A Christmas Carol (1984) * FIRST TIME WATCHING * reaction & commentary

[@ElizStewart80]

This has been my hands-down favorite version of A Christmas Carol since I was a kid. Best Scrooge, best Marley, best score, best sets. I never get tired of watching this one.

[@markperez2669]

Mine too it’s free to see year round on KZbin

[@rong7496]

I love the way George C. Scott’s take on the character goes into a different direction than previous ones. Where others raged with the line “Buried with a stake of holly” Scott has his Scrooge laugh sadistically. He was original. This might be my favorite version of “A Christmas Carol.”

[@cchavezjr7]

This is definitely my favorite. Scott plays Scrooge with much more depth and not just anger but you see his regret over past events even early on and his change at the end was a complete 180 in character and was very joyous.

[@Serai3]

Somehow his laugh makes him worse than other Scrooges. He seems to _enjoy_ being awful in a way other Scrooges don't.

[@cchavezjr7]

@@Serai3 That's true, he probably enjoyed the spreading of misery and stepping on people in any way he could :(

[@sweeney60]

The scene where he scowls at his father for denying his younger self more time with his sister gets me every time. So much of Scrooge’s later decisions stem from his grief over his sister and you can really see that here.

[@chrisbrocknc]

This is the best version. I was 10 when it came out.

[@miguelvelez7221]

I LOVE this version. Don't know quite why... Perhaps Scott's performance hits all the right notes? Very happy to see it being shared with a new generation.

[@jcortese3300]

I'm glad people are discovering this version -- this was magnificent. George C. Scott really did this character justice, and all the other actors were stellar as well. The whole thing is perfect. And what a treat seeing David Warner playing the ultimate Good Guy of English literature!

[@chopdog6563]

I do want to point out that you've also seen Scrooged, which is technically also A Christmas Carol.

[@The22ndDoctor]

Technically, it's A Christmas Carol (with America's favorite old fart narrating, and the Solid Gold Dancers) inside A Christmas Carol

[@timhonigs6859]

And mice with antlers. Stapled or taped, whichever one you can do easiest

[@katrinaleebaldwin4660]

The 1999 version with Patrrick Stewart is womderful as well

[@BeardedDad72]

Absolutely!!

[@starbasecarolina3876]

Agreed, my favorite

[@Do0msday]

Highly underrated. Some of the costume choices (such as the Ghost of Christmas yet to come) are a bit bizarre looking, but the acting is terrific and I *love* Patrick Stewart's version of Scrooge because his transformation is so huge. He doesn't just go from being mean to being nice. He literally transforms and has to re-learn to do human things such as when he doesn't remember how to laugh or when he sings again. I've always loved that about that version of Scrooge.

[@JWeek-n3g]

Definitely my favorite as well

[@Bassman6363]

The 1999 TNT/Hallmark production seems much authentic in locations, costumes and how Ebeneezer is more human than a caricature of Angry Man turned Happy Man via master actor Sir Patrick Stewart. The actor who portrays Bob Cratchet is perfectly cast as well. do yourself a favor and watch this Made for TV Movie.

[@RetroClassic66]

17:36 That is a Christmas pudding, also known as a plum pudding or a figgy pudding, and it’s a traditional Christmas dessert dish eaten in the UK. It’s often covered in brandy and lit on fire when served, for a dramatic flourish. To an American palate, Christmas pudding may taste like a yummy, gooey, extra-rich fruitcake (in a good way) that's slathered with hard sauce (which ensures that you will like it even if you don’t care for fruitcake) and eaten with a spoon.

[@rebo2610]

Pudding, in general, is dessert of any kind.

[@Serai3]

Yay! This is my favorite Christmas Carol. I love George C. Scott's Scrooge. The greatest thing about him, for me, is his laugh. He's the only Scrooge I've seen who laughs, and somehow it just makes him MORE awful and cruel.

[@thomast8539]

Here is a listing of all of the Christmas Carol interpretations on film or video: Scrooge (1935) black & white, with Seymour Hicks as Scrooge A Christmas Carol (1938) a black & white, weakened version of the ghost story Scrooge (1951) the black & white version most prefer with Alistair Sim Mr Magoo's Christmas Carol (1962) the first animated interpretation Scrooge (1970) a musical with Albert Finney A Christmas Carol (1971) animated and shortened, but still a good version and Alistair Sim voices Scrooge An American Christmas Carol (1979) with Henry Winkler (the Fonz) as a 1930's version of Scrooge Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983) A Christmas Carol (1984) the version above with George C Scott Scrooged (1988) with Bill Murray A Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) the original version with Belle's song A Christmas Carol (1997) another animated version A Christmas Carol (1999) with Patrick Stewart A Christmas Carol: The Musical (2004) Disney's A Christmas Carol (2009) with Jim Carrey A Christmas Carol (2012) lackluster effort A Christmas Carol (2019) Scrooge: A Christmas Carol (2022) CGI animated and another one to skip

[@sitasien6471]

his dry raspy laugh and voice is amazing

[@shanedaley6236]

This is my mom's favorite and one of mine with Mickey's as my other favorite both classics and perfect

[@Nate6981]

Agreed. George C Scott was born to play Scrooge. He is so well suited to the role.

[@marychocolatefairy]

Yes, my favorite too. Scott is perfect.

