User reviews

Are you interested in seeing A Christmas Carol as a musical? You've got several options (since the Public Domain makes it easy for budding songwriters to write music without securing any exclusive rights). I've seen at least four musicals, and I recommend the Albert Finney version. Leslie Bricusse's songs are delightful, the production values are surprisingly good, and Albert Finney is the lead! In a wonderful treat (and the only version I can remember that does this), Albert plays both the main Scrooge and the younger version in the past flashbacks. Usually, it's a role sought out in an actor's middle-age, but since Albert was so young in 1970, he merely covered himself up in unrecognizable makeup during the main meat of the movie. For a few minutes, we get to see him in his true handsome glory, and it's a lot of fun. In either case, young or old, he's a great actor believable in hero or villain roles, which makes him a wonderful Ebenezer Scrooge.

And did you know that he could sing? You'll get to hear a variety of original songs in this movie, from the sweet to the sad, the heartwarming to the funny. Alec Guinness, Kenneth More, Laurence Naismith, Suzanne Neve, Richard Beaumont, and David Collings join in on the musical fun; and Anton Rodgers leads the chorus in the most memorable "Thank You Very Much." It's a very sad scene (the entire town is thanking Scrooge for dying), but the song itself is adorable and will keep you singing it for years to come.

This version might not be the one you watch every year on Christmas Eve, but if it's been a while since you saw it, rent it again this December. There are many little touches that will continue to impress you whenever you do watch it. Details remind you that the writers clearly studied the original text, the production design and costumes make you feel as though you're experiencing the bitter cold alongside them, and Albert Finney makes you want to wrap him up in a hug. No, not because of his twinkling eyes and sparkling smile. Just as he completely transformed himself as Hercule Poirot, you'll forget there's a young, handsome man underneath the makeup of Ebenezer Scrooge. He's a lonely, crotchety old man you'll feel sorry for, and when you see the Ghost of Christmas Past flashbacks, you'll practically forget it's the same actor!

This is an incredibly biased review, as I expect most reviews of Holiday Classics would tend to be. This is a film I grew up with and, thus, no other version of a Christmas Carol will do, at least for me.

I remember watching this movie every year, sometimes more than once. Even as I prepared to write this review I thought, 'I don't really need to watch it again but I probably should just so that it is fresh in my mind. When I popped the DVD in I was instantly transported into the Christmas season, which up until that moment, even after hanging lights, decorating the rooms of our house, and visiting my Grandparents for Thanksgiving, I simply had not felt like it was Christmas yet.

But those bells that play and the frosty blue and white painted credits title cards ushered in the Christmas spirit into my winter season as surely as a visit from Jacob Marley's ghost.

While I may be biased, I do truly believe this is the best adaptation of Charles Dickens' story that has ever been made. I doubt this review will change your mind about your favorite but I do hope it will at least prompt you to try this one out as, perhaps, an addition to your Holiday-time Queue.

I'm going to begin with Scrooge, our titular character, played by Albert Finney ("Big Fish," 2003). If there's been a more truly cantankerous, tragically calloused, monetarily focused, hilariously oblivious, and joyfully redeemed version of this character, I'll eat my hat, coat, and winter boots alongside my Christmas goose and pudding. Watching other versions, the actor playing scrooge always seems to be performing the part of Scrooge as if they are in a TV special (sometimes they are) and their real job is to make sure they get out every iconic line from the story. Finney, on the other hand, doesn't just run through his lines in an 'already prepared' fashion. The lines seem to come from deep in his hard heart. He's always fussing around as if he can't even sit still during his conversations, subtly communicating how little stock he places in humanity. Scrooge feels like a real person in this version, not just a story book character come to life with a funny voice, although he does have one, and a cartoonish grimace on his face (such as Jim Carrey in "Disney's A Christmas Carol").

Another wonderful aspect "Scrooge" is the music. A Christmas Carol is no stranger to musical adaptations and while I give credit to quite a few of the songs in "A Muppet Christmas Carol" for being fun, Christmas-y, and often hilarious, they simply don't hold a candle to the musical sequences in "Scrooge." This is in part because the songs are simply better, in my opinion, feeling more like a stage musical's words and score, but also because the sequences, and indeed the entire film, actually takes advantage of the fact that it is a film and not just a TV special.

