Martin. A musical retelling of Charles Dickens ' classic novel about an old bitter miser taken on a journey of self-redemption, courtesy of several mysterious Christmas apparitions. (Prices may vary for AK and HI.). It was just 'actors' saying their lines as in reading from a script. The Christmas Story: What Really Happened, Dr. Chuck Missler. I think it was supposed to be atmospheric with the interspersed external clips but it was fairly obvious that it was filmed in Ireland and not England which further detracted from the film. There's a problem loading this menu right now. Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video! We also see Scrooge's long-suffering employee Bob Cratchit buying a Christmas chicken with his son Tiny Tim in the song "You Mean More to Me". The visit of the ghost of Jacob Marley becomes a large-scale production number ("Link By Link"), featuring a half-dozen singing, dancing spirits presented with various levels of makeup and special effects. Even though he doesn’t come across as very English, the production values on that one are way ahead of this one. $12.99. So, just be careful. Next. Scrooge - In COLOR! This version I think of as a play taking place right in front of me, with the main focus being on the actors and story , and not on the background and surroundings. I always liked watching Marley in chains, but in this there is no Marley to see, just a voice. "What a Day, What a Sky" serves as a musical bookend to "Nothing to Do With Me", dramatizing Scrooge's new outlook as he races through the streets of London making amends. No real surprise at all to have a ghost appearing to you. No reaction. Still, the razzle-berry dressing is missed. It is a wonderful, new re-telling of the old Christmas story favorite. Finney received the 1970 Golden Globe Award for best actor in musical or comedy. In a cemetery, Scrooge recognizes his deceased self as his housekeeper Mrs. Mopps trades his possessions to a fence named Old Joe. On Christmas Eve in London, Ebenezer Scrooge, a miserly moneylender at a counting house, does not share the merriment of Christmas. One of these ghosts in this version is known to be an old colleague of Scrooge and Marley's, Mr. Haynes, who was said to be "mean to the bone", resulting in his charred skeleton. I love both countries but they have very distinctive feels. He also said the actors performing in period costumes gave the film "an air of silliness that [he] found enjoyable if unintended." An old bitter miser who rationalizes his uncaring nature learns real compassion when three spirits visit him on Christmas Eve. You can return the item for any reason in new and unused condition: no shipping charges. A musical setting for Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol is a natural, and this holiday TV-movie (based on the Broadway version) generously crams music into its quick spin through the venerable story. What we wanted was the musical one with Kelsey Grammar and Jason Alexander. Audio CD. With George C. Scott, Frank Finlay, Angela Pleasence, Edward Woodward. Sep 26, 2008. There was no happiness at times when there should have been. Jason Alexander, another TV person with a background in stage musicals, does deftly as the chain-rattling Jacob Marley's ghost (and his number is one of the most tuneful of the mixed bag of songs). Maybe hundreds. Scrooge then goes to Fred's house to celebrate Christmas with the neighborhood and the Cratchits, with the three spirits (in the forms of the candle-lighter, barker, and blind woman from the beginning) watching from afar. We searched for "that one" and got sent a different one. Kelsey Grammer brings Ebenezer Scrooge to life in this musical adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic tale. This particular version we found slow and creepy. I have the Alister Sim , George C. Scott, Patrick Stewart, Albert Finley, Jim Carey , Seymour Hicks, & The Muppets. The film first premiered on November 28, 2004, on the NBC television network. 4.6 out of 5 stars 59. The Ghost then comments that Tiny Tim might not survive until next Christmas. When Scrooge sees the specter of Marley, the only thing we see is him putting a pillow over his head, but nothing else. One notable departure from Dickens' novella in this portion of the film is its depiction of Ebenezer Scrooge's father, identified as John William Scrooge, being sentenced to debtors' prison while his horrified family looks on (a scene inspired by events from Dickens' own childhood). Worst: A Christmas Carol: The Musical (2004) - 6.5. He is distant and, once again, solitary. Or get 4-5 business-day shipping on this item for $5.99 Coming in at number one according to IMDb's rankings it the 1951 classic A Christmas Carol (or, in the United Kingdom,… IMDb Announces First Scripted Series, 'You're Not a Monster' Kelsey Grammer, Julia Stiles Starring in 'The God Committee' I couldn't recommend buying it. Kelsey Grammer uses his musical pipes (and some of his "master thespian" style of acting) as Ebenezer Scrooge, the man whose miserliness needs no introduction here. I don't know why film makers take a story that takes place in winter and film in summer (trees etc); the location and acting were a bit off putting. The Ghost takes Scrooge into the future. Unlike the faceless phantom that embodies Christmas Yet to Come in most versions of A Christmas Carol (including the book), this film features a mute sorceress figure clad in white (a transmogrification of the blind hag who appears on Christmas Eve). We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Brief content visible, double tap to read full content. The opening number, "Jolly Good Time", is a more jovial reworking of the first two numbers in the stage version, "The Years Are Passing By" and "Jolly, Rich, and Fat". MADE IN USA. Instead we have a dark, miserable world with very sad, unfeeling, uncaring characters who show no happiness or any kind of emotion at all. There's some experienced musical-comedy talent in the cast, from small roles to large, with expert stuff from Jesse L. Martin (who was in Rent, the Broadway musical, before he joined the Law & Order team) as the ghost of Christmas Present and Jane Krakowski as the ghost of Christmas Past. Scrooge then discovers Tiny Tim has died and when the Ghost points out his own grave, he decides to change his ways.