[@SPOCK_TALK]

George C Scott played George S. Patton, in the film Patton (1970) he declined the Oscar nomination but won anyway. First actor in history to do so. An amazing proformace for an amazing movie. A must see.

[@creech54]

Also, memorable as General Buck Turgidson in "Dr. Strangelove". "He'll see the big board!"

[@gnericgnome4214]

yeah, he did his best to sabotage the movie, actually. Trying to portray Patton as insane.

[@supasoulproductions]

@@gnericgnome4214 From Patton's wiki... 'Although the 35th Division (of which Patton's tank troop was a component) eventually captured Varennes, it did so with heavy losses. Trying to move his reserve tanks forward, Patton relates that he might have killed one of his own men, stating: "Some of my reserve tanks were stuck by some trenches. So I went back and made some Americans hiding in the trenches dig a passage. I think I killed one man here. He would not work so I hit him over the head with a shovel." Patton was a successful leader. He was also quite a piece of work. I thought Scott did a great job.

[@dnasty312]

​​@@creech54"But I do say no more than 10 to 20 million killed, tops. Uh, depending on the breaks."

[@lucasvincent2875]

That's not soup, it's gruel. A watery oatmeal. And bed curtains are a means of keeping warmer

[@creech54]

Keeps out the draft.

[@MichaelJohnson-vi6eh]

Thus shows a lot about Victorian architecture. Instead of having a hallway with all the rooms off of it there were lots of rooms with lots of tightly closing doors with windows for circulation in summer and fireplaces in every room for heat in winter. The crachits house was basically one room surrounding the hearth and a scullery in the back.

[@aircap]

I watch a different version of “A Christmas Carol” with my kids every holiday season, this is one of the best of the straight readings of the original source material.

[@boki1693]

Did you ever see the version from the 1930's? It's a little bit of a rough watch because the film quality is pretty bad but it has a different ending than the Simms one. Same idea but they showed more emphasize on different parts at the end.

[@aircap]

@ I have seen the early ‘50s one, not sure on that one

[@toodlescae]

I have a whole collection of different versions on dvd. Even the really bad A Carol Christmas and A Diva's Christmas Carol. 😂

[@MichaelJohnson-vi6eh]

It's my tradition that starting Christmas Eve and and finishing Christmas Day I watch as many versions as I can. They all have their charm. Scott is masterful here.

[@spacedinosaur8733]

The Patrick Stewart version (1999) is pretty good too.

[@aqeelsabb8292]

A Christmas Carol (1951) with Alastair Sim is my definitive adaptation. I think it captures the bleak and atmospherically creepier vibe of the novel better than any other adaptation since.

[@garrybartlett6853]

Me too...

[@feldweible]

Without a doubt! That is the quintessential SCROOGE!

[@mattymoowhite]

I see your Alister SIM and raise you Michael Caine

[@keithewright]

@@maggedo-x1s Who said they didn't like it? Just there is a version they prefer and given the number of adaptations there are of this work that isn't surprising.

[@boki1693]

@@maggedo-x1s I don't see where anyone said they don't like this version. They said they liked a different version better. I too agree with them that A Christmas Carol (1951) with Alastair Sim is my favorite version. That being said, this is probably my second favorite version.

[@erisi236]

Out of all the versions of this story is this is easily my favorite. The scene where Scrooge makes amends to his Nephew is just so wonderful, Fred is just so damn happy his uncle finally came around, I love it

[@cchavezjr7]

This is my favorite as well and when he says at his nephew's house, "God forgive me for the time I've wasted" can bring me near to bawling as it can hit hard to just about everyone. All the time we waste in our lives and opportunities passed and or ignored and he says it with the utmost sincerity.

[@creech54]

I wish they had been able to squeeze in the part where his sister dies giving birth to his nephew.

[@suebob16]

I also like that Scrooge went to visit Fred before the party. It makes it more touching when he apologizes to Fred about his earlier attitude and confesses to Janet that he once was in love.

[@RetroClassic66]

14:49 The Ghost of Christmas Present was played by Edward Woodward, who is most famously known in the USA (particularly to Gen Xers) as the original Robert McCall on The Equalizer, the 1985-1989 American television series.

[@cchavezjr7]

That was such a great show. I was thinking the other day I need to go back and watch it.

[@thomast8539]

His best role was in Breaker Morant (1980).

[@FilmBuff54]

He was great in everything.

[@mkay7163]

And as the tightly-wound Sergeant Howie in the original Wicker Man.

[@suebob16]

For me Edward Woodward's Christmas Present ties with my other favorite, Kenneth Moore in the musical Scrooge with Albert Finney. They are opposites with Woodward properly scolding Scott for his attitude opposite More's more gently humorous approach with Finney.

[@whatseatontim918]

One time in high school before I graduated, I got to attend a live theater play performance with one of my classes downtown of "A Christmas Carol", and it was a wonderful experience. The young actor who played the boy who Scrooge payed off for the turkey in the play I saw, Scrooge was to toss coins to him, and the actor bless his heart couldn't quite catch one of the coins, and it rolled off the stage into the audience; we all had a nice little laugh about it. It was cool for me to see the story in play form; and I shall never forget it. 😊🎅🎄

[@stillaboveground2470]

Ghost of Christmas Present: "They are your children! They are the children of all who walk the earth unseen! Their names are Ignorance and Want! Beware of them, for upon their brow is written the word "doom"! They spell the downfall of you and all who deny their existence!" My favorite quote from this movie, though the original quote from the book is better: "This boy is Ignorance. This girl is Want. Beware them both, and all of their degree, but most of all beware this boy, for on his brow I see that written which is Doom, unless the writing be erased. Deny it!"

