'God Bless Us, Every One'

My holiday column this year is about ghosts, too, just like Ctein's. Well, one ghost and three spirits, to be precise. All of them far more familiar to most of us than neutrinos (it was having neutrinos explained to me in college that made me decide astronomy was not going to be a core interest in my life, despite my fascination with the history and the romance of it).

As to the ghost and the spirits: I took the advice of Paul Glover from the Comments the other day, and watched the 1984 made-for-TV version of A Christmas Carol yesterday. It is, in a word, terrific. In four more words: not to be missed. I'd never seen it before.

CGI was in its infancy then (1984 was the same year Terminator was released), and the magical transitions could be done better today (not to mention that this version dispenses altogether with the vision out Scrooge's window of the restless spirits floating through the air, not a trick that any other version I've ever seen has missed). And the directing is a bit plain, something I seldom mind. (I even liked Ordinary People, which was directed as if to replicate the perspective of a person in the audience at a play.) But the locations, costumes, and camerawork and lighting are all first rate.

Scrooge (George C. Scott) looks on as his younger self (Mark Strickson) sits opposite his cold father (Nigel Davenport) in the confines of a carriage, in Clive Donner's 1984 version of A Christmas Carol

Overall, though, what makes this version the best of any I've ever seen is the acting, the acting, the acting. It might be sacrilege to say, but George C. Scott might almost be too good in the title role. The great man—America's Olivier—doesn't deign to act through most of the film in a nightshirt, but his riveting portrayal of Ebenezer Scrooge has depth and dimension that isn't even there in Dickens—something Roger Hirson's screenplay, with its emphasis on story logic, encourages. Scott even manages to make "bah" and "humbug" almost seem like spontaneous utterances! His portrayal of Scrooge's conversion is gradual and masterful, culminating in his believably awkward anguish at his own gravesite. Marvelous.

When asked how he judged acting, Scott said, "I have three tests. First, which dominates, the character or the actor? With very few exceptions it should be the character. Second, on film— as opposed to stage—we're pretty much playing basic emotions: love, anger, fear, pity. So the trick is whether you can come up with any fresh choices to present these common emotions. Third—and this is the quality that separates the great ones from the good ones—I look for a 'joy of performing' quality."*

He passes his own tests here, that's for sure. The supporting cast, I'm happy to say, are inspired, rather than overwhelmed. There are a few wrong notes here or there in the movie (I couldn't help noticing the hard shadow in the wrong place as Scrooge walks up his staircase holding a candle), but virtually none in the acting.

I haven't seen all the versions of A Christmas Carol—the straight filmed ones, I mean, never mind the numberless parodies and adaptations—but this now takes pride of place as the best one I know. I'll watch it again next year...and maybe even once more this year.

Watch it yourself this Christmas if you get a chance. It's on Netflix, and iTunes, and on DVD (for only $7.49—less than it costs on iTunes—and only £2.99 in the U.K.), and doubtless is available from other sources here and there as well. Very enjoyable if you love the story—and I do, I admit. (I read the book every year for a number of years as a boy.)

So thanks to Paul for the tip. And a Merry and a Happy to you and yours!

Mike

P.S. A little-known bit of trivia: Charles Dickens intended to write a Christmas story every year, and actually wrote five of them before he quit the plan. A Christmas Carol is of course one of the best-known works of literature in English, but his other four attempts are virtually forgotten.

*Quote from imdb.com

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Original contents copyright 2010 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved.

Featured Comment by Greg: "So glad to see this wonderful film promoted. My wife and I taped it off the air in 1984, and watched it every Christmas since. It has become part of our Christmas tradition. Last year the tape finally started to self-destruct and I happily found it on DVD at Amazon. What a difference! Like a whole new experience (although there was something retro-fun about the IBM ads on the tape). Without question this is my favorite version of the story (although, I confess I have not viewed the Alistair Sim version). George C. Scott is a treasure."

Featured Comment by James Finnegan: "A classic conversion of the Jew story."

Mike replies: Yeah, yeah. I've read it all—that A Christmas Carol is socialist propaganda (the neocon capitalist-fascist view); that the solution to social injustice it proposes is paternalistic and depends on voluntary generosity from those in power—GHWB's 'trickle-down' solution (this is the actual Socialist view, and they don't like the story any better than the people who think it's "socialist"); the anti-Semite interpretation; the invention of Christmas as commercialism interpretation (for those who like pointing out that Prince Albert established the convention of the Christmas tree and that Washington Irving invented the flying sleigh with the reindeer, and so on); etc., etc.

