MovieChat Forums > Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983) Discussion > I love this special, but there are a few...

I love this special, but there are a few things I find strange about it

posted 17 years ago by AzumaReiji
16 replies | jump to latest

1. Minnie has no lines whatsoever. Considering she's one of Disney's biggest characters and has been around just as long as Mickey, I found it odd.

2. Casting Goofy as Marley. All the other characters fit their roles perfectly: Scrooge McDuck as Ebenezer Scrooge, Mickey as Crachit, Donald as Fred, Jiminy as the Ghost of Christmas Past, etc., but Goofy plays someone who was a greedy old miser and now as a result is stuck in eternal damnation, which is completely the opposite of his usual good-hearted character.

3. WHERE THE **** WAS PLUTO!? It has appearances by nearly the entire cast of Wind in the Willows, Grandma Duck, Huey, Dewey, and Louie, Chip and Dale, the 3 Little Pigs, and even the kids from Robin Hood, but no Pluto!?

But other than those little nitpicks, it's great. Wonderful hearing Alan Young's first time as Scrooge, and I always getting a little emotional knowing that it's Clarence Nash's final performance as Donald. I watch it every Christmas Eve.

[–] Mister_Scratch 17 years ago

The only other role big enough for Goofy to play would be one of the other ghosts. But I think he works better in the role of Marley. Without Goofy, the scene might be too scary, too early. As it is, the Marley scene is well balanced and the only really scary part (for youngsters) is the ghost of Christmas future, which should be the scariest and most dramatic scene in the whole film.

[–] greatgonzo-3 17 years ago

Yeah, there's no lines for Minnie! That bugged me, too. And they coulda stuck Pluto in there somewhere. I think Brer Rabbit should have popped up, too, seing as most of the controversy with "Song of the South" came later.

[–] sallyjrw 9 years ago

I always loved Goofy as Marley! You're absolutely right that the scene would be too scary, too early. His scenes were funny and made a good balance.

[–] lizzyn2002 15 years ago

i think goofy wouldve made a better ghost of christmas present than the giant - the giant just annoyed the crap out of me. yes i know in the actual story christmas present is supposed to be a giant, but still i wouldve been more amused by goofy in that role. who shouldve played marley though, in your ideal disney casting?

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[–] ZeoRangerFive 15 years ago

Yeah but in the original book that's exactly how the Ghost of Christmas Present was described as being very large like the giant. It's a pretty good adaptation of that character.

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[–] 15 years ago

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[–] Leveticus 14 years ago

Goofy was the right choice. Marley is supposed to be a terrifying character, but with Goofy in the role, it balances out so the kids don't get too scared.

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[–] thor1981 14 years ago

Where the heck was Ludwig Von Drake! He should of been Marley! Goofy should of been Ghost of Christmas Present!

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] DwightFry 11 years ago

Agree, Goofy as Marley was fail. But the role he should have played is none of the mentioned. It's Fezziwig. I know he does not look like Fezziwig, but he has the personality spot-on. And since this version had no visible Fezziwig, that should have been a no-brainer.

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[–] jaydub1138 10 years ago

I have always thought Goofy was miss cast as Marley too. And I have always thought the perfect role for him would have been as Fezziwig. In this version Fezziwig has no speaking part but with Goofy in the role they could have given him dialogue. Did Glumgold exist at this time? If so he could have played Marley. Never realized Minnie had no speaking parts, that does seem odd. Pluto could have easily had a part in this too.

[–] arklier 10 years ago

This was based on a 1974 recording by Disneyland Records. There are a few differences between the two versions. One of them is Minnie has a few lines (she tells Mickey not to talk about Scrooge when he visits them with the Ghost of Christmas Present.) Strange that they cut them out.

[–] nonsensicle 9 years ago

Um, Goofy's Marley gave me nightmares when I was a kid. I thought it was more frightening, having an otherwise innocuous Disney character play that part.

[–] viziar 9 years ago

Goofy scared me too. I did not like Goofy with the chains. Why am I afraid of Goofy to this day now? I find Goofy creepier than Peg Leg Pete.

[–] Scarecrow-88 7 years ago

But Goofy has probably the best scene of the special. The most inspired at any rate. If I had a problem it is the short length. I wanted it to be longer!

[–] jdforyou1983 (1469) 3 years ago

I loved Goofy as Marley