[@thomast8539]

Ghost of Christmas portrayed spectacularly here by Edward Woodward, another great English actor. He was also fantastic in Breaker Morant (1980).

[@dnasty312]

​@@thomast8539_The Wicker Man,_ man! No bees there 🙉

[@Xenolilly]

The poor houses were worse than death for many people. Work all day every day. You are separated from your family. This is on purpose so no one has even emotional support while in a poor house.

[@gnericgnome4214]

I was shocked to my bones to hear her ask "why would they rather die?" Is the modern age so out-of-touch with traditional values? A man works for a living or he's not a man. He supports his family, or he's not a man. That's been the ethic of western civilization for centuries, and it built the modern world. To have to crawl to the gov't and admit you're unable to feed your family or yourself was the worst kind of shame to a man... in that age where dishonored men often shot themselves.

[@richardgazinia5482]

Dickens knew about the poor houses of London because his father was "sentenced" to one and he had to take his whole family with him into the poor house. It's a theme that runs through most of Dickens works.

[@davidroel3047]

Shame is one thing, but death eliminates all possibilities. If one is still alive, there exists a chance that you can improve your situation. Death removes that chance.

[@gnericgnome4214]

@@davidroel3047 One can say the same thing about pain. I don't expect modernized people to understand. "My ass is the most precious thing" is pretty much the standard today; pride and self respect are obsolete.

[@gnericgnome4214]

@@richardgazinia5482 that experience is probably what turned Dickens into a socialist slaver.

[@whatseatontim918]

Fun Fact: The actress playing Bob Cratchit's wife played Superman's birth mother in the Christopher Reeve 1978 film. 😊

[@Edd25164605]

One of the Charity collectors was Alfred in The Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer and George Clooney (terrible movie) batman movies!

[@whatseatontim918]

​@Edd25164605 Yes, I am aware of that 😊

[@ejtappan1802]

I knew I recognized her from somewhere! Thanks for this post! -- The person I recognized was the former Doctor Who companion, Mark Strickson (young Scrooge).

[@i.marchand4655]

And the actor playing Bob Cratchit played Jack the Ripper in an obscure SF movie called Time After Time.

[@RichardX1]

@@i.marchand4655 Seeing her watch a movie with David Warner in it reminds me that she needs to see Tron.

[@sitasien6471]

i grew up with this one, we had it recorded on VHS with old vintage commercials, in my opinion the best one out there

[@leadingblind1629]

Same!!!!

[@eowyn8340]

Same! I found it as an adult on DVD at a Barnes and Noble and surprised my mom with it as an early gift. She was so excited.

[@tim_davidson6344]

I originally had this version recorded on VHS too. IBM was sponsoring the showing and so all of the commercials were about them.

[@sitasien6471]

my dad worked at IBM so that was part of why we rcorded it

[@panowa8319]

David Warner, who plays Bob Cratchet, you saw him as the photographer who was decapitated in "The Omen". You saw George C. Scott as one of the generals in "Dr. Strangelove" and would have an Oscar worthy performance in "Patton" (1970), which he refused to accept the award for Best Actor. The actress who plays the Ghost of Christmas Past is the daughter of Donald Pleasence, who played Dr. Loomis in "Halloween".

[@richardb6260]

Warner also plays Jack the Ripper in Time After Time.

[@michaelkelleypoetry]

Warner was also in the show Twin Peaks in which his character was shot at the local hotel.

[@The22ndDoctor]

@@richardb6260 I sent her that DVD (she opened it during a live stream a few of months ago), so hopefully she'll get around to watching it at some point.

[@kaykutcher2103]

She really is her father's daughter. The films they did together weren't the best but they obviously worked great together.

[@Tom-Mac1975]

"Marley, was dead!" Great way to open a Christmas story Chuck! lol. Dickens does love his ghosts. I watch this every year. I love Scott in this. His range allows him to go from villain to adorable old man on the turn of a dime. I don't recall if the book mentioned his father (it's been years since I read it) but the scenes provided great motivation for his bitterness. I believe it was a prize goose, I don't believe turkeys exist in England.

[@GrubStLodger]

It was a turkey and the book influenced people having turkey at Christmas over goose.

[@Tom-Mac1975]

@@GrubStLodger Ah ok. It's been a while since I read it. I thought Turkeys were exclusive to the Americas but Dickins knows better than I.

[@Tarabara]

This is my favorite version, and I've seen 29 different versions. I won't even be mad if you don't like it, I'm just glad to have you watch it. 😊 My other favorite movie with George C Scott is The Changeling (1980). Oh, and if you've seen Robin Hood: Men in Tights, you've seen Roger Reese, who played Scrooge's nephew Fred. He was Sherriff of Rottingham.

[@josheldridge8546]

When you think about it, the Muppet Christmas Carol had Dickens/Gonzo literally start the story by talking about the Marleys being dead to begin with-- ghost stories on Christmas Eve used to be a tradition, and i can't think of a better way to start a ghost story than with a corpse. Dickens absolutely detested the Malthusian philosophy of his day, between this, David Copperfield, and Oliver Twist, Dickens really wrote about what he lived.

