So Many Christmas Carols!: Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol (1962)

[@sammyruntz]

This was the first Christmas Carol I was introduced to as a kid, absolutely love it to this day

[@johnrobinsoniii4028]

My first one too. NBC Channel 4. Sponsored by Timex Watches.

[@sergioesparza1626]

This is actually my favorite version of A Christmas Carol and I don’t really know why. I think it’s partially because it’s the first version I ever watched.

[@princessangel821]

Same. I love this one

[@stephaniewozny3852]

The music is also top notch, so that could be a factor, too.

[@eclipse_galactic]

Same

[@ChuckHackney]

Music is better than most Broadway plays. Songs such as All LONE in the World, Winter was Warm and Lord's Bright Blessing, are timeless classics in there own. Sublime.

[@CassidyShadewing]

I've always loved this version of a Christmas Carol, certainly one of my favorite animated adaptions. Plunderer's March might be a filler song, but its my personal favorite of it becuase it's such a campy and addicting tune.

[@robertawalsh2995]

I watched Mister Magoo's A Christmas Carol the first year it was on and I've watched it every Christmas since. It's my favorite Christmas special.

[@tomhoehler3284]

Mine too!

[@nathangilliam2451]

Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol is on of my favorite Christmas cartoons of all time. And the songs are fantastic!!!

[@weirdproq]

I gotta say, I never watched this special until I got the Classic Media blu-ray collection that includes Rudolph, Frosty, and so on. It really is a very good special, and looks absolutely beautiful on blu-ray.

[@Nick-ty9us]

This movie really shows Jim Backus range as an actor, and he really took the Mr. Magoo character to heart

[@btwanw6849]

I saw this Special when it first came on t.v. and really enjoyed it. I hadn't seen it since then, but I always wondered why it was not shown again. Just a few nights ago, I was thinking about it, and I actually remembered the chorus of the thieves who go to the Ragman with Magoos's things. This was 55 years ago I had heard it. I had never thought to look it up on KZbin. Shows how catchy the music was.

[@TheRetroOreo]

9:05 Why on earth would they cut "Winter Was Warm?" Not only is it a stunningly beautiful song, and my personal favorite in the special, but it is integral to understanding Scrooge/Magoo's change of heart.

[@chrisbcritter]

It is an amazing song *period*, one of my favorites i listen to year after year..... heart wrenching and melancholy. most of the music sets this "carol" distinctively apart from the other adaptations!

[@seanmyster6]

Between that and "When Love Is Gone" from The Muppet Christmas Carol, it seems like it's always the Belle & Scrooge breakup songs that the higher-ups want cut. 😢

[@axesoccer7887]

It always seems weird to have a rendition of a Christmas Carol without Scrooge’s nephew Fred. It’s a missed opportunity to have Waldo (Magoo’s nephew) play him.

[@theluckiesteh9058]

Gerald Baldwin (The sole animator of We're Despicable) would actually go on to direct the strange 1977 Dr. Seuss Halloween special, Halloween Is Grinch Night. How funny I bring up Dr. Seuss since Gerald McBoing-Boing is based on a story by him.

[@magicamadeye]

which is very funny...because not only was there a Gerald Mcboing boing cartoon done in the classic style but the character would make a resurgence in the early 2000s

[@flamingpi2245]

It’s strange because Halloween is grinch night actually has fantastic and surreal animation Very seussian and very child traumatizing

[@LowellLucasJr.]

@@flamingpi2245 I saw it as a kid and thought it was weird yet cool...then again I was a weird kid!

[@flamingpi2245]

@@LowellLucasJr. It was a semi hidden feature on a dr seuss cartoon dvd, I was too scared to watch it as a kid, it still gives me the willies

[@LowellLucasJr.]

@@flamingpi2245 yeah I got that collection! I know exactly what you mean! Lol! So great to talk about it with a fellow fan!

[@CinnamonGrrlErin1]

I love the old UPA cartoons; they have a very hip, jazzy look to them.