The scenes where Scrooge is just standing there and singing are few and are actually motivated by the scenes and communicate something about Scrooge and who he is willing to sit and listen to and who he isn't. The first musical number features three songs "Christmas Children," "I Hate People," and "Father Christmas" is frenetically paced as Scrooge attempts to slip away from the mocking song that the street urchins sing, even as he goes about London, collecting on debts, even on Christmas Eve. This is contrasted with Bob Cratchit who meets two of his children after work, walks them home collecting items for their celebration, and marveling at the magic of Christmas on the London Streets.

Of course this is all helped by some of the best production design I have ever seen in a movie, let alone a Christmas movie. London feels large, with little neighborhoods and districts not because we get some CGI flyover but because the streets of London aren't just a single cross street set and an alley that the Cratchits live on. We wander all over the streets of London and when we do go inside, Scrooge's office, The Cratchits one room home, and Scrooge's chambers all feel so real and lived in that they themselves communicate the state of their occupiers souls: the Cratchit house full of bustling family and light; Scrooge's home full of old dingy heavy and dark drapes, starkly furnished, and kept as dirty and barely kept as Scrooge's disgusting fingernails..

This brings up the last thing I'll mention; Light. This film actually uses light as a tool for storytelling, beginning the night before Christmas where Scrooge lives with an eternally dark heart as black as the sky and ending with Christmas morning shining bright as Scrooge literally runs around like a schoolboy (he doesn't just say it then continue to walk around like an old man as in "Muppet Christmas Carol"). This isn't the only example of how light is used to communicate generosity and the spirit of Christmas in the film but I will leave those to you to discover on your own.

This is one of those movies that appeals to me on almost every level. The acting is great, the music is fun, and it actually feels like I am watching a movie that the director was thinking more about how to communicate the feeling of a hard-hearted man being redeemed than he was thinking about how to achieve a special effect or make an exact copy of every scene from the book. I find myself spontaneously singing the songs from this film all year round and there are few things that bring my soul the sort of satisfaction that this film does as it ends with Scrooge lavishing his riches upon the town and walking back home all by himself, still singing under his breath and skipping as he does.

May we all find and share that kind of joy this holiday season.

Christmas films, like Christmas songs, are a hugely personal choice, and depend so much on childhood experience. But this is one film which does not lose it's charm, no matter how often I see it. The songs, sets and costumes are fantastic, the acting is inspired, and the musical scenes are beautifully choreographed. In fact, there is no other Christmas film, which has contributed so many songs to my Christmas repertoire! The fact that this version is an English production also helps considerably in the credibility department - the accents are authentic.

Aside from the scene in "hell", this film is admirably true to the spirit and content of Dicken's text, with some inevitable cuts which frankly, I didn't miss. More importantly, I have seen no other version which manages to combine the miserable qualities of Scrooge with the touches of wit and humour which Dickens so skillfully wrote with. Other versions of the film so often succeed at being dour, while failing to capture the joyous aspects of the story, and the humour Scrooge himself sometimes provides. Happily, this version Succeeds at both.

The 1951 version of the film, with Alastair Sim as Scrooge, is often touted as being the best. This may be where my age betrays me, but when I saw it recently, it left me feeling rather flat. Sim did a good job of appearing afraid of the ghosts, but where was his bitterness, skepticism and sarcastic wit? By contrast, Albert Finney's portrayal is a joy to watch - you cannot help but both love and hate the miserable old creature, which makes his transformation at the end all the more joyous.

Highlights...

The clever use of songs like "Father Christmas" and "Thank You Very Much" to convey very different sentiments at the end of the film than they do when first introduced in eaarlier scenes - marvelous!

Albert Finney, as the hilariously miserable Scrooge, singing "I hate People"

Alec Guinness as a truly original ghost of Jacob Marley - fantastic!

