The beauty of A Christmas Carol

Raconteuse · 22-12-2019 10:21pm #1

Just discovered ANOTHER screen version of the Dickens masterpiece is on now on BBC1. That capitalised "another" is not out of weariness, but excitement - I don't think there can be enough versions of this beautifully told fable. I simply adore it. I love alternate versions too, like Scrooged and The Muppets' take.

I just find it so damn heartwarming - and it attempts to understand auld Ebeneezer too - his cynicism is a cloak of protection from hurt, but kindness triumphs, yet schmaltz free.

However it's dark as hell too. Wonder was Scrooge having a mental breakdown? Love analysing it.

Anyone else here share my deep love for this tale?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 22-12-2019 10:30pm

Quite the opposite. We usually watch BBC1 on Sunday night but this was "Oh no, not ANOTHER version of the same old story". So, it's a no from this house I'm afraid.

NIMAN · 22-12-2019 10:47pm

Is this from the guys who made Sherlock?

22-12-2019 10:49pm

Love it, wouldn't be Christmas without one version or another on the tv at some point.

God bless us, everyone.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 22-12-2019 10:53pm

NIMAN wrote: »

Is this from the guys who made Sherlock?

No, that's the new Dracula. This is from the makers of Peaky Blinders

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 22-12-2019 10:54pm

Candie wrote: »

Love it, wouldn't be Christmas without one version or another on the tv at some point.

God bless us, everyone.

The Alister Simms version was on yesterday.

r93kaey5p2izun · 22-12-2019 10:55pm

It's a classic tale. I'll never get tired of it. I'm enjoying how they have played up the dark angle but would prefer if they stuck to the text. I feel like this is a wasted opportunity to do a properly chilling, yet authentic version. But we will see.

22-12-2019 10:57pm

I'd nearly agree with Peter Hitchins' thoughts on it today too though..

(I didn't watch it yet..)

Ipso · 22-12-2019 10:58pm

Thanks for reminding me I have this in ibooks. I must read it over the next couple days.

Raconteuse · 22-12-2019 11:07pm

Sandra Quaint Raft wrote: »

It's a classic tale. I'll never get tired of it. I'm enjoying how they have played up the dark angle but would prefer if they stuck to the text. I feel like this is a wasted opportunity to do a properly chilling, yet authentic version. But we will see.

Can't believe they changed "If they'd rather die, then they'd better do it - and decrease the surplus population!"

But I think it's brilliant otherwise. Love the way Cratchit gets cautiously sarky with Scrooge.

I'd better stick to talking about ACC in general though, or this'll get moved to TV.

mariaalice · 22-12-2019 11:10pm

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-theater-the-brain/201712/dickens-christmas-carol

Dickens has a great understanding of human nature.

r3nu4l · 22-12-2019 11:19pm

I'm the same OP. I'm a huge fan of Charles Dickens and love this tale

22-12-2019 11:23pm

I prefer the refresh of language, even a few fucks thrown in.

Did the continuity mention something about a twist or did I pick that up wrong.

Yes, loved the Scrooged version with Bill Murray, which is my favourite.

banie01 · 22-12-2019 11:26pm

Noor Uneven Grout wrote: »

The Alister Simms version was on yesterday.

Watched it with my 16y.o, for the umpteenth time.
Still bloody brilliant!

Bobblehats · 22-12-2019 11:28pm

Scrooge ain’t meant to be that pretty

23-12-2019 9:49am

Bobblehats wrote: »

Scrooge ain’t meant to be that pretty

I don't find him attractive. What do you find attractive about him?

Mickeroo · 23-12-2019 9:54am

The Muppet one is my personal favourite, surprisingly faithful to the book too! (apart from the songs obviously).

Enjoyed the first episode of the BBC one last night, always nice to see a different take.

I'd recommend anyone who likes A Christmas Carol to give The Man Who Invented Christmas a watch. It's a film about Dickens (played by Dan Stevens) trying to write the story in the first place and it makes for a really good Christmas film imo. It's currently on Netflix I think.

lawred2 · 23-12-2019 9:58am

Watching it last night did trigger me into reading up about the little ice age. The frigid weather in A Christmas Carol isn't just a reflection of the coldness in Scrooge's heart, the winters were quite often actually like that. Frozen Rivers, canals and lakes were regular occurrence. So much so that there use to be the occasional market on the Thames.

Tom Mann Centuria · 23-12-2019 10:03am

The Muppet version is brilliant and pretty faithful to the story. It's my favourite, but I actually didn't mind the Jim Carrey version, although his Scouse accent for Ghost of Christmas present is decidedly ropey. I'll get around to this new version eventually.

NIMAN · 23-12-2019 10:05am

Wasn't too impressed by last nights 1st episode.