The key for Dickens are the two starvelings under the Ghost of Christmas Present's robes (Ignorance and Want—eliminated from several dramatizations of the tale). Dickens was riding a rising tide of social reform—the same one that drove Lewis Hine into the immigrant tenements with his flash powder, the same one that produced the child labor laws.

He was a consciousness-raiser, that's all.

For a fuller view, try Les Standiford's The Man Who Invented Christmas: How Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol Rescued His Career and Revived Our Holiday Spirits. It's short and entertaining.

Comments

[Daniel Fealko]

The original black and white 1951 version of A Christmas Carol with Alastair Sims (not the colorized version) is probably my favorite movie of all time. As you said, it's the acting that makes it so real. I love to watch it each year, if I get the opportunity.

Mike, if you haven't seen it, you should.

[Stephen S. Mack]

I second, third and fourth Mike's recommendation for this Christmas story. Just read his review, and then watch the video. My wife and I intend to watch it after Christmas Eve services in Charlottesville, Virginia.

All our best for the holiday season,

Stephen

[James Bullard]

I agree that this is the best and I have seen a number of versions. Scott is the most convincing Scrooge of the bunch, a person not a caricature.

So what are the other four Christmas stories that Dickens wrote? I hadn't heard of them.

[Al Patterson]

Yeah, the George C Scott version is top notch. Personally though, I'm waiting for the "Dr. Who" version debuting on 12/25/10. Maybe they should have done it when David Tennant was the Doctor. The 2009 version of "Hamlet" with Tennant and Patrick Stewart was superb...

[Paul Leidl]

Hi Mike:

My favorite has always been the version with Alastair Sim playing Ebenezer Scrooge. Terrific ensemble acting and wonderful cinematography.

Here is a link to a short scene:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1l1_82x2BO4

Merry Christmas!

[bloodnok]

for the non-american, alastair sim as mr scrooge has never been topped.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0044008/combined

bah humbug!

[bloodnok]

also mr pickwick's christmas from "the pickwick papers" has much charm to recommend it.

[Mike Johnston]

"So what are the other four Christmas stories that Dickens wrote? I hadn't heard of them."

James,
From Wikipedia: "Dickens...capitalized on the success of the book by annually publishing other Christmas stories in 1844, 1845, 1846, and 1848. The Chimes, The Cricket on the Hearth, The Battle of Life, and The Haunted Man and the Ghost’s Bargain were all based on the pattern laid down in Carol—a secular conversion tale laced with social injustice. While the public eagerly bought the later books, the critics bludgeoned them. Dickens himself questioned The Battle of Life's worth."

Mike

[David H.]

Well, my favorite was the Mr. Magoo version, but I haven't seen it since I was a kid. I did see the George C. Scott version a few times, and as a both a Scrooge and a Scott fan I loved it. Since you mentioned it, now I'll have to fiddle with iTunes (if I can get it in Japan) and watch it. Humbug.

[Jim McDermott]

Another vote for Alistair Sim (in the UK, the film was called Scrooge, not A Christmas Carol). George C. Scott was an excellent Scrooge, but the earlier film's Dickensian atmosphere could be cut with a knife, and hasn't, to me, been surpassed in any film adaptation

[Ed Kuipers]

Who would be the Dickens of our time? Do we still need a Dickens...I would say yes.

[charwck]

My mother had a volume of Dicken's Christmas stories ( called "Cricket on the Hearth") You have inspired me to take it down and read it this year. I just finished "Christmas Carol" as I do each year.
I am glad so many have mentioned the Alistair Sim version. My favorite, although Scott is just as good.

[Ken White]

When I was a kid our family spent a couple of evenings each holiday season reading A Christmas Carol. We all took turns reading aloud from the book. I'm not sure whether people have the time or inclination to do that sort of thing today. No doubt my memory of those times has taken on a rosy glow after fifty years.

[James Bullard]

Thanks Mike,
I checked Amazon and they have Kindle versions of all 4 but oddly the only one which was not available free was the one Dicken's himself didn't think was as good.

I think the Alistair Sim version of the movie is the one my wife favors. We (she & I) agree that the Patrick Stewart version is the worst. He's generally a good actor but he badly overplayed that role. Surprisingly the Disney version is pretty good although I found Bob Cratchet's sudden transformation from character to narrator at the end to be rather jarring. It did include the "restless spirits" scene.

[Nicholas Condon]

Even as someone who is not exactly in love with Christmas, I think the George C. Scott version of "A Christmas Carol" is wonderful. I love doing a (no doubt terrible) imitation of Scott's Scrooge every time someone complains about a room being cold:

"These are garments, Mr. Cratchit. Garments were invented by the human race as a protection against the cold. Once purchased, they may be used indefinitely for the purpose for which they are intended. Coal burns. Coal is momentary and coal is costly."