Kenneth More's Ghost of Christmas Present - what presence, what a costume!

Laurence Naismith as the exuberant Fezziwig - exactly as he should be, and a good dancer too!

Edith Evans (Elderly Ghost of Christmas Past), in response to Scrooge's "You don't look like a ghost", primly replying "Thank You!".

Mrs. Cratchhit's scream of shock when she realises who is delivering the enormous turkey to her door! I could watch it a hundred times!

...and too many others to mention. This movie was released on DVD this year - by all means see it!

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!

In 1860, the stingy and cranky Ebenezer Scrooge (Albert Finney) that hates Christmas; loathes people and defends the decrease of the surplus of poor population runs his bank exploiting his employee Bob Cratchit (David Collings) and clients, giving a bitter treatment to his own nephew and acquaintances. However, in the Christmas Eve, he is visited by the doomed ghost of his former partner Jacob Marley that tells him that three spirits would visit him that night. The first one, the spirit of past Christmas, recalls his miserable youth when he lost his only love due to his greed; the spirit of the present Christmas shows him the poor situation of Bob's family and how joyful life may be; and the spirit of future Christmas shows his fate. Scrooge finds that life is good and time is too short and suddenly you are not there anymore, changing his behavior toward Christmas, Bob, his nephew and people in general.

This musical adaptation of "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens to the screen is one of those optimistic films that follows the style of Frank Capra's "It's a Wonderful Life". The redemption of the mean Ebenezer Scrooge in a Christmas Eve is one of the most known worldwide novels and in this version, Albert Finney one of his finest performances surprisingly not nominated to the Oscar. In Brazil, this enjoyable family entertainment was released on DVD by Paramount Distributor. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Adorável Avarento" ("Adorable Stingy")

Makes me cry and also laugh.Heartwarming and uplifting. Great music. Lovely, atmospheric sets.

an early VHS recording of this film played a significant part in my family Christmas celebrations some twenty years ago. perhaps it is this that allows me to forgive the films overly sentimental and stagy approach to this oft told tale . some have called this "olivers " poor relation coming as it did in the wake of that unrivaled masterpiece and yes it does seem at times as if we may have heard a melody or ditty before (" consider yourself /thankyou very much- need i say more ")finney and co tread hallowed ground but do so with aplomb. kelsey grammers recent musical outing doesn't come close and the visual trickery of Disney's version makes it equal too but never better than this rendition .what mr dickens would have thought is of course quite another matter.

I disagree with all of the critics. I always felt that this was the best Christmas movie ever made. Albert Finney is an incredible actor and he brings the character of Scrooge to life more than any other actor has. I personally never liked the Alistir Sims portrayal. Like some of the other comments, my family has a yearly tradition of saving this Christmas movie for the last one of the season to really get us in the Christmas spirit.

There have been so many versions of this literary masterpiece filmed that it is high praise indeed from me when I say this is easily my favourite version and one of the best. Albert Finney gives a tour-de-force performance as Ebeneezer Scrooge. He is barely middle-age when making the film yet gives one of the best cranky, curmudgeonly old man performances seen in film. Finney gives such life to lines that have become tainted by overuse over the years. All the performers do excellent jobs with some old English stalwarts lending a hand. Dame Edith Evans plays one of the most charming and pithy Ghosts of Christmas Pasts I have seen. Kenneth More, an under-appreciated actor, adds so much life as the Ghost of Christmas Present. And let's not forget Alec Guinness as the Ghost of Jacob Marley. In some moments he is a clown and others a very scary spirit. The scene where Scrooge sees his fate as being a co-worker of Marley's in Hell is one of the most innovative plot additions I have seen to this classic, timeless tale. Guinness hams it up; watch how he walks with those chains all over him. The actors playing Cratchit, Tiny Tim, Nephew Fred, Mr. Fezziwig, and so on are all very believable and give genuine performances. I love the music. I know some people are not musical people, but each song is catchy and some like "I Hate People," "I Like Life," "December the 25th," and the best "Thank You Very Much" will possibly remain in your head days after having seen the film. Because of its status as a tale of redemption and forgiveness and the possibility each of us have in changing our lives, A Christmas Carol(Scrooge) gets little recognition for being one of the greatest ghost stories ever written. I cannot say enough good about this film. What more can you ask for than good, solid acting, mellifluous tunes, authentic Victorian settings, and one heck of a good ghost story with a moral that each of us can relate to. If you don't like musicals, you will be put off by people combusting into song. As for me, Scrooge is the one version that my family and I make a point of seeing every holiday season. It just isn't Christmas here without it!