[@billparrish4385]

This is my favorite of all the movie adaptations of this fine old story! We watch it every year. Besides the way its production values seem to perfectly capture the period, the acting is top notch. One of my favorite moments is where Sir Edward Woodward as the Ghost of Christmas Present leans in toward Scrooge in a close-up and growls out "MILLIONS!" Just perfect!

[@iamroberty]

Yay I'm so glad you're watching this! This was the version of the Christmas Carol my family watched all the time when I was a kid but I haven't seen it in forever! The 80s had such great weird scary kids movies.

[@jonathananderson9769]

The Ghost of Christmas Present is played by Edward Woodward - who played the original “Equalizer” in the 1980’s

[@clarencewalker3925]

I hate that he's nearly forgotten for that role.

[@jonathananderson9769]

Yes it is, but unfortunately all too common a case. The title music still gives me chills

[@persephonebasilissa5109]

7:08 That's a bell usually rung by a resident of the house to call a servant to come do something.

[@ShawnRavenfire]

I love the fact that it's covered in cobwebs, showing that Scrooge is too cheap to hire a servant.

[@peterkoester7358]

This has remained my favorite interpretation of "A Christmas Carol" on film. George C. Scott acted incredibly as Scrooge. My all-time favorite interpretation was Patrick Stewart's one-man show on Broadway in the early 1990's where he performed on stage with only a table, a chair, and the book by Charles Dickens and you would SWEAR there were 20 other actors up on stage performing with him!

[@WalterWild-uu1td]

This is the only "Christmas Carol" where the actor (George C. Scott) doesn't play Scrooge as a grump. He's still greedy and grasping but he actually loves being a mean guy. He relishes dumping on people! It was such a change.

[@gnericgnome4214]

So then when the ghost takes him back to the past, you can see why he so relishes being mean; it's a form of "revenge", taking his pain out on the world.

[@GlennWH26]

And when the ghosts get through to him, he doesn't come across as manic or overcompensating- his cynicism has shattered, allowing his youthful optimism and happiness to re-emerge. He is delighted to find he can still feel them.

[@nickperkins8477]

Exactly!! He plays Scrooge with realism in his performance that I have rarely seen in another actor playing the part.

[@jkbrown5496]

The curtains around the bed were for warmth. If the power goes off, you can create a warm bed by sleeping under a table or other covered with quilts and blankets.

[@periechontology]

They also have a Disney Christmas Carol. That was the invention of SCROOGE Mcduck who later appeared in Duck Tails the cartoon series.

[@ziggythedrummer]

Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983) is good, but Scrooge McDuck first appeared in comics in 1947, in animation in his own right in 1967, and DuckTales was made in 1987.

[@RichardX1]

@@ziggythedrummer Mickey's Christmas Carol, IIRC, was the first time Scrooge McDuck would be voiced on-screen by Alan Young, who would go on to voice the character in the original DuckTales (and the PS3 remake of the NES video game).

[@ziggythedrummer]

@@RichardX1 Alan Young also played Walt Disney expy Uncle Dave in Beverly Hills Cop 3, and Scottish pirate Haggis McMutton in Curse of Monkey Island

[@terririnella4032]

it was probably this movie, that solidified why the 2nd ghost is my favourite. he is described and portrayed as a generous, hearty, almost innocent or naive figure. There is alot of Santa in his design and action, caring, compassionate, and positive. But there is steel beneath him, and there are several times he uses Scrooge's own words against them, showing what he so casually mention or throws out. He shows the real people, the real consequences, the issues mentioned so casually. i love the line involving "millions of children" it was this movie where that occurred to me, this one or The Flintstones Christmas Carol, 1994. It is also very good, and worth watching.

[@tamistudey1434]

Scrooge wit Albert Finney is my favorite version. He was 34 when he played Scrooge and played him like he was 70. And the song Thank You Very Much was great. So good. Gonna go watch it for the 4th time this month.

[@medleyoflife]

There’s so much sarcasm in the Albert Finney version and I am HERE for it! “Uncle Ebeneezer! I cannot tell you what a joy it is to see your happy smiling face!” “humbug”

[@ISoWin4eva]

It's one of my favorites; that's probably my favorite song of any of the musical versions. There was a church in my hometown that rented out the Civic Center auditorium to put on the musical every year. It was awesome! The pastor played Scrooge and did so well. The best part is, they did it for free every year. I went back home to see it, even after I moved away. It was a bummer when he had to retire it, but I'm thankful the movie is still there.

[@spcmegreg]

My favorite Christmas Carol movie is still A Mickey's Christmas Carol because of the nostalgic factor of when I was a little kid.

[@ElisaH_DarklyiShine]

From now on every year we watch one version of the Christmas carol. We have Scrooged and a muppet Christmas carol and now this one. Even doctor who has a version of the Christmas carol. Spirited with ryan Reynolds and will Ferrell is really good

[@NWAWskeptic]

What did you think of the Jim Carey animated version? There are things I like and dislike about that one. I think the animated faces are little too creepy.

[@ElisaH_DarklyiShine]

@NWAWskeptic I barely remember it but I wasn't a big fan. I think it was also the same creepy face factor

[@pocketsizeforyourtravelcon3325]

The pudding that they all blew on and she took the Holly out of is a traditional British Christmas pudding. It’s not like our American pudding where it’s smooth. It’s almost like a really dense cake with piece of dried or candied fruit on the inside and it’s usually doused in brandy. It takes a long time to cook and it has a lot of traditions on how to prepare and serve it.

