A Christmas Carol -- Which version? - DVDfile.com forum for DVD, Blu-Ray, and HD-DVD

**SidcupMartin** · 12-21-2005, 03:45 PM

Ok, we all know that The Muppet Christmas Carol is by far the best but what about the rest?

I've always loved the 1951 version with Alastair Sim but opinions are always divided over which one is definitive so let's have a poll!

If I've missed any version out then let me know.

***SeanL*** · 12-21-2005, 03:49 PM

Poll? What poll? I think you forgot something.

**SidcupMartin** · 12-21-2005, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeanL

Poll? What poll? I think you forgot something.

YEAH YEAH ALRIGHT! I was working on it!

jeeeeeeeez I think that deserves an eye-roll...

***SeanL*** · 12-21-2005, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SidcupMartin

YEAH YEAH ALRIGHT! I was working on it!

jeeeeeeeez I think that deservers an eye-roll...

It's not my fault you don't know how to create a poll.

On topic, I don't know why you even bothered with a poll, because we all know that George C Scott's version is the best.

Welles and Ford Fan · 12-21-2005, 05:12 PM

I voted for Scott, but I really like Finney's as well, (and Sim's is good, too). I like how Scott is an almost towering evil and frightening presence in his film, but Finney plays Scrooge more as a mean, miserly and petty man, with dirty fingernails and shabby nightshirt. Interesting interpretations of the same character.

**SidcupMartin** · 12-21-2005, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeanL

It's not my fault you don't know how to create a poll.

On topic, I don't know why you even bothered with a poll, because we all know that George C Scott's version is the best.

The instructions you gave me were wrong

I'll be checking out the Scott version over the next couple of days and will let you know but it's going to have to be AMAZING to change my mind.

Khan · 12-21-2005, 06:25 PM

No doubt about it, Alistair Sim's is the best.

Scott's version is quite good as well though..

Millhouse · 12-21-2005, 06:48 PM

the muppet version is unbelievably good and my personal fave.

my uncle has (i believe) every version of a christmas carol. films, tv specials, anything. quite a quirk, ain't it?

thomashton · 12-21-2005, 10:49 PM

WTF!
Everyone knows that the Patrick Stewart version done for TNT is by far the best and most faithful telling of the story. Dang. Gotta watch that tonight.

You gotta get that on the poll, and if you haven't seen it, run to the store with a $10 bill. That's all you'll need. Best deal around on a Christmas movie. In fact, Amazon has it for $6.97. Amazing.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/078...v=glance&n=130

**SidcupMartin** · 12-21-2005, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thomashton

WTF!
Everyone knows that the Patrick Stewart version done for TNT is by far the best and most faithful telling of the story. Dang. Gotta watch that tonight.

You gotta get that on the poll, and if you haven't seen it, run to the store with a $10 bill. That's all you'll need. Best deal around on a Christmas movie. In fact, Amazon has it for $6.97. Amazing.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/078...v=glance&n=130

Done - I added your vote as well.

Welles and Ford Fan · 12-22-2005, 03:15 AM

WTF!
Everyone knows that the Patrick Stewart version done for TNT is by far the best and most faithful telling of the story. Dang. Gotta watch that tonight.

I did watch that one. It was faithful, but IMO, it was utterly lacking in dramatic intensity. it was like they went out of their way to make the story low-key and mundane.

**SidcupMartin** · 12-22-2005, 03:59 AM

Ok, I bought the George C. Scott version. I'll watch it at work tomorrow and we'll see...

**SidcupMartin** · 12-22-2005, 11:00 PM

I watched the Scott version today and it was good and pretty faithful to the text but Scott's take on the character just didn't sit right with me. This is the descripion of Scrooge from the book:

Oh! But he was a tight-fisted hand at the grind-stone, Scrooge! a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner! Hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had ever struck out generous fire; secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster. The cold within him froze his old features, nipped his pointed nose, shrivelled his cheek, stiffened his gait; made his eyes red, his thin lips blue; and spoke out shrewdly in his grating voice. A frosty rime was on his head, and on his eyebrows, and his wiry chin. He carried his own low temperature always about with him; he iced his office in the dogdays; and didn't thaw it one degree at Christmas.