I wish I'd managed to watch this overlooked British film musical before Christmas but even with the trees and decorations down for days, it was still a very pleasurable watch. Beats me why it's never mentioned in the top list of classic festive films as it has a lot going for it.

The story is so well known and there have been so many film versions of it that familiarity could breed some discontent if not quite contempt, but the twist is here is that it's played as a musical with a lively score by the celebrated Leslie Bricusse. Here, he has to contend with two of his main actors probably challenging Lee Marvin for the award for worst singer in a major production, being Albert Finney and Alec Guinness, but despite this palpable drawback, the movie works well.

The evocation of mid-19th Century London is splendidly achieved (in sets apparently left over from the recently completed "Oliver!") with no stinting on cast numbers per scene either. The songs are happy singalong and yet suffused with the personality of the singer, thus Scrooge's "I Hate People" and later the crowd, led by Anton Rogers, singing "Thank You Very Much" to Scrooge for dying.

The special effects aren't that great, especially when you see a white-painted Guinness as Marley's ghost float up and away on wires but they're tolerable for the time.

Finney is very good even buried away under more pancaked makeup than Shrove Tuesday, Guinness a lot less so in a part in which he's obviously ill at ease. Director Neame directs with some flair and stays reasonably close to the source story.

Some Christmas presents I find are best appreciated even if delayed until after the day itself. Watching this film was like that for me, a little post-Yuletide delight all the more welcome

This film is an underrated classic family musical. In the spirit and tradition of Oliver! and My Fair Lady, with an energetic memorable score and an eclectic cast all on top form. Sir Alec Guinness, Dame Edith Evans and the wonderful Kenneth Moore support magnificently. Moore in one of the last roles before his untimely death, clearly enjoying hamming it up as the ghost of Christmas present carrying the miserable scrooge along for the ride of his life whilst singing `I like life!' is a joy to see.

But Finney's performance is the standout. At a time when he was making films like Charlie Bubbles and Gumshoe, and with a reputation of being one of Britain's foremost angry young men this role was as unexpected as it was wonderful.

As a side note I was lucky enough to be able to see Anthony Newley as the miser in Bricusse's early nineties theatrical revival, and although good was no where near as cutting or humorous as Finney.

A must see at Christmas time, you too will be singing `I like life' and `thank you very much' for days afterwards!

In this delightful musical adaptation of The Charles Dickens' classic, Albert Finney is cast as Ebenezer in `Scrooge,' directed by Ronald Neame, who successfully manages to put a fresh face on the familiar tale. Original music and songs (by Leslie Bricusse), from the jaunty to the poignant, add to this uplifting and appealing version, skillfully crafted and delivered by Neame, and beautifully acted by one and all. At 7:00 on Christmas Eve, Scrooge finally tears himself away from his counting house and makes his way home, commenting along the way (in song) that `I Hate People,' only to be greeted at his front door by the apparition of his late partner, Jacob Marley (Alec Guinness). And of course for Scrooge, it's only the beginning of a night that will change his life forever. First, the visit from Marley's ghost, followed, in succession, by the spirits of Christmas Past (Edith Evans), Christmas Present (Kenneth Moore) and Christmas Yet To Come (Paddy Stone). Though not, perhaps, the definitive portrayal of Scrooge, Finney is outstanding and does lend some distinction to the character of the curmudgeonly miser, from the stoop-shouldered walk he affects to his twisted mouth. But, more importantly, he gets beyond the mere physical aspects to capture the personality and singular perspectives of the man as well, and in doing so makes his Scrooge unique; no small accomplishment considering how many times on stage and screen this character has been done, and by how many different actors. Also turning in notable performances are Edith Evans, who makes her spirit of the past warm and accessibly intimate, and Kenneth Moore, whose spirit of the present is as big and engaging as the life he represents. But the real highlight of the film is the portrayal of Marley's ghost by Alec Guinness. What a magnificent actor, and what a magnificent performance! When Marley first enters Scrooge's room he fairly glides, disjointedly across the room, encumbered by the chains he forged in life and which he now must carry around for eternity. There is a fluid rhythm to his every movement, to every step he takes, that lends a sense of the ethereal to him, without-- it must be noted-- the help of any special effects whatsoever. With nuance and precision, with care given to every minute detail, Guinness truly makes him an otherworldly presence. There has never before been, nor will there ever be in the future, an interpretation of Marley any better than this. It IS the definitive portrayal, and a tribute to talents and abilities of one of the great actors of all time.

