As the title character in SCROOGE, Albert Finney's performance is too over-the-top. The pacing is very bad and, except for THANK YOU VERY MUCH (which is a guilty pleasure at best), none of the songs are memorable. I mean, come on! The lyrics are so basic!
If this is a serious comment (and I can't work out whether it is or not) I think you're wrong. I'm not a fan of Thank You Very Much - I prefer most of the others better but the fact that the musical is still being performed all over the world would seem to indicate that you're in a minority with your opinion.There are many flaws you could find with the film but I don't think anyone would say the songs are weak. They're sung in character by Finney rather than completely separate to the performance (as Newley did them)but that enhances them rather than otherwise so I think you're incorrect that they are badly paced.
shareI meant that the story is badly paced; not the songs. And I know most people liked it; that doesn't mean I have to like it too.
shareYes, Finney is hammy, but I consider it a GOOD hammy performance (I love his 'R-Rats?' freakout). That's not to say he could not do restraint: highlights include the glare he gives Cratchit for cheering Fred, and his final singing of "You..." on Isabel's departure (His expression in "A fool...as I" and "Spirit remove me from this place, I can bear it no longer"). Alec Guinness's Marley, Kenneth More's Christmas Present, Suzanne Neve's Isabel, and Mary Peach's Fred's wife were also good. I also liked how Tiny Tim was portrayed as a natural kid, being cute rather than CUTE (not that it was a bad thing for the other Tims, but it was a different vibe here).
shareI have enjoyed every version of this classic I have ever seen (multiple times), even the many different versions. I am not a movie critic and only rate according to the pleasure I receive from watching................that is why I give this version a solid 9/10. Thank you very much Mr. Scrooge.
shareHow many versions have you seen?
shareYou have to define your parameters when you ask that question. Do you mean strict interpretations or modern day retellings - look at Family Man as a successful one of those and even that has films ripping it off now.I had about thirty TV and film versions from the 1908 silent to the present day when I stopped collecting because there were simply too many. My own favourites are now on radio - Orson Welles version is interesting from the thirties but there's many, many more out there !
shareI consider modern retellings to be adaptations too. Not just with this book.
shareIt's a very watchable movie, even if it isn't really good. My beef is aside from Scrooge and Marley, all the other characters are too cute and saccharine, especially Tiny Tim. They could drive any person to humbug-ness. London is too sweet and rosy in this film.
The dance choreography is lackluster. "Thank You Very Much,' which is the most engaging song in the movie, is staged to look like a cheap retread of 'Consider Yourself.'
Most of the songs are also bad, especially Tiny Tim's solo.
But I don't mind having to live with these flaws whenever I see it every Christmas.
Well that's Victorian sentiment for you. Maybe a little sweet for contemporary tastes but it has been pretty effective at getting the message across for a 150 years without, as the author says ' putting the reader out of sorts with himself, the season or the day'. The film makers have been quick to embellish the nice bits as well of course.You wouldn't really want to know what London was really like 150 years ago anyway would you ? It wasn't very nice....
shareAgree about the songs. It tried to be Oliver! but did not come up to it musically.
shareThe songs are not memorable, the lyrics are very basic but I still enjoyed it. Maybe I am just a sucker for the story. Of all the adaptations I've seen so far, it is the weakest. The list would be:
1. A Christmas Carol (1971) - animated version 10/10
2. A Christmas Carol (1984) - George C. Scott version 10/10
3. Disney's A Christmas Carol (2009) - Jim Carey 9/10
4. Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983) 7/10
5. Scrooged (1988) - Bill Murray 7/10
6. Scrooge (1970) - Albert Finney 7/10
I am hoping to see the Muppets' version and the 1951 Sims' adaptation this week. I haven't seen the Patrick Stewart, the Henry Winkler and there was one just a few years ago with Guy Pearce I tried watching but lost interest.
I really liked Finney's performance. This is a 9/10 from me.
sharei prefer it to scrooged.
the set designs in this film are seconds to none. victorian london never look so real and palpables.
i gives it 6/10