List Price : $14.98 Price : $7.92
Product Description
Scrooge was designed as a follow-up to 1968's Oliver, the Oscar-winning musicalization of Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist. The umpteenth musical version of Dickens' 1843 novelette A Christmas Carol, Scrooge is blessed with several sprightly Leslie Bricusse songs, including the bonafide hit Thank You Very Much. Once more buried under mounds of latex, Albert Finney is perfection itself as Ebeneezer Scrooge, proving as effective as a young (un-made up) man as the old skinflint we've grown to love. The Three Ghosts who turn the miserly Scrooge's life around on Christmas Eve are portrayed by Edith Evans (Past), Kenneth More (Present) and Paddy Stone (Yet to Come). Our favorite among the huge, predominantly British supporting cast is Sir Alec Guinness as a fussy, slightly effeminate Marley's Ghost. Best of all, Finney performs his many songs "live" and not lip-synched to a pre-recording. Though it is overproduced to the hilt, and its Technicolor photography tends to induce eyestrain, Scrooge is more than satisfactory Yuletide entertainment.
Amazon.com
A mixed bag as variations on A Christmas Carol go, this 1970 British musical tells the usual story of Scrooge (Albert Finney) and his spirits on Christmas Eve, although the whole thing is set to music by Leslie Bricusse. Except for Finney's feisty and involved performance, however, there isn't much to recommend this. The songs, which absorb so much of the evolving story line and emotions, are not all that good. Plenty of support, however, from the likes of Roy Kinnear (Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory) and Dame Edith Evans (Tom Jones), the handsome production is directed by veteran Ronald Neame (The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie). --Tom Keogh
Scrooge Reviews
Scrooge Reviews
| 124 of 126 people found the following review helpful  Heartfelt and Moving, By Amazon Verified Purchase This review is from: Scrooge (DVD) While this version of the classic Dickens' tale did not receive critical acclaim, it remains one of my favorites and richly deserves this DVD release.Albert Finney is magical in his portrayal of Scrooge, transforming his physical appearance through the art of makeup and fine acting from a robust youth to an aged man during the course of the story. The supporting cast is also remarkable, and the songs add flavor to the overall atmosphere of Dickens' era London, as well as great and unexpected depth to the core theme of the story: the precarious reclamation of a person's soul. Dickens' brilliant story manages to convey religious themes without preaching, and provides an accessible character in Scrooge that we can understand, root for, and ultimately, rejoice with and learn from when his heart is turned outward to his fellow man. Vastly entertaining and remarkably fresh, this life-affirming version of "A Christmas Carol," along with many of its songs, will stay with viewers... Read more 143 of 147 people found the following review helpful  SCROOGE: "Thank You Very Much", By Amazon Verified Purchase This review is from: Scrooge (DVD) SCROOGE has been a guilty pleasure of mine for many years. As a kid (before cable came along) I hoped that one of the local stations would play the film around Christmas time. I probably haven't seen SCROOGE since I was 11 or 12 years old.The newly released DVD looks fantastic. The film is 33 years old, and its production design and colors are rendered well on the DVD. The overture is included. Here's some quick impressions after seeing the film again: - Alec Guinness is a genius! As Marley's ghost, Guiness has some very funny moments. Watch his performance closely: Guiness achieves "ghostliness" without the aid of digital effects. Watch him "float" parts of his body, especially his hands when he sits down. The walk, the voice, the "floating". Simply brilliant. 71 of 72 people found the following review helpful A delightful, tuneful, Christmas treasure, By Judith Agee (SmallTown, Indiana USA) - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase This review is from: Scrooge (DVD) Albert Finney is simply brilliant in this wonderful adaptation ofDicken's timeless story. The production values are scrumptious. The scenes of the streets and inhabitants of London are brought to vivid life. You'll feel as if you are walking right along with Scrooge as he collects from those who owe him. Right down to wanting to partake of the hot soup a vendor gives him. Scrooge's home, cold-cold grey and unloved and unlived in. A haunting metaphor for his life as he lives it. The songs tell the story almost better than Dicken's prose. Alec Guinness is perfect as Marley's ghost. All the visitations are splendidly moody and spooky. Kenneth Moore as the ghost of Christmas Present is big and brassy and wonderful. Dame Edith Evans is an effective Christmas Past with her distinctive voice and elegant bearing. All the supporting characters are wonderful. Bob Crachitt and family singing in their small flat is... Read more |
› See all 585 customer reviews...
No comments:
Post a Comment