In addition to the music and songs, there are a couple of scenes that consign this presentation of `A Christmas Carol' the stamp of uniqueness. The first involves the visit from Marley's ghost, wherein Scrooge is taken in flight by Marley, and once aloft they encounter lost souls and phantoms, doomed to wander aimlessly for all eternity. The second is courtesy of the Ghost of the Future, who gives Scrooge a glimpse of the nether world, where he is greeted by Marley, who shows him to the `office' he will occupy for eternity, as well as the massive chain Scrooge has forged for himself during his lifetime. The supporting cast includes Anton Rodgers (Tom Jenkins), who delivers one of the most memorable songs, `Thank you very much;' Mary Peach (Fred's wife), Kay Walsh (Mrs. Fezziwig), Laurence Naismith (Mr. Fezziwig), David Collings (Bob Cratchit), Frances Cuka (Mrs. Cratchit), Richard Beaumont (Tiny Tim) and Suzanne Neve (Isabel). Heartwarming and thoroughly entertaining, `Scrooge' is a welcome addition to the annual holiday festivities. It's always fun to see a new spin on a familiar story, especially when it's as well crafted as this; moreover, this one will leave you whistling a tune and humming for the rest of the day, maybe even for the rest of the year. And that's a deal that's just too hard to pass up. I rate this one 9/10.

This is a good Christmas film for the whole family. Adaptations of A Christmas Carol are a dime a dozen I agree. There have been literally dozens of them. Some better then others. Albert Finney is a truly amazing actor, a protege of Olivier and in fact people have called him "a second Olivier". He is probably best remembered for his role as the eccentric Hercule Poirot in Murder On The Orient Express or as Daddy Warbucks in Annie. This film to me is his best performance. Finney was only 34 when it was made, but he is really convincing in his old makeup as Scrooge. In his vocal and physical mannerisms, he really creates a unique portrait of everyone's favorite Christmas miser. You really hate him in the beginning. A critic said that he is almost like Quasimodo. All right, I admit that I am a Puritan when it comes to reworking the classics. I like for them to do a straight adaptation of Dicken's book, after all it is the "perfect" story. Ordinarily, I would not like them turning it into a musical comedy in some aspects, but Ronald Neame was a gifted director with a gifted cast of technicians who did a wonderful job. Some of the songs are really wonderful, some are forgettable, but all in all its a fine job and an original take. Finney really made me feel Scrooge's pain when he sang that song about losing Isabelle. He really made me happy in the end when he sang that song "I'll Begin Again". "I'll begin today..throw away the past and the future I build will be something that will last....I will live my days for my fellow men. It was a wonderful song and almost made me cry tears of joy for the miser who was given a wonderful mercy from hell. By the way..when this film is shown on tv,,they cut out the scene where the Ghost of Christmas Future shows himself as a skeleton and he falls into the grave and winds up chained in hell. It is a terrifying scene that might scare small children. Finney makes a great Ebeneezer Scrooge and holds his own against Alastair Sim or Susan Lucci. The only thing that I don't agree with in this film is Alec Guiness as Jacob Marley. Maybe I should explain, I went to Fairmont State College in West Virginia and in the Christmas of 1992, I was fortunate enough to be cast in one of their plays, it was A Christmas Carol and I was cast as Marley's Ghost. I think that I have a little bit of expert insight on it, Marley is supposed to be tormented and Guiness portrays him all wrong. He is so faggy and cloying. It is almost like he is the Jacob Marley of the gay liberation movement! Other then that, this is a film you should watch at Christmas, like Its A Wonderful Life, it will teach you the true meaning of the holiday and leave you with a warm feeling in your heart.