[@JJ_Animation86]

Thank you for making this. This is my dad's all time favorite christmas special and he enjoyed this video even more then I did. It made for a great bonding I had with him talking about all the information you gave in the video that he hadn't known for so many years when watching this special.

[@Nick-ty9us]

This special really shows why Jim Backus was so in irrepressible as Mr. Magoo he bought so much emotion to the character

[@jimmytaylor1570]

Still love to watch it. When it's own!

[@wickedfeylady]

Can confirm, I watched a TV airing from the very early 90's that my family recorded, and "We're Despicable" was cut. It is def the easiest song to cut for plot reasons, but it really is the 'ear-wormiest' of the bunch. If that guy animated the mouths singing in that scene just to save time, he would be amazed to know that a projection of those singing mouths (accompanied by the live singers) BROUGHT DOWN THE HOUSE when I saw the live performance for the Actor's Fund in 2014. People really, really love that scene. Hey, this was a great video! You did an amazing job, but this story is one of your favorite topics so I knew you would.

[@jenniferschillig3768]

One broadcast on Cartoon Network cut "Winter was Warm"...the best song in the thing and the backbone of the background score. And because it was cut, they cut its choral reprise over the end credits and dubbed in "The Lord's Bright Blessing" instead.

[@chriswideman1218]

I remember when USA Network reran it in the early 90s

[@erica-spiritualfitnessblog9181]

Very well done!! This special has always been my favorite of all times!!!

[@nc72msp]

We have it on DVD and watch it every year! I can’t wait to show it to my granddaughter this coming Christmas!! 🥰🥰❤️❤️

[@barbarapoirier8835]

This is my favorite version. We watch it every year as part of our Christmas tradition.

[@PecanSandees23]

Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol is an annual event in my family. I own the DVD and remember taping it off tv on a VCR. I saw the live action version and it was lacking in spots, but still a treat to see.

[@LowellLucasJr.]

Always love this Chrismas pecial! Ever since I was 2 til 38, its easily my fave! It had a very memorable cast, music and holiday ghosts-the odd laughter of past to the pointing of past! Also, is it me, or does Bob Crochet resemble George Jetson?!

[@aramboodakian9554]

This was the first version of a Christmas Carol I ever saw and it remains my favorite. I think I saw it around 1964 as as a preteen. I am alway so moved by this version, the songs are so good.

[@msmellenb55]

This is my favorite version of "A Christmas Carol". I loved it as a child and still love it as an old lady

[@bookwoman53]

When I was a kid my uncle and I had a game. I was to bring him a new vocabulary word each week. The plunderers’ song gave me a real gem- reprehensible. I wanted to impress Uncle Leo.

[@skullguyonline]

Well, this was my and many's introduction to a cartoon based Christmas Special, which I enjoyed seeing its first ever showing when I was a child too. This collection of songs and "bits" has stuck with me deeply thorough my life as a bitter-sweet but happily ending Christmas special that I will never forget. So much so, I actually bought the CD of the production and bring it out and watch it from time to time. Wonderful for kids and adults equally. The songs are the strong emotional part of this show, simply delightful and hits the core of oneself. Thank you to all that were involved in this production, we may never see and hear such a delightful and magical cartoon Christmas production ever, but very thankful that this one stood the test of time and is still appreciated. "A hand for each hand was planned for the world... why do my fingers reach?" Priceless...

[@jamessheridan4306]

I saw this on it's very first airing. I was five. I can't tell you the impression it made. On of my favorite childhood memories. BTW, a shout out to Mr. Walter Scharf who did the orchestrations for this as well as the stage and movie versions of Funny Girl.

[@maxwipson147]

It's funny for me that the plunderers' march was tacked on and rushed, since it's the part of this special that I make a point of watching every year even if I don't have time for the rest. It's just so fun

[@tomhoehler3284]

Very true! The plunderers are so deliciously nasty and foul!

[@nc72msp]

It’s a family favor for us as well! My brother tonight send the clip to each other every year to start season and now my daughter loves it as well! Can’t wait to show this to my granddaughter!! 🤣🤣😂😂

[@SoUtHMeMpHis]

Most definitely on my holiday dvd watch list each year. It's always a treat to see the full uncut version. I wish they had a version with the cut scenes added. The songs and serious tone hit my heart each time.