But will stick with it.

Hamsterchops · 23-12-2019 10:06am

Many good versions, Patrick Stewart made a good Scrooge, Alastair Simms too back in the day...
Love all that Dickensian stuff.

El_Duderino 09 · 23-12-2019 10:11am

Op, if you like the Scrooge story, you might really like Dickensian. It was a series set in London where a detective, named Mr Bucket, has to solve Jacob Marley's murder. It interweave lots of dickens stories in one series as Mr Bucket makes his investigations.

I absolutely loved it but it didn't get a second season so other people must not have likes it as much. Still, it's a self contained story so it didn't need a second season.

We'll worth a watch as it gives more detail on some characters than dickens did.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4531728/

23-12-2019 10:32am

I love Blackadders Christmas Carol which has an opposite storyline to the original!

iguana · 23-12-2019 11:02am

For a straight up version I love Patrick Stewart's Scrooge. I obviously love Scrooged. My favourite version though may be Mickey's Christmas Carol. Scrooge McDuck was in many ways, born to play Scrooge.

I also enjoyed how last year's Duck Tales Christmas special lovingly lampooned it and we learned that Scrooge is faking his hatred of Christmas and every Christmas eve goes on fun adventures with the ghosts. Though he really does have genuine beef with Santa.

Raconteuse · 23-12-2019 11:27am

Love Mickey's Christmas Carol! And it's kinda forgotten.

Yeah the Blackadder one never fails to make me lol.

("Picture this: quiet evenings alone in your hovel reading your bible. Your OWN turnip!")

It's A Wonderful Life is A Christmas Carol turned on its head too - it's glorious.

The Ghost of Christmas Present seems to be depicted as a Santa meets Jesus type figure. I love how he's all jolly and then turns on Scrooge and becomes a total bad-ass.

newport2 · 23-12-2019 11:32am

Albert Finney was my favourite one. And I usually hate musicals. Hard to believe he was only 34 when he played the part.

r93kaey5p2izun · 23-12-2019 11:34am

The Muppet Christmas Carol is a masterpiece. Scrooged is still brilliant to this day - so sharp. I liked the Jim Carrey animation. My favourite classic version is with George C Scott.

Insect Overlord · 23-12-2019 11:36am

Looks like the Blackadder one is on Netflix. That's my afternoon entertainment sorted!

bennyineire · 23-12-2019 11:36am

Raconteuse wrote: »

Can't believe they changed "If they'd rather die, then they'd better do it - and decrease the surplus population!"

But I think it's brilliant otherwise. Love the way Cratchit gets cautiously sarky with Scrooge.

I'd better stick to talking about ACC in general though, or this'll get moved to TV.

Yep probably the most famous line from the book, strange they left it out

seenitall · 23-12-2019 12:32pm

bennyineire wrote: »

Yep probably the most famous line from the book, strange they left it out

Probably too PC sensitive these days. As one of the open secrets of the era we live in that the real trouble with destruction of the climate and resources of the planet is the overpopulation. Too close to the bone now, as it were.

23-12-2019 8:03pm

bennyineire wrote: »

Yep probably the most famous line from the book, strange they left it out

It might be more to do with making the narrative their own and that line in full might jar... but probably jars all the more leaving it out.

mistersifter · 23-12-2019 8:09pm

saw animated version the other day with Jim Carrey as Scrooge. Enjoyed it.

Seth Brundle · 23-12-2019 8:18pm

NIMAN wrote: »

Wasn't too impressed by last nights 1st episode.

But will stick with it.

I thought that Guy Pearce didn't look old enough to be they stereotyped Scrooge. I also thought he seemed less miserly than the character described in the book (which I read every Christmas).
I'm not thinking this is a great version: it's interesting watching but just not what Dickens wrote.

bennyineire wrote: »

Yep probably the most famous line from the book, strange they left it out

That omission really annoyed me when watching it.

AKF · 23-12-2019 8:34pm

bennyineire wrote: »

Yep probably the most famous line from the book, strange they left it out

Sadly it isn't strange that it was left out.

What Scrooge said was true, we don't want to admit it but the truth is surplus population is the biggest problem facing humanity (particularly at this moment in time) and pathetically no government or international body has the balls to say this publicly, and the generally cowardly the media never wants to say it either so the BBC hasn't the balls to leave the line that most people remember from the book because the truth hurts and their afraid of being accused of being racist if the line is left in.

lawred2 · 23-12-2019 8:42pm

AKF wrote: »

Sadly it isn't strange that it was left out.

What Scrooge said was true, we don't want to admit it but the truth is surplus population is the biggest problem facing humanity (particularly at this moment in time) and pathetically no government or international body has the balls to say this publicly, and the generally cowardly the media never wants to say it either so the BBC hasn't the balls to leave the line that most people remember from the book because the truth hurts and their afraid of being accused of being racist if the line is left in.