I have just read a negative comment about this movie. I believe it's the first I've ever encountered. Yes, I was a bit scared when I was young, but I had reassuring parents and saw that in the end, it was upbeat and fun.

One favorite part is while Bob Crachit and his kids are getting last minute things for Christmas Eve (During Christmas Children), there is such an obvious display of the differences between the rich and the poorer classes. The rich pick up their things and he, a poorer man, picks up what he can with his 15 schillings - yet stays upbeat, thankful and loving. It's really a beautiful scene.

I love to watch this movie at any time of the year. Albert Finney really nails this character. It's hard to believe that he was only 34 when he made this film. My kids (4 and 7) could not believe that was really him in the Christmas Past scenes.

The rest of the cast indeed are incredible. Bob Crachit was outstanding and so tender and the ghost of Christmas Present was so fun.

I attempted to watch the latest musical version with Kelsey Grammar, I really tried. It was a painful 15 minutes. You just can't create another musical version of this story that tops this one!

Purists won't be too happy with whatever omissions were made in the Dickens tale to include some harmless songs by Leslie Bricusse, but ALBERT FINNEY (in age make-up) hams it up with a sense of humor as Scrooge--and with a cast including EDITH EVANS, KENNETH MORE and ALEC GUINNESS (as Marley's Ghost), you can't go too far wrong.

The atmosphere is good, the color cinematography captures merry old England in all its Victorian splendor, and the songs are brisk and somewhat charming in all their simplicity. Especially winning are "Thank You Very Much" and "I Love Life" (sung by an exuberant Finney after his reformation).

This one is certain to please the kids who want to see another version of the timeless tale of redemption on Christmas Day.

Summing up: Harmless fun for all is sure to put some glow into your Christmas.

Scrooge is one of the best A Christmas Carol adaptations ever made. It puts you in a mood unlike any other adaptation, and-most uniquely- it's a musical version.

Most people reading this is probably familiar with the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, his hate for Christmas, and his transformation due to the visit of 3 spirits. While this is one of the most known and most re-told stories, Scrooge, this 49 year old re-telling, makes it fresh and exciting.

The soundtrack is great, with 2 stand out songs I would like to mention- Thank You Very Much and I Like Life.

The former is first sung when Scrooge sees his future if he doesn't change. Every one in town is celebrating Scrooge for a deed he has done, and invisible Scrooge thinks it's his change.

However, after he celebrates with them with the words "Thank you very much, thank you very much, that's the nicest thing that anyone's ever done for me!", he soon finds out the nice deed is that HE DIED. Luckily for Scrooge, his transformation leads to the town singing the song for a much better reason.

The latter song is sung with Scrooge and The Ghost for Christmas Present, who teaches the miser that you're foolish to think life is something to despise-it's really something to celebrate. And THIS song is reprises when Scrooge changes as well.

The acting is done well also, Albert Finney is a convincing Scrooge, and I really thought he was elderly, then I realized that he is younger looking in Annie, which came out 12 years LATER. Point being-make up was amazing even in 1970!

If you say "Bah, Humbug" to so many versions of the Dickens tale, I suggest trying this one. I've seen it about half a dozen times, and it makes me feel good every time. Even if musicals aren't your cup of tea, you'd be a Scrooge yourself to hate this movie!

After the huge success of 'Oliver', came 'Scrooge', which yesterday I saw for the first time since I went to the ABC in Ipswich to see it fifty years ago (although it didn't seem like that at the time).