[@bootsarmstrong8421]

Just by the DVD and you get the whole show and no commercials!!!

[@roseannsolnica8441]

I saw it back in the 60's the first airing, I think it was 62 and have loved it ever since. It is a staple in my house along with Alistair Sim's human version of the story.

[@1mespud]

Magoo's 1001 Arabian Nights (1959) movie and musical score and Magoo's Christmas Carol (1962) was very memorable for me as a kid when it first aired and still nostalgic to this day.

[@memethyst]

i remember this being an extra on a rankin bass dvd set i had when i was young and just never watching it, i just always ignored it

[@danielstensrud353]

I very much enjoyed your video, I was born in 1958 and I remember my dad telling me we were going to watch a new Christmas show. I think what I remember most was being terrified by the last ghost. I'm not sure but I may have witnessed the first airing. Still my first all time favorite version of A Christmas Carol followed by the Alistair Sim black and white version. Thanks for you efforts

[@Zodia195]

Yeah! My family did record this movie in the 90s too on VHS! I had no idea about the intro, ending, and Belle's song either until now! Wow, that is cool! I did like this version a lot too!

[@jenniferschillig3768]

I've seen that Darrell Van Citters book. (I'm glad it's back in print even if $50 is expensive--before that, there was one copy left and it was $1000 on Amazon!) Ignorance and Want looked a little too cute to get Dickens' message across, but I liked that Fred and his mother Fan were part of the story and wish they'd left it in. Maybe it would have made "Alone In The World" less gut-wrenching (STILL makes me cry) if we'd had the resolution of Fan coming to take young Ebenezer home at the end.

[@eddieboyky]

I remember this from when I was a kid. The Ghost of Christmas future scared the heck out of me.

[@powerpup97]

Finally after all these years, I now have a possible explanation as to why the spirits were out or order in this special! You will not believe how much of a meltdown I had over that the first time I saw this!

[@lynnrinaldo6795]

this is my fave of the christmas season! my brothers and I would watch it together

[@twc3546]

The songs are great. “I’m Alone Alone in the World” is one of the most heartachingly sad songs I ever heard. “The Lords Bright Blessing” conveys the idea that the warmth and love and family can triumph over hard times. And yes “The Plunderers March” is hilarious comic relief. Amazing tunes for a cartoon

[@entertainmentlife430]

I love this version of a Christmas carol. It was my introduction to the story and not only is it emotional but fun. I have seen the stage production. And do love the production BUT this might always be my favorite. Go magoo

[@Nick-ty9us]

The fact that Gerald Baldwin, animated a musical number in two weeks, and the fact that he did that seen all by himself he feels like something right out of one of the cartoons. He directed for Jay ward which makes sense, many of the animators and directors who worked on the theatrical Mr. Magoo cartoons, went on to work at jay ward productions doing doing Rocky and Bullwinkle and George of the jungle

[@stproducciones9140]

I've always thought this was a joke they made up in the Simpsons

[@roguethearcticfolf]

I have this on DVD and watch it every year on Christmas Eve

[@tomhoehler3284]

Thank you for posting this very well done look back. This is my absolute favorite version of A Christmas Carol. I know, I know, it's a cartoon, but the beauty of the songs, the heart tugging enactment of young Ebenezer Scrooge and many other details have made it a Christmas perennial for my kids and I. One little funny goof that has probably been missed by many is, in the closing song, the characters' hand clapping is 180 degrees out of phase with the soundtrack! My kids always tease me about this when we discuss the movie. Of course, my son, being a drummer, is very aware of things like this. Thanks again for the post.