(Unfortunately, Scrooge neglects to mention the impact of fossil fuel burning on global climate change, but I'll give him a pass on it.)

[Eric Ford]

I've been watching the Mr. Magoo version every year since I was a kid... there's a video file of it downloadable online somewhere, and I bought the DVD some years ago. I love it. The music is just wonderful.

I've heard from others how good the Scott version is, so maybe I'll check it out on Netflix streaming this year.

[Robert Roaldi]

It's non-traditional but I liked Bill Murray's "Scrooged".

Have a good holiday, all the best for 2011.

[Ken Tanaka]

Count me as another who had favored the Alistair Sim (1951) version of "A Christmas Carol" since I was a very young boy. I encountered it playing on tv late one night (probably during The Season) and I was hooked. I've watched it every Christmas night since I could get a copy in the 1980's.

The runner-up that I most often encounter is the 1938 Reginald Owen version. It's very good and has its equally-devoted share of followers.

But I've never encountered anyone claiming that the George C. Scott version was their favorite! I was quite a fan of Scott's work, particularly of his "Patton". (Seeing clips and photos of the real George Patton after having seen the film many, many times since its production I recall being disappointed. The real Patton looked and sounded a bit wimpy compared to Scott!) I don't recall the Scott version of A Christmas Carol being especially bad but I just could not escape the impression that this was George Patton playing Dickens's Scrooge. It creeped me up a bit.

The various incarnations of "A Christmas Carol" represent perhaps the best examples of "to each his own". Choosing a favorite is not generally about the performance or production. It's generally about where you were, physically and emotionally, when you saw "your" version. Maybe, for some people, it provided a brief island of comfort in a sea of fear and sadness. I recall, for example, watching people in a hospital waiting room seemingly riveted to the Reginald Owen "Scrooge" as is played quietly near the ceiling one holiday evening.

So wherever you are, whatever your circumstances, may you all find your favorite version of "A Christmas Carol" this season.

[Mike Johnston]

I've long been a fan of the 1951 Alistair Sim version as well. I've seen it several times over the years. It's also very good and has a lot to recommend it.

Mike

[MBS]

"The supporting cast...are inspired, rather than overwhelmed."
Overwhelmed by Scott, you mean? Why would they be? These are some of the best actors of their day. They could hold their own with anyone. In fact, it might be just as good to turn the statement around.

As far as favorites, Sim's is mine as well, though I haven't revisited the earlier versions in a long time, and I think I remember liking the 1938, and don't think I have ever seen the '23. Scott's is probably my second favorite, though I do think he kind of walked through it in parts (probably unfair, Scott doesn't "walk through" anything, really). Anyway, Sim nailed it for me, particularly the transformation--Christmas morning, which is the pay-off in the movie. Sim's portrayal of giddy joy and abandon is better for me. But you can't go wrong with either.

[David Dyer-Bennet]

James, The Battle of Life is available from Project Gutenberg (Dickens died in 1870, so it's all solidly public domain). Specifically, it's at http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/676 There's a Kindle version, just click the right link there.

I ODed on this story long, long ago, without ever becoming a big fan. Locally, the Big Deal is the Guthrie Theater's live production each year. I've never gone to see that.

[Bruce Krobusek]

I think I'll have to be a contrarian and say that I love the version with Patrick Stewart. My only complaint is that when he starts trying to laugh it sounds as if he's coughing up a hairball...

[Ade]

Crumbs. UK readers of a certain age may remember Mark Strickson, seen in your frame grab above, better as eighties Doctor Who companion Vislor Turlough.

[Gavin McLelland]

Mike
just a note about Christmas tree. The guardian a couple of weeks ago ram the Prince Albert intoduced the Christmas tree story. This was followed a week or so later by a letter from a historian explaining why this wasn't true (her exasperation was smoked from the page) giving several examples of Christmas trees being mentioned in sources well before the arrival of poor old Albert in England. I hope she doesn't read TOP. Anyway have a good Christmas
Gavin

[Rubén Osuna]

Another good movie about Christmas you should see: "Smoke", 1995, directed by Wayne Wang upon a screenplay of Paul Auster. Enjoy.

[Rubén Osuna]

Here is the scene of the Christmas story by Auggie Wren:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-eWoLImTNI&feature=related

Enjoy.

R.

[Paul Glover]

You're welcome!

I should really give the credit to my wife, who introduced me to this version. Incidentally, she played the Ghost of Christmas Future in junior high school, on account of being the tallest person in the class. I'd have made a good Tiny Tim for the exact opposite reason. ;-)

Happy Christmas, one and all!