number, for example). Michael Caine impresses me just by putting in a serious performance while knee-deep in Muppets. I most enjoy Edward Woodward’s Ghost of Christmas Present, and am torn on whether Joel Grey or Angela Pleasance does a more creepy GoC Past. What interests me most is the variations in the story from version to version, and the different aspects of Scrooge’s background and character that get emphasized: the Sim version spends a lot of the Past on how Scrooge and Marley ruthlessly built up their business; the Owen version adds scenes to the romance between Nephew Fred and his fiancee; the Finney version takes an interest in Scrooge’s own lost love (which is why, I suppose, they cast the then-fairly-young Finney in the role); Scott’s adds a scene about the homeless. The thing I like most in the Stewart version is the little twists it adds to the old, familiar story: when Scrooge wakes up Xmas morning, he suddenly clutches at his chest and looks like he has trouble breathing. It turns out that he’s trying to laugh, but for a wonderful split second, you think: _Oh, wow, they’ve changed the ending and this time Scrooge keels over with a heart attack!_ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-film-version-of-a-christmas-carol/217603.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-film-version-of-a-christmas-carol/217603.md?page=3)