[@HobGungan]

My father loved this version so much that as soon as he found out a DVD version existed, in spite of not mentioning it ever before, immediately made sure we watched it every Christmas as a new tradition. I was already in high school at that point, but it became one of my favorites too (I'm a sucker for Christmas Carol adaptations to begin with, though I've still yet to see several classic ones)

[@Zenzzor]

A true classic with wonderful music

[@jenniferschillig3768]

Ah, my very first exposure to Dickens' story at the age of about six. That night--Christmas Eve at my grandmother's--I got an oversized coloring book of the story. And less than a year later, McDonald's did that promotion in association with PBS' "Once Upon A Classic"--giving those adapted illustrated classics for kids (still in print) out with Happy Meals. A Christmas Carol was one of them, and this adapted version was the first one I read.

[@laamiroly]

LOVE this animated version. Watched it back in the early 70s. Can't find the full version here on KZbin, which is ridiculous. Rock On, Mr. Magoo!

[@jaggerguth4391]

I Still Can't Believe that Mr. Magoo is Talented as Mr. Scrooge.

[@mikechicago6200]

Man so many Christmas Carols..but I remember this and Mickey Christmas Carol the ones I remember the most!

[@dreamguardian8320]

In this version of A Christmas Carol, they scrambled up the Christmas ghost order. It's supposed to be past, present, and future. But in this one, it was present, past, and future. What was up with that?

[@tomhoehler3284]

I think it fit the cartoon's story line better. I never really cared that it did.

[@joannewatts9892]

The Mr Magoo Xmas carol WAS actually shown every year as a tradition for decades actually . I am a 50s child so I should know . A very nice & thorough vid though📺

[@rfletch62]

I remember seeing it at the first broadcast. As Marley clanked his way up the stairs, and into Scrooge's room, Dad grabbed my arm. I almost jumped out of my skin!

[@SpongicX]

I remembered hating how Cartoon Network used to show this all the time.

[@TesKal41]

Do they still show Grandma got Ran Over by a Reindeer

[@garthdavis4320]

I love this classic.

[@donaldporr9682]

This is my favorite. Especially the we're despicable song.

[@al007italia]

This is my #2 favorite version, after the 1951 Scrooge. I loved it from the 1st time I watched it in 62. As I got older, I began wondering why the change in order of the Ghosts. It does bother me a bit. "We're Despicable" is a great scene as far as I am concerned. All the music is great. That it was an hour long program was why it worked. It could never have been as good if it was shorter. But a longer version with Fred etc would have been better. Thankfully, it is out on DVD so I can watch it when I want.

[@josephgover5072]

The ghost of christmas past is beutifle in this version I had a crush on her and also Phantasma from scooby doo Ghoul school I had a thing for pretty female ghosts

[@SuperChicken666]

I was there in front of the TV to watch the first broadcast in 1962. I may have been a weird child, but it was magical to me and still is. I even noticed when they removed the song "Winter was Warm" from later presentations (my favorite. I told you I was a weird child). Also y somewhat disagree that the Rogues song has nothing to do with Scrooge. It was sad to see how flippant they were about items that Scrooge treasured in life. Something akin to when an old person dies they sometimes just put all their treasured scrapbooks and photos out in the garbage.😢

[@mathieuleader8601]

UNLOVED BY AL IS THE GREATEST META JOKE IN THE SIMPSONS

[@alexbrown8811]

If you're still looking for more versions of a christmas carol, may i suggest A mushroom kingdom carol from the webcomic brawl in the family? I remember it being pretty good.

[@flapjack0925]

I love that one, as well as It’s a Plunderful Life

[@ДмитрийИванов-л9ц4й]

Ya know, i like the moment when Ghost aknowledged the fact that it's mr Magoo by calling him "too greedy to by a pair of functioning glasses"

[@MaggieJaneSimpson]

i love your work. you put so much effort into every video and i just wanna appreciate you :* merry xmas XD

[@DavidDavid-ux8ed]

This is 1 of 2 Christmas programs I enjoyed growing up. The original B&W version was equally good.

[@mightyfilm]

And let's not forget, a Simpsons episode used a copyright safe parody of the special to set up the episode's plot. Homer Simpson. Unloved by Al. Also, it took me years to get this, but the song sung by the Cratchetts does have a subtle nod to the creator of the McBoing Boing character. Woofleberry Cakes and Razzleberry Dressing have kind of a Seussian ring to them, don't they?

