Acclaimed made-for-tv version of the Dickens perennial disappoints. You see what they were aiming for; a nastier, more realistic Scrooge in gravel-voiced George C. Scott setting up a bigger spiritual comeuppance, reclamation in sharp relief. Fine as theory; in practice, not so effective. Perhaps with a less generic production and more specific direction than Clive Donner is able to muster. Here, Yuletide-crowded London streets & Christmas Carolers look fit for a catalog. (The overly bright look necessitated by tv picture resolution standards of the day also no help.) The simple special effects aren’t a deal breaker, but why so many miscast principals? David Warner too assertive as Bob Cratchit, his family as tidy & neatly turned out as the Von Trapps; Frank Finlay missing every laugh & fright as Jacob Marley’s Specter; and a .333 batting average on the Three Ghosts. Things improve for the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, Scott attuned to Fear Factor elements after shortchanging the pleasures & regrets he samples in the first two rounds. It pays off anyway; Dickens always does. But this Christmas Pudding is both over and under-cooked.
DOUBLE-BILL/LINK: Top recommendations remain with Alastair Sim in 1951, finally restored to do it justice; and John Gielgud’s remarkable 70" audio abridgement, released in 1987. https://maksquibs.blogspot.com/2011/11/christmas-carol-scrooge-1935-1938-1951.html
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