# What's Your Favorite 'A Christmas Carol' and Why? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 21, 2011, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-a-christmas-carol-and-why/589828 "2011-07-21T08:45:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2011, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-a-christmas-carol-and-why/589828/41 "2011-07-22T18:02:01Z")
The Alistair Sims version, hands down. It’s just so classic, so perfect in every way. I was so disappointed one Christmas when this version wasn’t on TV, the following year my family gave me the DVD for a present. My husband enjoys it too, mostly, but especially the Christmas morning part. And the next day when he tells Cratchit to go buy more coal: “You \*\*do \*\*that, Bob Cratchit, before you dot another ‘i’…” If either of us announces the intention to do something – wash the dishes, get the mail, whatever – the other may very likely say, “You \*\*do \*\*that, Bob Cratchit…” ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2011, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-a-christmas-carol-and-why/589828/42 "2011-07-22T18:12:03Z")
Can’t really choose a clear favorite. All the classics menti0ned have their strong point but I do separate out _Scrooged_ for the different treatment of the story and Carol Kane in particular for the best Ghost Of Christmas Present ever. And the Muppets just because they’re the Muppets. And their version kicks ass.😃 ---
**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:** [July 23, 2011, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-a-christmas-carol-and-why/589828/43 "2011-07-23T04:48:26Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Scrooge’s laughing at his own ‘joke’ isn’t meant to be funny. It shows how nasty he is. Dickens writes that Scrooge said this “indignantly”, not “with humorous depravity.” I’ll go with Dickens. > [@](#): > > Because he believes he’s right. Monsters don’t usually see themselves as ‘monsters’. Sim believes he’s right, too, until the spirits come to him. > [@](#): > > Again, Scrooge thinks he is in the right. If he didn’t, then there would be no redemption; he’d just be cowed. Again, so does Sim. But Scott thinks he’s right **almost completely**. That’s why I don’t believe his redemption. He never comes to a full realization of how horrible a person he is. At the end he believes it’s purely his determination that redeems him. Sim knows it’s at least Mercy and his total humbling. > [@](#): > > One reason is Scott’s excellent portrayal of Scrooge. It may be an excellent portrayal, but not of Scrooge. > [@](#): > > It’s also well-shot, well-acted I hope you’re not including Roger Rees’s wooden performance. ---
**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:** [July 23, 2011, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-a-christmas-carol-and-why/589828/44 "2011-07-23T04:53:45Z")
> [@rowrrbazzle](#): > > I’ll go with Dickens. And yet you accept the Embezzler scene, which doesn’t appear in the story? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2011, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-a-christmas-carol-and-why/589828/45 "2011-07-23T05:02:51Z")
The Scott version clearly based [Scott’s look](http://www.cedmagic.com/featured/christmas-carol/1984-xmas-humbug-scrooge.jpg) on [Cornelius Vanderbilt](http://hd.housedivided.dickinson.edu/files/images/HD_vanderbiltC4c.jpg). I remember thinking when it first premiered that it’d be interesting if they just went full on American robber baron with it. ---
**Author:** ![svd678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@svd678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/svd678)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2011, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-a-christmas-carol-and-why/589828/46 "2011-07-23T05:19:50Z")
The definitive performance is Lionel Barrymore narrating it on the radio, before TV. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2011, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-a-christmas-carol-and-why/589828/47 "2011-07-23T05:21:53Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Aliastair Sim. Thread over. > > Sim is the best because his bad Scrooge was so evil – like a spider contemplating a fly in his web – while his good Scrooge was so filled with delight that you can’t help but smile. His scene from the window when he asks the boy to buy the turkey has never been equaled, even when the same dialog is used. This. Absolutely brilliant. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2011, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-a-christmas-carol-and-why/589828/48 "2011-07-23T13:54:40Z")
For a straight filmed version I like the Scott version best. For a “redone” version, it’s Bill Murray’s Scrooged. As a kid I loved the Mr. Magoo version, but I haven’t seen it since then. I should find out if it’s on DVD. I can still recall the line “All I got was his sheets” and the song that goes with it. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2011, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-a-christmas-carol-and-why/589828/49 "2011-07-23T14:03:57Z")
Does anybody remember a late 70s or early 80s rendition starring Henry Winkler as an american Scrooge? Very good adaptation, but seems to have been forgotten about. Also, I’ll plug the Doctor Who “Christmas Carol.” It’s the only one with flying sharks! ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2011, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-a-christmas-carol-and-why/589828/50 "2011-07-23T15:25:15Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > As a kid I loved the Mr. Magoo version, but I haven’t seen it since then. I should find out if it’s on DVD. I can still recall the line “All I got was his sheets” and the song that goes with it. It is … I have it. “We’re rep-rehensible…we’ll steal your pen, and pen-cipal.” ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2011, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-a-christmas-carol-and-why/589828/51 "2011-07-23T16:01:01Z")
