A Christmas Carol

Audience Reviews

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Kylo W Dec 25, 2018 One of the best adaptations of the Christmas Carol story mainly due to a fantastic performance by the late great George C. Scott as Ebenezer Scrooge. See more

Kylo W Dec 23, 2018 Ebenezer Scrooge (George C. Scott) is fantastic in this tale by Dickens

Albus L Nov 18, 2018 A Christmas Carol (1984) is the finest adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic 1843 novel of the same name. Director Clive Donner recreates a grim, dim, and foggy London with astonishing detail. His natural candle lit lighting is lovely, especially when framing the faces of Scrooge surrounded by darkness. Donner's direction is excellent with steady pacing, far wide shots, intimate close ups, and slow panning shots. Donner's A Christmas Carol is as fine an example of stunning filmmaking as I have ever seen. The story remains a wonderful parable as Dickens' writing is timeless in his insight into cruelty, kindness, and greed. The score from Nick Bicât is really magnificent. It features a rousing symphony of strings and horns alike. He composed a much more frightening composition than is usual for A Christmas Carol. The real star of A Christmas Carol is always the actor that played Ebenezer Scrooge and this version is no exception. George C. Scott is phenomenal as the avarice driven Scrooge. Scott's contempt for the poor and merry is palpable with his quiet damnations of the impoverished. He goes with a cruel voice without screaming his insults and never overacting the more sentimental scenes. Scott is definitely my favorite version of Scrooge. His serious take is so compelling, especially since Scott's Scrooge is not instantly reformed as is the case with so many other takes on this character. Furthermore, I found Scott's Scrooge even better than the portrayals from Michael Caine, Albert Finney, Jim Carrey, Patrick Stewart, and Alastair Sim. That is saying something as each of these acclaimed actors brought their own style and flair to the character. Scott elevates the role into a classic performance of an iconic character. In all, the 1984 film adaptation of A Christmas Carol is my favorite of any movie version of A Christmas Carol. It delivers fine acting alongside breathtaking direction. The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) will always remain the most fun movie version to watch, but I implore any cinema fan to seek out the George C. Scott one. His Scrooge is something to behold! See more

Poe S Jan 19, 2018 This is possibly the stuffiest rendition of Dickens' holiday classic. The production is rigid and cold, and doesn't get warmer even when Scrooge changes. And Scott's incessant overacting makes him one of the least convincing portrayals. Maybe if this were the only filmed version of the story I would like it more, but there are just SO many better ways to watch this beautiful tale of redemption. See more

Abraham S Dec 29, 2017 Another remake that's just ok. If Hollywood remakes this movie one more time, I'll lose my mind. But I still watched it and it is the same bland old story. See more

Hermione G Dec 22, 2017 Ugh, this version of Dickens' much loved fable is very stale fare indeed. Scott's Scrooge, with the occasional exception, is so very one note, he looks like he's on auto pilot for much of the film. Warner's Cratchit is far too poised and self assured for a character that is supposed to be downtrodden, stressed out, browbeaten but again his mildly perturbed and shrugging "oh well, what you can you do" performance is very much in keeping with Scott's slightly grumpy and disinterested Scrooge. The problems though, aren't limited to those two actors, the guy playing Fred the nephew isn't nearly as charming and likeable enough for the part he plays and at times even comes across as quite reserved. The ghost of Christmas past looks like an 80's new romantic pop star. Marley's ghost looks like a hammy Shakespearean luvvie in heavy grey makeup - ala Alec Guinness in the musical version - and isn't at all believable as a condemned spirit. The classical beauty Susannah York as Mrs Cratchit is also an ill fit, far too aristocratic and perfectly turned out. The only part not horribly miscast is Edward Woodward as the ghost of Christmas present and even he does nothing special with the role and struggles to instil any emotion into the film. I'm completely baffled as to how anyone could cite this movie as being one of the best versions and as being better than the wholly superior Patrick Stewart version. I guess it's true, there really is no accounting for taste. See more

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A Christmas Carol

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