Scrooge (1970)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Ronald Neame

Writers:

Charles Dickens (story)
Leslie Bricusse (screenplay)

Release Date:

5 November 1970 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Musical | Fantasy | Family

Tagline:

A NEW MUSICAL

Plot:

A musical retelling of Charles Dickens' classic Christmas tale.

Plot Keywords:

Christmas | 1860s | Ghost | Miser | Nephew

Awards:

Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 1 win & 6 nominations

Cast

Albert Finney	...	Ebenezer Scrooge
Edith Evans	...	Ghost of Christmas Past
Kenneth More	...	Ghost of Christmas Present
Laurence Naismith	...	Mr. Fezziwig
Michael Medwin	...	Nephew Harry
David Collings	...	Bob Cratchit
Anton Rodgers	...	Tom Jenkins
Suzanne Neve	...	Isabel Fezziwig
Frances Cuka	...	Mrs. Cratchit
Derek Francis	...	1st Gentleman of Charity
Gordon Jackson	...	Tom - Friend of Harry's
Roy Kinnear	...	2nd Gentleman of Charity
Mary Peach	...	Fred's Wife
Paddy Stone	...	Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come
Kay Walsh	...	Mrs. Fezziwig

Runtime:

113 min | UK:120 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Mono (35 mm prints)

Certification:

Canada:G (Manitoba) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Iceland:L | Finland:K-8 | Sweden:Btl | UK:U | USA:G | Singapore:PG

Company:

Waterbury Films

Trivia:

Alec Guinness did not enjoy doing this movie. It required much more time than he expected, with the need of wires and a harness for his floating character. He suffered a double-hernia that required surgery to repair.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: When young Ebenezer and Isabelle are on the horse-drawn carriage in the countryside (shortly after the Fezziwig ball), there is a white car crawling its way along a country lane in the far background, midway between the centre and right-hand side of the screen.

Quotes:

Tom Jenkins: Hot broth, Mr. Scrooge. A small token of Christmas esteem, with the compliments of Tom Jenkins.
Ebenezer Scrooge: No.
Tom Jenkins: And there'll be a free can of broth, sir, every night for the coming year in gratitude for your infinite kindness... in giving me another two weeks to pay.
Ebenezer Scrooge: One week.
Tom Jenkins: Ten days?
Ebenezer Scrooge: *One* week.
Tom Jenkins: [defeated] One week.
Ebenezer Scrooge: And put a lid on that stuff, I'll take it home.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Oscar's Greatest Moments (1992) (V)

Soundtrack:

I Like Life

My personal favorite version of Dicken's classic tale.

In response to the other comment posted, I can agree. This version is not suitable for ALL ages. Parents should be advised to monitor their small children and perhaps omit the more dramatic scenes involving the Ghost of Christmas Future. When I share this movie with little friends under 12, I take care to either distract them from those sections, or omit them, thanks to the power of the fast-forward button. (But really, today's kids 8-9 and up see way more violent & scary stuff these days!)

However, having said that, I own a copy and have watched it faithfully every Christmas Eve or Christmas Day for nigh onto 20 years. It renews my spirit and reminds me of my responsibilities as a human being.

At the tender age of 12, my Dad took me to see "Scrooge" in the theater when it was released for Christmas. At only 12 years of age, the scenes of the Ghost of Christmas Future were quite vivid.

However, the movie made such an impression on me that it influenced my entire Life philosophy. "Mankind is our business" says Dickens through the Ghost of Christmas Present. This joyful movie filled with wonderful songs that bring me the Christmas Spirit every year. It also imparts the value of staying connected to matters of the spirit and heart, and illustrates the difficulties that arise when ones focus becomes only the material or the monetary. That is a valuable lesson to us all, not just at Christmas, but the whole year through.

I recommend this movie to everyone. Personally, I find it much more engaging and inspiring, not to mention, colorful, than any other version. The performances of all the actors are very entertaining. If you're the sentimental type, keep a hankie close by when Tiny Tim sings for his family at Christmas. What an angel!

Just my 2 cents worth!