# What's Your Favorite 'A Christmas Carol'? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 25, 2018, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-a-christmas-carol/816718 "2018-06-25T17:37:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2018, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-a-christmas-carol/816718/21 "2018-06-26T00:06:21Z")
My favorite live action version was the Scott one. My favorite animated is the Magoo version. My favorite changed up version is Scrooged. But I have things and scenes I like in all the other versions. The Ghost of Christmas Future, in “Carol for Another Christmas” creeps me out. But Robert Shaw is like that. ---
**Author:** ![ZPG\_Zealot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e47c2d/32.png) [@ZPG\_Zealot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZPG_Zealot)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2018, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-a-christmas-carol/816718/22 "2018-06-26T00:37:45Z")
If written versions are allowed, I cast my vote for the SDMB Christmas carol threads various versions, in particular the Jay and Silent Bob and Gone with Wind treatment. Serious quality parody. ---
**Author:** ![Kelby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a587f6/32.png) [@Kelby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kelby)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2018, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-a-christmas-carol/816718/23 "2018-06-26T00:45:56Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Definitely the Alastair Sim version. And not colored. It’s the only one that successfully conveys the deep, dark parts. Yes. To me, the most Dickensonian. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_s\_Son](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@Jim\_s\_Son](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_s_Son)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2018, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-a-christmas-carol/816718/24 "2018-06-26T01:35:51Z")
Mr Magoo ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2018, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-a-christmas-carol/816718/25 "2018-06-26T05:01:33Z")
I’ve seen all but Mr. Magoo’s, and it’s George C. Scott’s for me, hands down, no question. Great cast, beautiful cinematography, a perfect script. I saw Alastair Sim’s once and was… underwhelmed. It was fine but IMHO not the masterpiece so many think it to be. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2018, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-a-christmas-carol/816718/26 "2018-06-26T05:09:59Z")
> [@Mr.Me](#): > > The one I watch every year is [Blackadder’s Christmas Carol](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094754/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1). Turns the whole story on it’s head. 😃 This one is my favorite and the only one I watch every year. It’s my favorite because of Rowan Atkinson, and because of it’s non-traditional take. ---
**Author:** ![BeeGee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5a626/32.png) [@BeeGee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeeGee)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2018, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-a-christmas-carol/816718/27 "2018-06-26T05:19:38Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > My opinion has not changed from 11 years ago: The Reginald Owen 1938 version is by far the best and I don’t like the Sims version. Yes! That one is properly creepy. ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2018, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-a-christmas-carol/816718/28 "2018-06-26T18:05:25Z")
In this order: 1. Patrick Stewart 2. George C Scott 3. Alastair Sim ---
**Author:** ![BlueInfinity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BlueInfinity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlueInfinity)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2018, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-a-christmas-carol/816718/29 "2018-06-26T19:03:01Z")
I guess I need to give George C. Scott another try, then. I remember being unimpressed by his version, but maybe I was having a bad day or something… ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2018, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-a-christmas-carol/816718/30 "2018-06-26T19:36:34Z")
The first one I ever saw was Albert Finney’s _Scrooge_, at the theater. I love it best. I also love Scrooged with Bill Murray, and the version with Alistair 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:** [June 27, 2018, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-a-christmas-carol/816718/31 "2018-06-27T03:57:56Z")
> [@BlueInfinity](#): > > The Muppets, but I enjoy several versions each year. It isn’t Christmas without Mickey or Alistair Sim. > > However, if you want to get a bit more obscure and off-script, may I recommend the Rich Little version? Look around for the audio from his earlier LP, “Scrooge and the Stars”. I’ve only listened to it once, just for one thing: Little does an impression of JFK for the Ghost of Christmas Present. Rich Little has told a story about that, but I haven’t seen any independent evidence for it. His story goes is that the LP was released on 11/22/63, and the GoCPresent has the line, straight out of Dickens: ’ "My life upon this globe is very brief,‘’ replied the Ghost. "It ends tonight.‘’ ’ Little claimed that they recalled the LP and he re-recorded the part in another voice. However, a small number of the LPs were sold with the original impression. ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2018, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-a-christmas-carol/816718/32 "2018-06-28T18:06:47Z")
Mr Magoo for me. ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2018, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-a-christmas-carol/816718/33 "2018-06-28T18:16:08Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Alastair Sim. No contest. Absolutely. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2018, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-a-christmas-carol/816718/34 "2018-06-28T19:30:37Z")
George C. Scott, for the reasons given. Scrooge, Cratchit, and especially Marley and Ghost of Christmas Present (Edward Woodward) are perfect. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2018, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-a-christmas-carol/816718/35 "2018-06-29T19:55:33Z")
Yes, we’ve done this topic before; but it’s nice to come back to it, especially in summer (I assumed at first that somebody resurrected a zombie). I have to break my favorites into categories: Best live action, B&W: Alistair Sim (although Christmas Past benefits from some judicious fast-forwarding) Best live action, color: George C. Scott Best animated: Mr. Magoo Best with puppets: Muppets ---
**Author:** ![Dobbs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Dobbs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dobbs)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2018, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-a-christmas-carol/816718/36 "2018-06-29T20:15:09Z")
What, no love for the Doctor Who 2010 Xmas special? ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2018, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-a-christmas-carol/816718/37 "2018-06-29T20:29:21Z")
Best Scrooge: George C. Scott Best Marley: Bruce Montague, in the 1969 Australian animated version Best Cratchit: David Warner, in the George C. Scott version Best Tiny Tim: I dislike the character, so they all look alike to me Best Ghost of Christmas Past: Joel Grey, in the Patrick Stewart version Best Ghost of Christmas Present: Edward Woodward, in the George C. Scott version (although I am also fond of Carol Kane in _Scrooged_) Best Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come: they all look alike to 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:** [June 29, 2018, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-a-christmas-carol/816718/38 "2018-06-29T22:02:17Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > Best Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come: they all look alike to me Try [the Henry Winkler version](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078764/reference); GOCYTC is a black guy in disco attire. ---
**Author:** ![WildBlueYonder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ce7236/32.png) [@WildBlueYonder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildBlueYonder)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2018, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-a-christmas-carol/816718/39 "2018-07-04T13:33:52Z")
The Reginald Owen 1938 version or most likely the 1951 Alastair Sim version was the very first version I saw as a child. The tv was in the basement in those days…it totally scared me out of my wits!! Watched it in the early 1960’s or mid ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2018, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-a-christmas-carol/816718/40 "2018-07-04T18:32:58Z")
A Muppet Christmas Carol. Though I was partial to the version with Mr. Magoo as a child. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-a-christmas-carol/816718.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-a-christmas-carol/816718.md?page=3)