Is there a porn version? Cuz I’d watch that one. The rest just cause me to flee the room and start drinking heavily. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2011, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-a-christmas-carol-and-why/589828/52 "2011-07-23T16:09:56Z")
Missed the edit window looking, but I found one: [Timeless (1999)](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0363131/) - “A campy porn parody of A Christmas Carol.” ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2011, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-a-christmas-carol-and-why/589828/53 "2011-07-23T16:14:01Z")
I find A Christmas Carol a bit tiresome, to be honest. That’s why I pick the Muppet version, at least it’s got Muppets. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2011, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-a-christmas-carol-and-why/589828/54 "2011-07-23T21:15:41Z")
I really do love the flying shark Dr Who version, and the 1930s version. I think Ill see if netflix has both and give them a watch, it is 93 out, no idea what the heat index is but the poor 5000 btu ac is struggling to cool a 9x12 room ☹ ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2011, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-a-christmas-carol-and-why/589828/55 "2011-07-23T22:07:26Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Is there a porn version? Cuz I’d watch that one. The rest just cause me to flee the room and start drinking heavily. Threadshitters should decrease the surplus population. ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2011, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-a-christmas-carol-and-why/589828/56 "2011-07-23T22:19:11Z")
I have to chime in with Muppets - I own it and watch it every year, at least a couple of times. I always sing along. For the live-action human versions, I’ve only seen the Reginald Owen version, the George C. Scott version, and the Patrick Stewart version. I liked the Patrick Stewart one very much, but I think I like the Owen one better simply because that’s the one I remember seeing growing up. I’ve never seen the Sim version, or the Finney one, or some of the others on the Wiki list, and now have a list of versions to watch during the holidays. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Girlfriend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.girlfriend/32/193_2.png) [@Dr.Girlfriend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Girlfriend)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2011, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-a-christmas-carol-and-why/589828/57 "2011-07-23T22:25:41Z")
Has anyone else seen Karroll’s Christmas? It was a made for TV version, I think it was A&E who aired it. > **[Karroll's Christmas (TV Movie 2004) ⭐ 6.0 | Comedy](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0427430/)** > > 1h 27m | TV-PG It’s classic… Verne Troyer as one of the ghosts and Wallace Shawn (“Inconceivable!”) as the Scrooge-figure? Great stuff. 😃 I haven’t seen it on TV for several years, and I don’t know if it’s on DVD. All I have is a crappy VHS recording where the power went out in the middle… sigh. ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2011, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-a-christmas-carol-and-why/589828/58 "2011-07-23T22:51:46Z")
> [@Antigen](#): > > No love for Mickey’s Christmas Carol? Oh all right, this is my favorite. I am not a xmas-in-July fan. I don’t even want to think about it. That’s why I never opened this thread. But if it were to appear very late in November–after Thanksgiving–or in the early part of December, “Mickey’s Christmas Carol” is definitely what I’d say. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2011, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-a-christmas-carol-and-why/589828/59 "2011-07-23T22:58:06Z")
> [@Dr.Girlfriend](#): > > Has anyone else seen Karroll’s Christmas? It was a made for TV version, I think it was A&E who aired it. > > [Karroll's Christmas (TV Movie 2004) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0427430/) > > It’s classic… Verne Troyer as one of the ghosts and Wallace Shawn (“Inconceivable!”) as the Scrooge-figure? Great stuff. 😃 I haven’t seen it on TV for several years, and I don’t know if it’s on DVD. All I have is a crappy VHS recording where the power went out in the middle… sigh. I don’t know about ‘classic’ but it did have a way of growing on me. Didn’t hurt that Larry Miller is another ghost. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2011, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-a-christmas-carol-and-why/589828/60 "2011-07-23T23:00:33Z")
> [@Don\_Draper](#): > > Does anybody remember a late 70s or early 80s rendition starring Henry Winkler as an american Scrooge? Very good adaptation, but seems to have been forgotten about. > > Also, I’ll plug the Doctor Who “Christmas Carol.” It’s the only one with flying sharks! I believe the Winkler version was simply titled “An American Christmas Carol”- it was indeed a good alternate version. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-a-christmas-carol-and-why/589828.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-a-christmas-carol-and-why/589828.md?page=4)