[@maxordman4100]

Great job on this video! A fantastic addition to your collection! I haven’t seen this version before. I’ll have to look it up! I have seen a couple Mister Magoo cartoons in sindication though. I know the characters well! Hopefully I can find a classic version with most of the songs included. If you have a recommendation for where to find a proper classic copy, let me know!

[@Rubberman202]

I don't think I ever saw this special. I'm familiar with Mr. Magoo, but even after finding out who he is, I wasn't too interested in looking up and watching the special. Maybe it's because I didn't grow up with him, maybe it's because I didn't know if there were any other recognizable "Mr. Magoo characters" that were part of the special that would help appeal it to me (the same way Mickey's and the Muppets did for their Christmas Carols), I don't know. I'm sure it's not that bad, and maybe one of these days I'll watch it... closer to Christmas time, though.

[@mykiethomas]

Was kinda heartbroken to find your childhood copy didn’t have my favorite song in the cartoon! Might be my favorite animated Christmas Carol, Alastair Sim and George C Scott taking that position in the movie adaptions.

[@BELCAN57]

This is my favorite musical version. The Alistair Sim version is my non-musical.

[@zazelby]

The story does mention Magoo-as-Scrooge's nearsightedness once, with one character chiding Scrooge for being too cheap to buy the eyeglasses he needs.

[@Reidak12]

As a kid I was shocked upon reading the book and seeing other versions to find that this was in fact the wrong order for the ghosts.

[@TheFoxPrince1]

You should do Dora's Christmas Carol Adventure next.

[@ninomitchell2039]

I think either i or my grandmother should still have a version of this. I think it might be the ninety's version, it's the version that doesn't have the bookend magoo segments and the "we're crooked" song.

[@jenniferschillig3768]

I'd like to see you review An American Christmas Carol from 1979--rather underrated, that one. Then there's Rich Little's Christmas Carol from the mid-to-late seventies, with Rich performing most of the roles as impressions of famous stars/characters.

[@LowellLucasJr.]

HUMBUG IS HUMBUG!!!

[@clayfrazee813]

Ngl, but my favorite Christmas Carol is probably the Muppet version.

[@matthewdrummond1340]

Definitely. This one looks great but The Muppets top my list too.

[@HassoBenSoba]

Very nice job. One note, though... at 4:41, that's Bob Merrill (L) and famous operatic baritone ROBERT Merrill (R); they were often confused fro one another. You mention Styne at that point, which is misleading. Maybe a small caption would have helped.

[@scottmoody551]

Good morning ladies

[@Sandlot1992]

the very first Animated Holiday Special! (thoughts on reviewing Christmas Carol the Movie from 2001?)

[@donnaharris2192]

they played it this year 2022 the only thing i was disappointed in was they cut out the despicable song. i loved that. i was bummed about that. i also noticed the ghost of christmas past came 2nd. i didn't like that either. i wonder if they goofed when they spliced everything together. love it though. one of my favorites.

[@richardkennedy8481]

Jim Back iss.

[@lukehauser1182]

Looks like they colorized it! :)

[@kyliethelittlespider-mangirl94]

Are you gonna do A Flintstones Christmas Carol for So Many Christmas Carols? Cuz this and that Flintstones one have something related, both involve doing plays of A Christmas Carol.

[@kenthuang436]

That special causes more confusion for me than the fact that they celebrate Christmas *before* the birth of Jesus. Why it’s confusing is because they not only know all about Charles Dickens’ famous story millions of years before his birth and publishing of the story but also know how to put on a yearly pageant that tells the story and exactly what the lesson of the story is.

[@jenniferschillig3768]

@@kenthuang436 You mean "Charles Brickens." ;-) Anyway, I like that version because it adapts the actual story so well--changing Dickens' words just enough to be understandable to kids, but not so much as to obscure their meaning. I could do without the framing scenes--I'll just take the actual adaptation. (It even has a version of the scene where Scrooge asks about deeds of ill will done in the Spirits' name--in the book, it was about the laws that closed important places on Sundays--and the Ghost of Christmas Present replies that deeds of bigotry and pride have nothing to do with them.)

