MovieChat Forums > A Christmas Carol (1984) Discussion > This film has an eeriness to it.

This film has an eeriness to it.

posted 7 years ago by EmperorGalvatron
9 replies | jump to latest

All of that fog in the opening scene, how dark and foggy it is when Scrooge is walking home just before he encounters Marley. I imagine that it would have to be very dark once the sun went down back then as there was no electricity.

The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come is quite spooky in this one. I like how he appears far away surrounded by all of the fog(there's a lot of fog in this one.), and we only see him at a distance or as a shadow. I think it adds to how he's supposed to freak out Scrooge that we don't really get a good glimpse of him.

[–] Scarecrow-88 7 years ago

I felt it should be eerie and dreadful as Scrooge's end would be if he truly met his fate the way he was headed. Death for Scrooge should carry that horror The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come carries in presence.

[–] strntz (10812) 5 years ago

Yep.

When this project was originally announced, I knew I would watch it because I have a personality defect that compels me to watch every iteration of Christmas Carol consigned to film, but was convinced it would be mildly interesting at best. I was blown away how good the entire project was.

Scott was pretty damned good (no Sim though), but I really like the supporting cast, music, sets, and cinematography of this film.

This version actually tied 1951's for me, something I never thought would be possible. Love them both and must watch both 1984 and 1951 each and every Christmas.

[–] snepts (11123) 4 years ago

Me too. The old Sim version might as well have been filmed at the time Dickens wrote it, it's that good and classic.
But GC Scott has such tremendous presence in everything he does, and the producers did a great job with this version.
If I had to recommend I suppose I'd go with the earlier film but I have no problem championing the Scott one as well.

[–] GreenGoblinsOck8 (7401) 4 years ago

I haven't seen the Sim one in a long while but remember liking it quite a bit since unlike other films versions and even the book it's based on, they actually go into Scrooge's and Marley's past in it. The only other Christmas Carol adaption I have seen do that is Muppet Christmas Carol but because of him/them being played by the old grouchy men muppets (I can't remember their names) it doesn't have any depth between them and Scrooge. Heck, Scrooge doesn't even interact with them.

I did grow up watching mainly the George C. Scott which happens to be my dad's favorite version. I will say the only downside to George C. Scott's version is where he laughs while saying the the famous line of, "If I had it my way, every idiot who goes around with Merry Christmas on his lips, would be boiled in his own pudding and buried with a stake of Holly through his heart." Somehow that always makes me laugh when I see it. I guess cause of how he sounds.

[–] Gd5150 (11015) 4 years ago

Agreed it’s a great version. I’ve always found it to be portrayed in a dark eerie way.

If you can, see it live on stage. There are some great performances of it live.

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

There are also some lousy ones. I caught a dinner theater performance in Florida which played "A Christmas Carol" purely as a comedy. It was terrible.

[–] Gd5150 (11015) 4 years ago

Lol! I saw comedic version of it that was an embarrassment.

[–] PrimeMinisterX (8291) 4 years ago

I have caught several different productions of A Christmas Carol, in three different cities, and some were certainly better than others. One thing is certain though: When I go see it, I want to see a traditional adaptation. Don't try to put some clever twist on it.

[–] PrimeMinisterX (8291) 4 years ago

This version of A Christmas Carol is one of the three that are regularly part of my annual Christmas season rotation. It's certainly a very good adaptation. George C. Scott does a great job as Scrooge and his performance is a unique and memorable one.

The other two that are among my favorites are 1951 with Alistair Sim and 1999 with Patrick Stewart. 1951 I think is overall the best ever made.

I sometimes wonder when we'll get the next great screen version of ACC. 2009 with Jim Carrey wasn't bad but it wasn't great either.