[@tim_davidson6344]

As stated above it is a dense fruit cake that is cooked by steaming. My wife encases the balled ingredients in foil wrapping and then steams them in a large pot. When served, the pudding is covered with brandy or rum and then lit. In dim light, it appears that the pudding is illuminated with a blue flame.

[@YolandaAnneBrown95726]

I've always wanted to try that since I saw it on an episode of Are You Being Served.

[@terririnella4032]

i have watched many versions of this movie, and read the story. This was one of the versions that stated the reason why Scrooge's father doesn't like or love him. The original story doesn't mention this, but after watching many versions, i came up with the same idea. You also find out why Scrooge doesn't love Fred, for the same reason. It doesn't show that in this version, but i believe the Alastair Sim version (1951) does allude and show that. This is also one of the few versions that show Scrooge's father. In many ways, Scrooge ends up just like his father (when it comes to his relationship with his family), and for much the same reason. It's interesting to wonder how Scrooge and his father would have been, to each other, without the same tragedy.

[@garethpendlebury7996]

Love this version, and the 1970 musical with Albert Finney, and the 1951 with Alastair Sim

[@medleyoflife]

I LOVE the Albert Finney version! It’s one of my “it’s not fully Christmastime until I watch it” movies.

[@ISoWin4eva]

Yes! "Thank you very much!"

[@TheEman590]

​@@ISoWin4evaAnd the song is back in my head. It's infectious

[@ctrushfan8575]

That's the nicest thing that anyone's ever done for me! ​

[@beatlesnqueen]

My top 3 as well!

[@whatseatontim918]

You should watch the movie titled "The Man Who Invented Christmas." It tells about how Charles Dickens came up with the story and how he managed to write it and have it published in only six weeks! It stars Dan Stevens as Charles Dickens. I highly recommend it! 😁

[@BeardedDad72]

Excellent film indeed!

[@persephonebasilissa5109]

My parents owned an old Reader's Digest or Time Life Christmas book when I was a kid in the 1970s. It had an illustrated version of this story, and the picture of the ghost of Marley talking to Scrooge gave me such heebie jeebies that I absolutely DE.tested this story until the Muppet version came out!

[@lorencamarillo4601]

IMO, this is the best and most definitive version of A Christmas Carol.

[@whatseatontim918]

I agree

[@jammin4372]

Absolutely agree. The best.

[@sitasien6471]

yes

[@sweeney60]

I agree, though the humor and music of The Muppet Christmas Carol melts my heart every year.

[@jsharp3165]

I love that this version quotes directly from the book. I especially love that Ash is reacting strongly to all the poetic language - and existential questions - posed by Dickens' text.

[@creech54]

You can't do a faithful Dickens adaption without quoting his dialog.

[@lynnturman8157]

I've seen all the major versions of Christmas Carol & George C. Scott plays Scrooge different than anybody else I've ever seen. Most Scrooge's are caricatures of blustery, over-the-top, bitter old men but Scott plays him as a man with restrained, jaded cynicism--detached and laughing at a world that deserves the misery it has heaped upon itself.

[@SamuelBlack84]

I completely agree with him 😊

[@robmaddison8645]

Yes Scott brings great depth to the character and it makes his change of heart all the more believable to me.

[@lynnturman8157]

@@robmaddison8645 One of our greatest actors, IMO

[@glennwisniewski9536]

Other casting trivia: Frank Finlay (Jacob Marley) played Porthos in The Three Musketeers (1973) (the one with Charlton Heston and Raquel Welch). Angela Pleasance (ghost of Christmas past) is the daughter of actor Donald Pleasance (The Great Escape as Blythe, Halloween as Dr. Loomis). Nigel Davenport (Silas Scrooge) played the Duke of Norfolk in the Oscar-winning A Man for All Seasons (1966). Two of the Cratchit kids were Susannah York (Mrs. Cratchit)'s own children.

[@YolandaAnneBrown95726]

Finlay was also in Tobe Hooper's Lifeforce and The Deadly Bees (A great MST3K episode, by the way!). The Three Musketeers and its sequel The Four Musketeers is the best adaptation of Dumas's novel ever and I have it.

[@williamjones6031]

If this isn't the most adapted story of all time, it certainly the most Christmas story adapted. "What did you eat? Shrooms?"🤣

[@diane39istockphoto]

My favorite version of this story. My family watches it every year after Thanksgiving dinner to usher in the Christmas season. Great reaction Ashley!

[@RichardFay]

I've seen several versions - including one starring Mister Magoo, which was surprisingly good.

[@TheEman590]

Good old Magoo.

[@robmaddison8645]

Good source material can work wonders

[@mikesterling688]

"You still think it was something you ate? What'd you eat, shrooms?" 😂 You had me rotfl!

[@RetroClassic66]

15:35 Bob Cratchit is played by David Warner, who was in dozens of movies over the years, but perhaps is most famously known for playing Mr. Lovejoy, Cal Hockley’s henchmen, in TITANIC (1997). Mrs. Cratchit is played by Susannah York, who is perhaps best known for playing Superman’s biological mother, Lara, in SUPERMAN (1978).