[@jenniferschillig3768]

I gotta say...I was never all that crazy about the Magoo shorts; they seemed kind of one-note. I liked stories like this and The Famous Adventures of Mr. Magoo much better, because they didn't belabor the "nearsighted" gag and because I'm all about introducing kids to classic literature.

[@KGA7771]

Plz do one on "Stingiest Man in Town"!

[@jenniferschillig3768]

Both versions--the live-action one with Basil Rathbone as Scrooge, and the animated remake from Rankin-Bass.

[@KGA7771]

@@jenniferschillig3768 theres a live-action one?

[@jenniferschillig3768]

@@KGA7771 Yep. The Rankin-Bass one was a remake (with some kiddified elements). The Stingiest Man In Town aired in 1956 as a live musical on the program The Alcoa Hour. It's now on DVD and you can get the original soundtrack on Amazon, too. It starred Basil Rathbone as Scrooge, Vic Damone as young Ebenezer, and the singing group The Four Lads as a kind of Greek chorus.

[@dalecs47]

What fun! But are you sure it first aired in 1962? I was seven years old. I feel certain it was in 1961. Not that it matters, but looking back to child memories placing time and events, I feel sure that it cannot have been in 1962. Oh well. I recall also that the Bullwinkle show came out about the same time. At age 7 I had a little fear of some of the characters, but Magoo was fun.

[@HassoBenSoba]

December 18, 1962 (a Tuesday). I was there. Darrell van Citters wouldn't have made such a huge mistake. (the songs were recorded on the Sam Goldwyn stage on June 12, 1962.) All of this is welll documented.

[@dalecs47]

Thank you. @@HassoBenSoba

[@OperationFatGuy]

"we're despicable" number animation is giving me late 60s/early 70s rankin bass vibes. was it the same animator?

[@rudymalone1]

Yup!

[@spencerfrankclayton4348]

Of course, it shows "Rankin/Bass" in the credits, I think.

[@OperationFatGuy]

@@spencerfrankclayton4348 damn so UPA wasn't involved?

[@nicholassims9837]

Will you do all Christmas Carol's?

[@franciscoperalta5413]

Request: Retrospective of a chipmunks christmas

[@Babbleplay]

It was a great special. but anyone who knows the show knows he'd never have been able to pull off the role without stepping off the front of the stage, or whatever.

[@ajerjavec4723]

I have A question about his Disney villain retrospective will you be doing live action villains And if you are can I make a suggestion because some stories have been adapted in different ways of the years why not have every version based on treasure Island as one video It would save you some time

[@nicholassims9837]

He did say the Remakes will be talked about like Aladdin and Lion King , but orginal Live Action like Hocus Pocus and Tron I dont know .

[@ajerjavec4723]

@@nicholassims9837 I just wanna know because let’s face it live action villains are overlooked even though they can be much much More cruel than Their animated counterparts

[@nicholassims9837]

@@ajerjavec4723 Will it will be interesting to see him talk about the Sander Sisters , The CPU , and the villains in Pirates of the Caribbean and National Tressure .

[@ajerjavec4723]

@@nicholassims9837 I would also be interest Can you see him talking about Disney’s live action Mitra TVs movies because Disney has a lot of them I’ll be nice to give them some spotlight

[@nicholassims9837]

@@ajerjavec4723 what's Mitra ?

[@bennybotros2082]

Next year can you do the loud house episide “flipmas carol” for this series?

[@annieobrien9783]

Too bad you couldn't upload this instead of just talking about it.

[@tomhoehler3284]

Copyright restrictions.

[@loismoroney3193]

Styne was a fake and Merrill is a code word. They ripped off a little kid who wrote some of it for those fakes Merrill and styne.

[@rawlinjernigan8548]

Why do you have to talk through all the songs and movie you're ruining it by doing that just let the songs play and let people listen to them nobody wants to hear somebody in the background talking talking talking talking I'd rather hear the music that was played on there

[@HassoBenSoba]

The find the damn' film and WATCH IT.

[@injunmick8498]

No offense, but shutup and let the show play.