The best "A Christmas Carol"?

pixelburp

In the spirit or the season, what's everyone's favourite of what is probably one of the more well adapted pieces of English literature?

At the risk of immediately jumping into a (potentially) controversial opinion... I'd have to go with the Muppets version. Seriously. It's a good, very faithful adaptation with Michael Caine playing Scrooge (apparently he only signed on the agreement he'd play it completely straight, as if his costars were real).

I also have a fondness for a TV movie adaptation from the 80s, with George C Scott in the Scrooge role. He was such a gruff actor he already suited the role.

odyssey06

Patrick Stewart version for a 'proper' adaptation.

Muppet Christmas Carol or Scrooged for a looser adaptation.

touts

pixelburp wrote: »

In the spirit or the season, what's everyone's favourite of what is probably one of the more well adapted pieces of English literature?

At the risk of immediately jumping into a (potentially) controversial opinion... I'd have to go with the Muppets version. Seriously. It's a good, very faithful adaptation with Michael Caine playing Scrooge (apparently he only signed on the agreement he'd play it completely straight, as if his costars were real).

I also have a fondness for a TV movie adaptation from the 80s, with George C Scott in the Scrooge role. He was such a gruff actor he already suited the role.

I like two of the newer ones. The one with Patrick Stewart is good. And the cartoon one with Jim Carrey. That's actually grown on me and I've come to like it.

cdeb

Just watching the Muppets version now. It's brilliant. Faithful to the book as you say, and the Muppet humour enhances it throughout

brick tamland

Has the be the muppets. Its the best ChristCarol movie aswell as the best Muppets movie. Has aged well too. Great movie

pixelburp

odyssey06 wrote: »

Patrick Stewart version for a 'proper' adaptation.

Muppet Christmas Carol or Scrooged for a looser adaptation.

Yes, Scrooged damnit, I knew I forgot one. Must dig it out again as it's rare enough anyone tries to tweak the formula or setting. And was meta before it's time too - iirc the movie was bookended by Bill Murray heading an adaptation of Christmas Carol during his own visitation.

The Raging Bile Duct

The 1951 version with Alistair Sim is the best. Sim is absolutely perfect as Ebenezer Scrooge.

Strazdas

Patrick Stewart version (1999) is by far my favourite.

It tries to remain true to the actual Dickens novel and mid 19th century London. Scrooge's conversion is quite believable in this one : one or two other adaptations are a bit cartoonish in their depiction of him.

Bowlardo

The Muppets for me

TheValeyard

Scrooge 1970 with Albert Finnery. Just because how the Hell scene frightened the fcuk out of me as a young kid.

CastorTroy

Think Mickey's Christmas Carol was the first I saw so like that one.

But favourite would be Muppets or Sim versions. Must rewatch the Stewart version.
I've seen so many versions now including ones on those freeview movie channels like Christmas 24.
The miniseries from last year would not be in the top 5 anyway.

Scrooged is the best more modern take on it.

Trying to think do any show the Belle past of the Present? Most versions end her story when she leaves Scrooge

MayoForSam

Watching Scrooged right now. Still funny, haven't seen it in ages. Bill Murray's facial expressions throughout do it for me.

flazio

While the Muppet one isn't really the best of them. Michael Caine IS the best Scrooge on screen.

El Gato De Negocios

The Raging Bile Duct wrote: »

The 1951 version with Alistair Sim is the best. Sim is absolutely perfect as Ebenezer Scrooge.

+1, watched it on Prime over the last few weeks, brilliant adaptation and Sim is outstanding.

Seamai

Strazdas wrote: »

Patrick Stewart version (1999) is by far my favourite.

It tries to remain true to the actual Dickens novel and mid 19th century London. Scrooge's conversion is quite believable in this one : one or two other adaptations are a bit cartoonish in their depiction of him.

I have to agree with you on that, many seem to find the Alastair Simm version the best but I find it a bit melodramatic. Saw another British version the other night from 1935, it hadn't stood the test of time, it's interesting how acting styles have changed. When I was 5 or 6 my Dad took me to see the Albert Finney musical version, it obviously left a lasting impression on me, no Christmas is complete without seeing some version of it.
God bless us, every one.

B.A._Baracus

Quite partial to the Jim Carrey 2009 animated version myself.

Scrooged is also a good one. But I'd view that as a comedy and want a laugh when switching that on.

CastorTroy

Sim version on 3:05pm tomorrow on talking
Pictures.
Scott version on 12:50 on More4.