[@nancyomalley6286]

Warner also was two different characters in 2 back-to-back Star Trek movies (5 & 6)

[@creech54]

@@nancyomalley6286 And plays Jack the Ripper in "Time After Time" and gets decapitated by a flying sheet of glass in "The Omen".

[@tophers3756]

He was also originally supposed to play Freddy Krueger.

[@creech54]

@@tophers3756 Never heard that one!

[@jwbaugh]

I was 5 when this came out. My parents taped it off the TV. I saw Marley when I was probably 6 or 7, and I never recovered. I had nightmares for months. Until the early 2000s, he was the scariest thing I'd ever seen on screen. I couldn't be in the same room if I heard the music of the scene...it conjured up images that terrified me

[@toddlower5546]

Another take on this is "Scrooged" with Bill Murray, 1988.

[@ashleywetherall]

Jacob Marley was played by the late great Frank Finlay. One of the best actors to come out of the UK. Pound for pound this has one of the best cast of actors ever put together for a production of A Christmas carol. George C Scott was a truly great Scrooge.

[@whatseatontim918]

17:37 Ah yes, that would be the old fashioned traditional Christmas pudding.. a delicacy in those days. 😌🎅🎄

[@creech54]

It's kind of like a fruitcake, topped with brandy.

[@denniss5275]

This ties with Muppet Christmas Carol as my favorite adaptations. George C Scott was such an incredible actor...his capacity to run from terrifying to compassionate is delectable. He was married to another great Colleen Dewhurst whom i adored in Anne of Green Gables...and she was in a movie with their son, Campbell Scott....Dying Young....this is the train of thought that pops whenever i think of certain actors.😂

[@anath7589]

My favorite version…a CBS made-for-tv movie with an all-star cast: Oscar winner George C. Scott, David Warner, Angela Pleasence, Suzannah York (“Superman”), Roger Rees, Joanna Whalley (“Willow”) & Edward Woodward who starred in the original “The Equalizer” tv series. It was filmed in England. Quality movies & mini series were a way the 3 networks battled for ratings. NBC filmed “Shogun” starring Richard Chamberlain in Japan so used a Japanese cast…also had John Rhys-Davies who was Sallah in “Raiders of the Lost Ark” & Gimli in “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy. Another favorite was “Backstairs at the White House” which was based on the novel by Lillian Rogers Park about her & her mother’s time working there…from President Taft to President Eisenhower. Again, all-star cast (includes 8 Oscar winners)…Louis Gossett Jr was Houseman Mercer & Leslie Neilsen the head butler Ike Hoover. Olivia Cole & Leslie Uggams played mother/daughter but were only a year apart in age. In “Roots,” Uggams played Cole’s mother-in-law. Then there was “Chiefs” which was a 3-part mini-series about 3 different police chiefs of a fictional town trying to solve serial killings of young runaway boys between the 1920s to the 60s. The 2nd chief, played by the late Brad Davis, said one of my favorite lines: “I squashed him like the manure maggot that he was.” Wayne Rogers played the 1st chief while Billy Dee Williams played the 3rd one. Hard to find but it has been uploaded to KZbin.

[@creech54]

You forgot Michael Gough ("Alfred" in the Tim Burton "Batman" movies) as one of the guys soliciting funds for the poor.

[@dadoctah]

Also not mentioned was Lucy Gutteridge as Scrooge's past fiance Belle. She's probably best known for her role in Val Kilmer's first movie, Top Secret.

[@stephenmalloy88]

My favorite A Christmas Carol! Thank you my dear Ashleigh.

[@auntvesuvi3872]

Thank you, Ashleigh! ❄ I like this one... but the musical SCROOGE (1970) is great... and my very favorite is SCROOGE/A CHRISTMAS CAROL (1951).

[@RR-ho5ek]

This is the the standard version of a Christmas Carol for me. Nobody plays a mean old man like George C. Scott.

[@feldweible]

IMO Alastair Sim performed the very best portrayal of Ebenezer in "Scrooge" filmed in 1951.

[@KatyTerBerg]

3:52 Aww, poor Fred is trying SO HARD to see the good in his uncle but Scrooge is making it impossible.

[@oougahersharr]

My favorite version is Scrooge, the musical, from the early 1970s. It's a wonderful rendition with some really fun songs. I hope Ashley will do that one next year. Maybe make a Jingle Beans tradition of watching a different version of a Christmas Carol every year would be fun.

[@delauber]

I agree. It has my favorite Christmas song: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eXiai2R3f7OAea8si=NjTvouPgqO1x0Ax4 A Christmas Carol. It is featured in the Disneyland Christmas Parade.

[@jsapcakrrow]

So glad you watched this one, this has always been my favorite version.

[@paulmohr319]

Fun Facts: The man playing Tiny Tim's father was the photographer in the Omen. One of the men who asked Scrooge for money for the poor was Alfead in the the 80's Batman movies.

[@thomast8539]

He was also the henchman in Titanic that helped to frame Leo and put him in the hold.

[@gnericgnome4214]

Fun fact: he was also "Dillinger" in TRON.

[@kevinhooper3003]

This is my favorite version of A Christmas Carol. My family and I have watched it every year since it debuted. Merry Christmas Y’all!

[@whatseatontim918]

"I release you" was a fancier way of saying "I'm breaking up with you" back in those days.

