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.

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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 long after the final credits have rolled. For me, "Scrooge" has become a treasured Christmas tradition alongside so many other beloved yule time favorites. I applaud its long overdue DVD release!

143 of 147 found the following review helpful:

SCROOGE: "Thank You Very Much"Sep 27, 2003
By Matt Howe "outloud98"
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.
- There are several very good songs. My favorites: "I Like Life", "Thank You Very Much", and "Happiness".
- I actually like the flashbacks when Scrooge is young and in love. Very touching. And pretty.
- They really edited this film for TV! There's scenes in SCROOGE that I've *never* seen before; specifically, the scene in hell at the end. Funny!

So, even though SCROOGE brought Christmas into my house in September, it was a welcomed, early celebration.

71 of 72 found the following review helpful:

A delightful, tuneful, Christmas treasureDec 02, 2005
By Judith Agee
Albert Finney is simply brilliant in this wonderful adaptation of
Dicken'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
heartwarming.
Considering that Albert Finney was a very young man portraying an old curmudgeon, his performance was STELLAR.
The flashbacks of Scrooge as a young man in love and his burgeoning love of work and money, then to Scrooge, an old and isolated old man is a chance to watch a brilliant actor at work.
I watch this film each and every year. Watching Scrooge be redeemed and find his way is what it is all about.
I couldn't possibly choose a favorite song. They are all wonderful.
I Love this film.

29 of 29 found the following review helpful:

Over 200 5-star Reviews vs. Ammy's Editorial Review. Choose Who You Believe.Nov 13, 2005
By Reviews No More
I have loved this 1970 musical version of the old Dickens novel since I was an 8 year-old girl and the staff at my school adopted the song "Thank You Very Much" for one of our school pageants. This is a charming and magical film with the heart put right into it every step of the way, not to mention that Albert Finney is one of my favorite old school actors.

Sure, there were liberties taken, but IT'S A MUSICAL, for crying out loud, and a handsome one at that. If you don't like musicals, stop reading my review and, in fact, why are you even reading any of the others? Unlike most musicals, however, this one manages to keep a strong storyline intact, with or without the songs, and nowhere is this made more clear than when Ebenezer Scrooge (Albert Finney), is confronted by the ghost of Christmas future. Some people have said that this movie tends to be scary, but I think it is more creepy than scary, except for this one pivotal scene. It is wonderful to see Finney at the top of his game (Isn't that common for him anyway?), as one of the most effective and sympathetic--at times even empathetic--Scrooges to grace filmdom? I love his portrayal of the old miser from the fact that he's such a tight rich man that he dresses lousy compared to the other rich people you see on the streets, and his house is dark, almost barren, not unlike the man himself.

I absolutely love David Collings' performance as Bob Cratchet, which is so well done that you understand how he and his family are richer than Scrooge in their poverty from the outset. In fact, the entire cast is exceptional, and Alec Guiness gives a darkly humorous performance as the ghost of Jacob Marley that often shows his character's sardonic wit in his resentment of having to lug around a chain he "gets" to warn his former business partner about. Another actor who impressed me in this adaptation was Kenneth Moore as the Ghost of Christmas Past. "Come here, you weird little man," always makes me laugh.

This movie is just what the doctor ordered if you are getting bah humbuggish about the oversaturation of the holiday's exploitation. I don't care if turkeys are indigenous to the U.S. as one writer complained. America could have imported them live to England back in 1860 by boat, now couldn't they, and wouldn't that have looked like an exotic delicacy for the holiday to both rich and poor alike in Victorian England? Beautiful costumes, and lovely sets only make this underrated holiday treasure more of a delight.

Watch for some of the best scenes as Albert Finney plays the young Ebenezer who is engaged to Fezzywink's daughter Isabelle during the beautiful number "Happiness." This is some of the most gorgeous cinematography in the movie. That brings up another issue: Leslie Bricusse's musical score is wonderful and, in fact, I had this movie in last night simply because I wanted to hear "I Like Life!" How anyone can dismiss this beautifully done musical is beyond me, because I have seen several adaptations of the Dickens novel, and this is my favorite. Beside that, I bet you can't get "Thank You Very Much" out of your head long after you've finished watching this charming, thought provoking, and well-crafted Christmas gem.

27 of 27 found the following review helpful:

A Christmas Tradition Forever..."Thank You Very Much!"Dec 13, 1999
By BRUCE A. EISERT/bruce.eisert@mail.sprint.com
Albert Finneys "Scrooge" is by far the best Holiday Classic. There will never be another one like it. For the past 17 years this movie has been a traditon of mine and now my own families. Albert Finney is wonderful and no one has been able to play the part of Scrooge as he did. I will watch it 2-3 times during the holidays. Despite what the critics have said, i think the music is wonderful. My wife and I will even listen to the music playing from the tape while putting up our decorations. This leads me to ask is there a soundtrack available? If so, could someone please let me know how to get a hold of it. I've had no luck locating one. This is a movie that is very special to me and will be passed down and enjoyed with my new born son. The joy that this film brings is one that all should take in during the holidays. Merry Christmas and from the words of Tiny Tim..."God Bless Us Everyone".

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