Strazdas

Seamai wrote: »

I have to agree with you on that, many seem to find the Alastair Simm version the best but I find it a bit melodramatic, Saw another British version the other night from 1935, it hadn't stood the test of time, it's interesting how acting styles have changed. When I was 5 or 6 my Dad took me to see the Albert Finney musical version, it obviously left a lasting impression on me, no Christmas is complete without seeing some version of it.
God bless us, every one.

Alastair Sim was best known as a comedy actor. I'm not sure he caught the spirit of Scrooge too well, it was a bit too OTT and cartoonish.

Stewart is one of the few to make Scrooge seem like a real life human being. It's a great story as you say and played a huge role in popularising Christmas.

Strumms

The Raging Bile Duct wrote: »

The 1951 version with Alistair Sim is the best. Sim is absolutely perfect as Ebenezer Scrooge.

100%... Sim in that scared the shît out of me, brilliant acting...

KungPao

Scrooged is great. A pretty bleak comedy with a cool Danny Elfman score, and then a sweet ending.

Even now I’d be happy with a Pioneer VHS recorder. A solid gift. The bath towel, not so much.

CastorTroy

Until I saw the question on The Chase, I forgot about the animated version that starred Kate Winslet and had the What If song

JP Liz V1

B.A._Baracus wrote: »

Quite partial to the Jim Carrey 2009 animated version myself.

Scrooged is also a good one. But I'd view that as a comedy and want a laugh when switching that on.

Me Too

The Raging Bile Duct

JP Liz V1 wrote: »

Me Too

Oh no, Jim Carrey sexually harassed you as well?!?!

Noodles81

I've seen them all and I keep going back to the George C Scott version. A veteran actor, he embodies Scrooge, with his gruff voice and hard staring eyes. Also there's David Warner as Bob Cratchit too, the best depiction of Cratchit I've seen.

My father loves the Alistair Sims version and the Albert Finney one. The latter has a song I hate. They perform a song and dance on his coffin. 'Thank you very much" I think its called. They all seem way worse than Scrooge which defeats the point of the film and it's extremely annoying to watch.

Scrooged and the Muppets are great as more comedy versions.

Zaph

I remember seeing an animated version as a kid in the 70s that scared the bejasus out of me. I've hated the story ever since and could never understand how people actually liked it. Scrooged is the only version I would actually watch if it were on TV, and that's only because I like Bill Murray, but even at that I wouldn't go looking for it myself. That said, I've never seen the Muppet's version, I might enjoy that, but overall Dickens was a pretty miserable sod.

Tony EH

The Raging Bile Duct wrote: »

The 1951 version with Alistair Sim is the best. Sim is absolutely perfect as Ebenezer Scrooge.

Seconded.

There is no competition.

smurf492

Bbc last year was ass.. Scrooge or Alastair sim for me

r93kaey5p2izun

I love the George C Scott one and enjoyed watching it again today. That's my favourite classic version. The Jim Carrey one is very enjoyable too though, and the Muppet one is obviously outstanding!

Hangdogroad

Animated 70s version, Alastair Sim reprises the role of Scrooge. Marley's ghost is particularly creepy in this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iN6IMZFwY50

Conall Cernach

Tony EH wrote: »

Seconded.

There is no competition.

My favourite scene is when he is giving the housekeeper a guinea on Christmas morning and she goes "'Ere, what for?"

Capt'n Midnight

TheValeyard wrote: »

Scrooge 1970 with Albert Finnery. Just because how the Hell scene frightened the fcuk out of me as a young kid.

This one.

As a musical it's way better than Oliver!
Thank you very much!
Thank you very much!
That's the nicest thing that anyone's ever done for me

The Muppets one is also good.



The WORST version of Scrooge has to be
A Christmas Carol
- I've no plans to see it. Ever.

Skerries

Blackadder's version was good as well

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094754/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_4

Mad_maxx

MayoForSam wrote: »

Watching Scrooged right now. Still funny, haven't seen it in ages. Bill Murray's facial expressions throughout do it for me.

almost everyone i know loves that movie but i hate it and i say that as a fan of Bill Murray

Zeek12

Noodles81 wrote: »

I've seen them all and I keep going back to the George C Scott version. A veteran actor, he embodies Scrooge, with his gruff voice and hard staring eyes. Also there's David Warner as Bob Cratchit too, the best depiction of Cratchit I've seen.

I love the George C Scott one too. He completely embodied the misery of the character!

That was my first ever experience seeing A Christmas Carol. I can clearly remember watching it on RTE on Christmas Eve when I was about 10.
I think the version you see first usually stays with you.

The cast was excellent. In addition to David Warner, it also had Susannah Yorke as Mrs. Cratchit and Edward Woodward was one of the ghosts.