[@HuntingViolets]

But also she really did feel that she was releasing him from a contract that he regretted.

[@Osprey850]

@@HuntingViolets She even starts by saying in the original text that "our contract is an old one" and ends by suggesting that he would chalk their relationship up to "an unprofitable dream," so there was no doubt extra meaning behind the choice of words.

[@HuntingViolets]

@@Osprey850 Exactly.

[@iuppolarbear]

This makes me so happy that you watched this version. It's my favorite rendition of the story. It's the version that I grew up with, and will always love sooo much.

[@anthonyvasquezactor]

My ABSOLUTE favorite version!

[@jonathanhibberd9983]

i have never thought about it, but you're right. The fact that he sent over a giant turkey that has to be plucked, dressed, and cooked - that's going to take all day.

[@walterrutherford8321]

But it’s not frozen so that will speed things up.

[@slytheringingerwitch]

My favourite versions are the Muppets Christmas Carol, Scrooge (1970) and Scrooged. This one I do love too, Tiny Tim always looks so frail from the beginning and Scrooge is particularly heartless.

[@jamesmoyner7499]

I’m glad to see another share love for the 1970 film. That one is my favorite adaptation, with Sim’s and C. Scott’s versions being close behind.

[@stevenmac993]

This is my wife's favourite. It was filmed in her home town of Shrewsbury, Shropshire and she went to see the filming as a young girl. I used to work in Shrewsbury and it's fun to recognise the locations they used.

[@Gingerprince521]

I love how you didn't know what was happening despite having watched the Muppet version (in a good way) I think you should do a different version each year so hopefully next year we'll et the Alister Sims version.

[@whatseatontim918]

There's also the TNT original Patrick Stewart version as well 😁

[@dianedavid3052]

This is the version that was new when I was a kid!! I used to watch the very old b+w version with my Grandma but she returned to her home country before this version came out. I rarely watch this version anymore I’m definitely more of a muppets fan, but I have fond memories of watching this with my little brothers and my mum

[@shrews12001]

The Scrooge headstone still exists in the town where this was filmed, Shrewsbury England. The town was the birthplace of Charles Darwin, site of the first "skyscraper" and happens to be where my family's last name came from.

[@SamuelBlack84]

The headstone was recently smashed

[@EdSigma]

Did exist; it sadly was recently vandalised. Way to get oneself immediately haunted...

[@shrews12001]

@@SamuelBlack84 aww that sucks

[@shrews12001]

@@EdSigma that's a shame

[@TheTaylw1]

This is definitely my personal favorite version of A Christmas Carol

[@persephonebasilissa5109]

17:35 Yes, that is a pudding

[@creech54]

A Brit said that "pudding" is what they call their dessert. "What's for pudding?" "Chocolate Cake." "Yum!"

[@LordOnisyr]

Once again you have reacted to one of my old favorite movies and that makes me gleefully happy. My parents recorded this on VHS. I saw it when I was around 10 and I was instantly obsessed with it. It was one of those movies I watched on repeat. To this day it is still my all time favorite version of A Christmas Carol. I adore how George C. Scott played Scrooge, he's not a comically crotchety old man, he's a cold and cynical businessman who finds the remaining threads of his humanity. Plus his mannerisms after his change felt a lot more believable. I am so happy you experienced this movie and experienced a film that has meant a lot to me for so long.

[@lordbiscuitpowerslam]

This is a good version too I also like the Muppet version and the Jim Carrey version and the Patrick Stewart version I think I like the Patrick Stewart version the most though

[@scottmoore1614]

This was a made for TV movie shown at Christmas on CBS for years starting in 1984. It’s my favorite version of a Christmas Carol, as well. George C. Scott really finds the humanity in Scrooge. He plays the sadness and weariness in the character.

[@michaeltocci3504]

The phrase "Tiny Tim... who did not die" becomes more terrifying with each year

[@creech54]

I don't think they meant "ever". 😁

[@michaeltocci3504]

@creech54 thaht's thah joke

[@pauljohnstone180]

"What'd you eat? Shrooms?" OMG! Ashley. That killed me!! Thanks for the laugh. I love you. 😂😘, PJ

[@jennitro]

I would love to suggest "Hogfather". It is like no other Christmas movie.

[@ISoWin4eva]

My mom and I watched that without knowing what it was. We were NOT ready for it. I don't recall much, except for being confused and the line "Who the H*** are you". The fact we saw it Ion, a station that normally plays "regular", more friendly things made it even more disarming. It's kinda funny now, but I don't have to see it again.

[@TheJabbate1]

While every other Christmas special will just have Santa be real, The Hogfather stands out because its “Santa” is both real and fake and said that it’s okay for Santa to not be real. “Humans need fantasy to be human. To be the place where the falling angel meets the rising ape.” “You need to believe in things that aren’t true. How else can they become?”

[@Scott-gjc]

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Very happy you watched this version. It's my favorite. I watch it every Christmas 🎄It's a classic. Much Love to you ❤

[@whatseatontim918]

You just watched Christmas movie that's #2 on my list from my traditional year end "25 Days Of Christmas Movie Marathon" that's in it's 19th year. George C. Scott is my favorite Scrooge ever. This is definitely my favorite version of the story hands down. All other versions are second fiddle in my opinion. 🎅🎄❤️

[@laurenpinekenstein7877]

The man who plays Marley in this version of a Christmas Carol is Frank Finlay. He is by far my favorite Marley. I haven’t seen all the adaptations but he’s my favorite Marley. I love that Finlay captures how Marley’s ghost is the epitome of despair.. He also plays the main character’s father in The Pianist.