The first Technicolor version of Dickens' bleak little fable was both directed and shot by two of Britain's top cameramen (although Ronald Neame did a better job of giving Kay Hammond an eerie green spectral glow as Elvira in 'Blithe Spirit' that he does here with Alec Guinness as Marley's Ghost; while nobody's breath steams despite all the snow adorning Terence Marsh handsome set). It starts well (the spectral hearse, the door knocker with Marley's face and the ringing bells, for example, are notably well done) but it all gets very disconcerting when people start singing and dancing as if it's a Bollywood movie, the best number being the jauntily poignant 'Thank You Very Much'.

Only 34 at the time, Albert Finney hams it up in the title role, although his actual youth makes this the only version of the story in which the actor playing the elderly Scrooge is also able convincingly to play his younger self.

''Scrooge'' a lavish musical version of Charles Dickens ''A Christmas Carol'' is also one of the best yuletide films ever made. The story, which recounts the strange and wonderful events which cause a miserable miser to reform, lends itself beautifully to a musical format. Though this was not the first ''Carol'' to be set to music, it is easily the best. The acting, by a seasoned British cast, is wonderful.Albert Finney does not ''act'' the part of Ebenezer Scrooge, he IS Scrooge. Ably supported by Dame Edith Evans, Alec Guinnes and Kenneth More, he brings both humanity and pathos to his portrayal. The songs, by Leslie Bricusse (''Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory'') are both haunting and moving, and, when the occasion calls for it, upbeat and jolly as well. The production itself, well directed by Ronald Neame (''Great Expectations'') is handsomely filmed and suitable for all ages. Among the supporting cast, both Laurence Naismith and Kay Walsh (also in Neame's classic ''Oliver Twist') stand out as Mr. and Mrs. Fezziwigg. Making a very auspicious film debut is Suzanne Neve, who makes a lovely Isabel, Scrooge's lost love. The orchestrations present the score to great advantage, and the excellent widescreen photography brings a fairy tale London to life. There are other fine adaptations out there, most notably ''Magoo's Christmas Carol'' (with it's terrific score), and Alastair Sim's ''Scrooge'', a somewhat darker version, but this one can stand with the best of them. Incidentally,the film was a box office failure back when it premiered in 1970, (though it broke records at the Radio City Music Hall) but subsequent television airings have alerted audiences to it's many virtues-and made it a Classic for all time.

The familiar Dickens story gets a lavish, pull-out-the-stops musical treatment here, as an effectively cranky Albert Finney gets to put his spin on one of the great characters in literature, greedy & grouchy loner Ebenezer Scrooge. He is visited by a succession of spirits one eventful Christmas Eve, who show him the past, the present, and his possible future.

While this viewer still prefers the stark atmosphere, and grandiosity of Alastair Sims' memorable interpretation of Scrooge, in the 1951 adaptation, it's hard to deny the pleasures of this tuneful version. Granted, the songs are decent if mostly unremarkable, save for the show-stopping "Thank You Very Much"; "I Hate People" also has its amusements. The art direction and widescreen photography are simply first-rate as we get to see an incarnation of "A Christmas Carol" in great eye-popping colour.

Even if not a very faithful adaptation of the novel, it does retain its essence and spirit. The oddest touch is actually showing Scrooge what could await for him *after* death. Another unconventional element is Alec Guinness' rather offbeat interpretation of Jacob Marleys' ghost. But this viewer didn't mind these things too much, as they help to keep this adaptation unique among the many others over the decades.

Scripted by Leslie Bricusse, who also wrote the music & lyrics for all the songs, this was directed by Ronald Neame, who had previous experience with Dickens having produced the 1946 version of "Great Expectations". It features a superb British cast including Dame Edith Evans (the Ghost of Christmas Past), Kenneth More (the ghost of Christmas Present), Laurence Naismith (Mr. Fezziwig), David Collings (Bob Cratchit), Anton Rodgers (Tom Jenkins), Gordon Jackson, Roy Kinnear, Kay Walsh, and many other talents.

This is certain to put a smile on numerous faces; while it goes on rather long at just under two hours, it proves to be hard to resist.

Seven out of 10.