content rating:

G

contains nothing that would offend parents

 for viewing by children

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Scrooge (musical)

Movie Facts

Release Year:

1970

Runtime:

115 minutes

Cast:

Albert Finney

Dame Edith Evans

Kenneth More

Laurence Naismith

Michael Medwin

David Collings

Anton Rodgers

Suzanne Neve

Sir Alec Guinness

Director:

Ronald Neame

Producer:

Robert H. Solo

Basic Plot

The meanest man in town is a crotchety, heartless old man who prizes money above all.  Ebenezer Scrooge cares for no one and even avoids his only nephew, Fred, because his beloved sister died giving him life.  He overworks and underpays Bob Cratchit,  his humble clerk and has no sympathy for his circumstances...not even an ounce for his crippled son, Tiny Tim.  In the dreary, dark recesses of nineteenth century London, Scrooge heads home from the office.  It's Christmas eve, but money is the only thing on his mind.  He skulks through the streets as he examines his open accounts tablet.  One by one, he harasses the street vendors and store owners for payment.  No reason or excuse will persuade him to extend their time to repay and no charity is offered.  Life is miserable and barren, but life is about to change.  When Scrooge falls asleep that evening, he is visited by three ghosts who show him his Christmas Past,  Christmas Present and a terrifying Christmas Yet to Come.  By Christmas morning, Ebenezer Scrooge is filled with the spirit of Christmas and charity, never to be the same again.    

Review

This musical version of the Charles Dickens classic requires an open mind.  After so many years of watching the original, departing that world for a musical version is quite a mind warp.  Surprisingly, it's pretty well done.  Some of the singing can get a bit annoying, but the adaptation takes on a fresh perspective and atmosphere.  Albert Finney does an acceptable job in the lead role, though he's not a singer by any stretch of the imagination.  Even though "Scrooge" is not one of our favorites, there are still times when we want something a little different and this movie fills that bill. 

Overall rating

     (out of a possible 5 bubble lights)