Matrixston Wow! Such a good movie.

CheerupSilver Very Cool!!!

Platicsco Good story, Not enough for a whole film

Taraparain Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.

sddavis63 I knew that there had been a version of "A Christmas Carol" made that starred George C. Scott as Ebenezer Scrooge, but as far as I can recall I had never seen it until now. The basic story is well known. It might be the most famous story in English literature and I can't think of a piece of literature that has been adapted so many times and in so many different ways. This version was what I would call a "straight" adaptation. It stayed more or less true to Charles Dickens' work. Everyone knows the plot: Scrooge is a hard-hearted miser who hates Christmas and who ends up being transformed as a result of ghostly encounters into a jovial, kind and compassionate philanthropist. It's a story of redemption in a way. The story being so well know, then, what really counts about this adaptation is George C. Scott. How did he do?I went into this movie as a dedicated fan of the famous 1951 version of the story that starred Alastair Sim as the miserly old Scrooge, and I had some doubts about Scott in the role. I have to say that having now seen this, my doubts have disappeared. Scott was absolutely superb! He took on a very difficult role (because it's so famous, and because Sim's take on the character is iconic) and he mastered it. His own take on Scrooge differs from that iconic take. Sim offered almost a whimsical, comedic portrayal at times, but at his nastiest Sim's Scrooge was very cold and hard-hearted. I thought Scott's performance was much more "even-keel" you might say - and perhaps in that sense even more believable and more in keeping with Charles Dickens' story. Scott managed to become Scrooge for me, and given how ingrained Alastair Sim is in the role in my head, that was a difficult task. He once again showed that he is a very fine actor.The supporting cast in this was good, and the movie was as interesting as a movie can be when you know from the start how it all ends. To be honest it has not replaced the 1951 version in my heart - but it certainly is a worthy adaptation of the story. (8/10)

lemaster_K6466 This is my favorite version of this story. George C. Scott is so good as an actor.I watch this every year. His conversion as he went through the Ghosts, it was very touching. He really was quite the actor.Note: The following is only because IMDb requires a 10-line minimum review, When he was walking with that tall ghost, it was really cool.And the Ghost of Christmas future was creepy.I really like Bob Cratchet's family. I wish that I had such a family.My family was quite dysfunctional. I wish for such love and happiness.Wow, still not enough to post How much more is required?

greg_bbb This is the best version of A Christmas Carol. While the Patrick Stewart version is more faithful to the book, this has a better supporting cast by far. Edward Woodward is GREAT as the ghost of Christmas past (none better), and David Warner makes a rare appearance as a Good Guy in the role of Bob Crachit and is GREAT(none better), and Susanna York as Mrs Crachit is excellent, Frank Finlay as Marley was Very Good (none better), but Roger Rees (Cheers fame)as nephew Fred is Fantastic (none better). The Tiny Tim (often a sticking point) is Very Good in appearance and saying his lines, and doesn't disappoint. The rest are very good, and GC Scott was born to play Scrooge, as NO other actor makes you believe they are a nasty, stingy miser like Scott does. The moment of Transformation to good is done well, and the scenes afterward are excellent. The payoff is very satisfying in this version - above or equal to all others. So this one gets the 10 based the number of Great Actors & performances, and Top Scrooge.

Jackson Booth-Millard I had seen various actors playing the miserly Scrooge, including Alistair Sim, Albert Finney, Sir Michael Caine, Sir Patrick Stewart, Simon Callow, Kelsey Grammar and Jim Carrey, but I had missed this version of the classic Charles Dickens story a few times, but I did watch it eventually. Basically it is Christmas Eve in Victorian London, Ebenezer Scrooge (Primetime Emmy nominated George C. Scott) is a hard-nosed, single-minded businessman who dislikes Christmas, and he treats everyone with extreme contempt, including his clerk Bob Cratchit (David Warner) and his only living relative, his disowned nephew Fred Holywell (Roger Rees, also narrating). At home in the middle of the night Scrooge is visited by the ghost of his deceased business partner Jacob Marley (Frank Finlay), he warns Scrooge that unless he changes his ways he will suffer a terrible fate like him, and he tells that he will be visited by three spirits who will teach him lessons. The first spirit is the Ghost of Christmas Past (Angela Pleasence, Donald's daughter) who takes Scrooge back in time to see the shadows of his own past, growing up as a child, entering the world of business, working as the apprentice of Mr. Fezziwig (Timothy Bateson), meeting and falling in love with Belle (Lucy Gutteridge), until she ends their engagement believing Young Scrooge (Mark Strickson) no longer loves him like he used to, it is seeing what Belle is doing with a new family that Scrooge stops the memories, putting the spirit out with her cap. The second spirit is the Ghost of Christmas Present (Edward Woodward) who takes Scrooge to visit those he knows to see how they celebrate Christmas, he sees his nephew Fred with his wife Janet (Caroline Langrishe) and friends toasting his uncle, despite disagreement, and he sees Bob Cratchit celebrating a meagre dinner with his wife Mrs. Cratchit (Susannah York) and children, including crippled son Tiny Tim (introducing Anthony Walters) who is ill, the spirit finally leaves Scrooge alone to await the appearance of the third spirit. The third spirit is the silent Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come (Michael Carter), it shows Scrooge the future Christmas where someone has died and many people are glad, including some businessmen and Mrs. Dilber (Liz Smith) who has stolen their possessions, Tiny Tim lost his fight with the unknown illness, Bob and his family mourn his death, finally Scrooge is horrified to see his name on a gravestone, he begs the spirit that this cannot be and he promises to change his ways and honour the spirit of Christmas. Scrooge then finds himself in his bedroom, it is the morning of Christmas Day, happy to be alive he lives up to his promise, he finds a boy to buy a turkey for the Cratchit family, he meets with charity workers Mr. Poole (Michael Gough) and Mr. Hacking (John Quarmby) and donates an unheard large sum, he accepts the invitation of Christmas dinner from nephew Fred, and the following day he increases the salary for Bob Cratchit, and to Tiny Tim, who did not die, Scrooge becomes a second father, and he keeps up his promise. Also starring Nigel Davenport as Silas Scrooge. I knew Scott best for his Oscar winning role as General Patton, he is certainly a good choice to play the grouchy man turned good, the recognisable supporting cast members do their parts well also, this feels like most of the other versions of the story I have seen before, but for a TV made film it is well done and likable enough, a pleasant seasonal period drama. Worth watching!