There was none of this in Scott's performance. He portrayed him as being way too confident and powerful... Scrooge is none of these and physically he wasn't even close. On the other hand, David Warner I thought was excellent as Cratchett and I thought it caught the atmosphere of Dickensian London very well. So, there you go... good but not great. My vote still stays with Sim

View Poll Results: "These are the shadows of things that have been"
A Christmas Carol (1953) - Alastair Sim	8	36.36%
Scrooge (1935) - Seymour Hicks	0	0%
Scrooge (1970) - Albert Finney	1	4.55%
A Christmas Carol (1984) - George C. Scott	4	18.18%
The Muppet Christmas Carol	5	22.73%
Scrooged	3	13.64%
A Christmas Carol (1999) - Patrick Stewart	1	4.55%
Voters: 22. You may not vote on this poll

12-21-2005, 03:45 PM	#1 (permalink)
SidcupMartin Director/Moderator Captain Paranoia Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Philadelphia, PA	A Christmas Carol -- Which version? Ok, we all know that The Muppet Christmas Carol is by far the best but what about the rest? I've always loved the 1951 version with Alastair Sim but opinions are always divided over which one is definitive so let's have a poll! If I've missed any version out then let me know. __________________ eternally putting the kettle on

12-21-2005, 03:49 PM	#2 (permalink)
*SeanL* Producer/Admin Got BMG? Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: NW Florida	Poll? What poll? I think you forgot something. __________________ Forum Administrator "You can never go home again, Oatman... but I guess you can shop there."

12-21-2005, 06:25 PM	#7 (permalink)
Khan Actor Join Date: Jun 2004	No doubt about it, Alistair Sim's is the best. Scott's version is quite good as well though.. __________________ My DVD Collection

12-21-2005, 06:48 PM	#8 (permalink)
Millhouse Actor Join Date: Nov 2002	the muppet version is unbelievably good and my personal fave. my uncle has (i believe) every version of a christmas carol. films, tv specials, anything. quite a quirk, ain't it? __________________ "If you want to f*** with the eagles, you have to learn to fly" - Heathers (1989)

12-21-2005, 05:12 PM	#5 (permalink)
Welles and Ford Fan Actor Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Houston, TX USA	I voted for Scott, but I really like Finney's as well, (and Sim's is good, too). I like how Scott is an almost towering evil and frightening presence in his film, but Finney plays Scrooge more as a mean, miserly and petty man, with dirty fingernails and shabby nightshirt. Interesting interpretations of the same character.

12-21-2005, 10:49 PM	#9 (permalink)
thomashton Actor Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: University of Margaritaville, Northern Utah Branch	WTF! Everyone knows that the Patrick Stewart version done for TNT is by far the best and most faithful telling of the story. Dang. Gotta watch that tonight. You gotta get that on the poll, and if you haven't seen it, run to the store with a $10 bill. That's all you'll need. Best deal around on a Christmas movie. In fact, Amazon has it for $6.97. Amazing. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/078...v=glance&n=130 __________________ "I help those who help themselves!" -Zoidberg Jesus The Good Stuff

12-22-2005, 03:15 AM	#11 (permalink)
Welles and Ford Fan Actor Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Houston, TX USA	WTF! Everyone knows that the Patrick Stewart version done for TNT is by far the best and most faithful telling of the story. Dang. Gotta watch that tonight. I did watch that one. It was faithful, but IMO, it was utterly lacking in dramatic intensity. it was like they went out of their way to make the story low-key and mundane.

12-22-2005, 03:59 AM	#12 (permalink)
SidcupMartin Director/Moderator Captain Paranoia Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Philadelphia, PA	Ok, I bought the George C. Scott version. I'll watch it at work tomorrow and we'll see... __________________ eternally putting the kettle on

12-22-2005, 11:00 PM	#13 (permalink)
SidcupMartin Director/Moderator Captain Paranoia Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Philadelphia, PA	I watched the Scott version today and it was good and pretty faithful to the text but Scott's take on the character just didn't sit right with me. This is the descripion of Scrooge from the book: Oh! But he was a tight-fisted hand at the grind-stone, Scrooge! a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner! Hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had ever struck out generous fire; secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster. The cold within him froze his old features, nipped his pointed nose, shrivelled his cheek, stiffened his gait; made his eyes red, his thin lips blue; and spoke out shrewdly in his grating voice. A frosty rime was on his head, and on his eyebrows, and his wiry chin. He carried his own low temperature always about with him; he iced his office in the dogdays; and didn't thaw it one degree at Christmas. There was none of this in Scott's performance. He portrayed him as being way too confident and powerful... Scrooge is none of these and physically he wasn't even close. On the other hand, David Warner I thought was excellent as Cratchett and I thought it caught the atmosphere of Dickensian London very well. So, there you go... good but not great. My vote still stays with Sim __________________ eternally putting the kettle on

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