Presume you're core population and not surplus to requirements?

Mickeroo · 23-12-2019 8:47pm

seenitall wrote: »

Probably too PC sensitive these days. As one of the open secrets of the era we live in that the real trouble with destruction of the climate and resources of the planet is the overpopulation. Too close to the bone now, as it were.

AKF wrote: »

Sadly it isn't strange that it was left out.

What Scrooge said was true, we don't want to admit it but the truth is surplus population is the biggest problem facing humanity (particularly at this moment in time) and pathetically no government or international body has the balls to say this publicly, and the generally cowardly the media never wants to say it either so the BBC hasn't the balls to leave the line that most people remember from the book because the truth hurts and their afraid of being accused of being racist if the line is left in.

No matter how innocuous the topic AH will always draw them out of the woodwork

AKF · 23-12-2019 9:08pm

lawred2 wrote: »

Presume you're core population and not surplus to requirements?

I'm not suggesting we organise a cull.Nothing you can really do about the people who are already here but I am suggesting that overpopulation should be a much bigger discussion point all over the world and it would be prudent to start implementing measure to reduce birth rates all over the world and it would have been sensible if 50 years ago when we knew population was an governments should have tried to implement measures to reduce birth rates.

Seth Brundle · 23-12-2019 9:13pm

AKF wrote: »

I'm not suggesting we organise a cull.Nothing you can really do about the people who are already here but I am suggesting that overpopulation should be a much bigger discussion point all over the world and it would be prudent to start implementing measure to reduce birth rates all over the world and it would have been sensible if 50 years ago when we knew population was an governments should have tried to implement measures to reduce birth rates.

The Chinese did and were massively criticised for it.

AKF · 23-12-2019 9:13pm

Mickeroo wrote: »

No matter how innocuous the topic AH will always draw them out of the woodwork

The issue of the line being excluded is not innocuous.

It's probably the most memorable line from the book and it wasn't included in the TV program I don't think it was done as part of the editing process to save time it clearly was excluded on purpose.

Galwayguy35 · 23-12-2019 9:48pm

The one with Patrick Stewart is my favourite, they haven't shown it for a few years now though.

seenitall · 23-12-2019 11:27pm

Mickeroo wrote: »

No matter how innocuous the topic AH will always draw them out of the woodwork

Drew who out of the woodwork? Since you've quoted me, would you mind elaborating?

You may not agree with my point, but then you'd do better to reply to it, instead of a cowardly dig at "them".

mariaalice · 24-12-2019 9:58am

The second episode of the BBC adaptation very mixed opinion on it. The Child abuse

Earthhorse · 24-12-2019 12:45pm

Don’t like Dickens or A Christmas Carol.

But love Scrooged and Mickey's Christmas Carol. Bit of much needed humour and inventiveness missing from the original.

Oasis1974 · 24-12-2019 12:51pm

Noor Uneven Grout wrote: »

The Alister Simms version was on yesterday.

They best one bar none. He's superb as Scrooge acting is top notch.

Hangdogroad · 24-12-2019 12:52pm

The 1971 animated film has the creepiest Jacob Marley.

Millicently · 24-12-2019 1:49pm

mariaalice wrote: »

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-theater-the-brain/201712/dickens-christmas-carol

Dickens has a great understanding of human nature.

Except for all the cheating on his wife and his attempts to have her declared insane even though she wasn't, so that he could have her locked in an insane asylum so he could marry a teenager.

Millicently · 24-12-2019 1:51pm

I loved the urchin peeing on Marley's headstone and him being awoken from death by pee dripping down through his grave onto his face. That was a hilarious way to reveal the inscription on the headstone. Calling him a skinflint old bastard when he did up his pants was the icing on the cake.

lawred2 · 24-12-2019 2:18pm

Fell asleep about five minutes in last night. And BBC player says it's restricted.

Pain. Not sure there's much point watching episode three tonight now.

Hamsterchops · 24-12-2019 2:26pm

A Christmas Carol, just started > Channel 4HD
1984 version with George C Scott .....

Enjoy.

Millicently · 24-12-2019 3:02pm

lawred2 wrote: »

Fell asleep about five minutes in last night. And BBC player says it's restricted.

Pain. Not sure there's much point watching episode three tonight now.

The Ghosts of Christmas Present and Christmas Future haven't arrived yet and it looks like there could be a twist so it might be worth a watch.

Raconteuse · 24-12-2019 3:28pm

They were probably loath to do something so obvious but I wish The Simpsons had done a version. They referenced it in Grift of The Magi and some later lame episode but a full episode in their hey day would have been glorious.

The beauty of A Christmas Carol

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