[@johnw8578]

This is the version I first saw as a kid so it has a special place in my heart.

[@rufusbayne2230]

Before I even begin watching the video I've got to say this is my favorite version of A Christmas Carol. George C. Scott is incredible as Scrooge. He even makes me teary-eyed at the end.

[@jaysanchez5804]

Please do the sir Patrick Stewart version my favorite

[@robmaddison8645]

A very good version, but to me Patrick Stewart comes across too much like... Patrick Stewart. He probably plays Scrooge more faithfully to the book, yet in my eyes he doesn't bring the same level of depth to the character as Scott.

[@roberthasse7862]

Old guy here. I’ve seen most if not all the major adaptations of this story over the decades. This version is now my go-to! I had always (foolishly) presumed that Scrooge’s problem was not embracing “Christmas cheer.” This was the version that caused me to realize his actual failing as a man was indifference to the suffering of the poor all around him. It’s a much darker story than I’d considered, making his redemption likewise all the more substantive!

[@jazzhead394]

I’ve never seen anyone react to the George C Scott version before! This was always my family’s favorite and was an annual watch in our household.

[@NealMarchuk]

Ashleigh is the second I've seen to view this version on KZbin. The only other I can think of is Trixy Blue.

[@wombat10002000]

This is my favorite versiob of A Christmas Carol. I saw it on TV on Christmas Eve in 85 or 86, at my grand parents place, and make sure to watch it every time it's on TV.

[@katwithattitude5062]

This is my favorite version! Yay! You've seen George C. Scott. He was in Dr. Strangelove. Edward Woodward, the Ghost of Christmas Present, starred on the mid-80s TV show The Equalizer, which is what the fairly recent movies and TV series reboot were based on. David Warner is much more heartwarming here as Bob Cratchit than he was as Lovejoy in Titanic. I almost didn't realize they were the same guy for years.

[@cchavezjr7]

Warner is also known as playing villains and bad guys so having him here as not just playing a good guy but the quintessential good guy in literature is so cool to see.

[@katwithattitude5062]

@@cchavezjr7 He was really creepy in two episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. He just doesn't look like himself but there's no mistaking the voice.

[@ShawnRavenfire]

@@katwithattitude5062 He has played multiple roles in Star Trek, in TNG, Final Frontier and The Undiscovered Country.

[@CinWin516]

"That's the most action his bed has ever seen". 🤣

[@krisbrown6692]

This version and the version with Albert Finney (Scrooge, 1970) are both must see films for my family this time of year.

[@Tarabara]

Those are my two favorites

[@slytheringingerwitch]

Particularly loved 'Thank you very much!'

[@medleyoflife]

@@slytheringingerwitch”I Hate People” makes me laugh too

[@krisbrown6692]

@medleyoflife I hate people specifically speaks to me. It's like my theme song.

[@krisbrown6692]

@slytheringingerwitch Those dance numbers are insane. The amount of people in it must have been a nightmare to direct.

[@manon_0411]

At 7:06, that's a bell that was usually used by the masters of the house to call on maids and servants. There were several throughout the house and the maids and servants knew which room to go to based on which bell was ringing. If you've ever seen Disney's Cinderella animated movie, the stepsisters and stepmom ring such bells to tell her to bring them their breakfast at the beginning of the movie. I know they had an elctronic version in the 20th century, too.

[@bobsylvester88]

This is a very good version of the story. It’s quite truthful to the novel which is traditionally the way it’s done. There are so many good versions of this you could do one of these every year. Every generation puts its own spin on it. The one I like the most is the 1951 British version with Alistair Sim as Scrooge.

[@bettrhalf8006]

A Christmas Carol is an example I always bring up when people complain about remakes. There are SO many versions of this very simple story, and it makes a 'some for everyone' situation. For myself, I really love this version, the 1951 Alistair Sim version, Mickey's Christmas Carol, the 2009 animated Zemeckis version, and of course Scrooged, the 1988 black comedy version. I love everyone's different takes on Scrooge's character and character development, I love the different takes on the appearance and behaviors of the ghosts, I love seeing the variations on Fred and on Marley and Tiny Tim... I hadn't yet started my annual rewatch of each of them, but this has put me in the mood! I'm so delighted you enjoyed it.

[@robertpatras4662]

You should watch the Bill Murray Scrooge. It’s very funny.

[@Gingerprince521]

She did that one 3 years ago.

[@robertpatras4662]

@ oh I did not know that thank you I’m going to watch it

[@kyralaird3234]

This is my absolute FAVORITE version of A Christmas Carol!!

[@Jeremy_theGent]

I know a lot of people prefer Alistair Sim as Scrooge from 1951, but George C. Scott is a personal favorite.

[@TheEman590]

I like both of their portrayals as Scrooge. My favorites are them, Albert Finny, McDuck in the Mickey version, Micheal Caine as I grew up with the Muppets version and Patrick Stewart.

[@richardpetty9159]

I really like how there have been so many different versions of this story. I’ve seen three or four and it’s kind of fascinating what each production brings. No one’s going to get rich making these movies; they’re works of love.