Without doubt the finest film version of Dickens' tale. Whilst any scene with Tiny Tim may be too surgery sweet to take completely seriously (which is as it should be), this version is at heart a chilling ghost story with a very happy ending. Other versions emphasise the whimsy or the comedy, but this one manages to tug at your heartstrings one moment and terrify you the next. It always keeps you on your toes.
Central to all this is a master class performance from Alastair Sim and it's a crime that his talents are not more widely spoken of today - he should be up there with Olivier in discussions about the best actors Britain ever had. Sim imbues Scrooge with a wonderfully ghoulish quality and effortlessly transforms from crotchety git to joyous nutcase; this Scrooge doesn't make an arbitrary decision to be nice 5 minutes from the end, his growing self-doubt and desire to repent can be witnessed throughout thanks to Sim's multi-layered portrayal. Sim was an actor who could chill you to bone with a single glance but have you in tears of laughter a few moments later. He was one of the acting world's treasures and "Scrooge" shows him in one of his finest roles. The rest of the cast are good too - there isn't a single bad performance - though naturally all are eclipsed by Alastair Sim. Regardless, George Cole makes for a good choice as a younger Scrooge, his boyish charms conveying a growing steeliness as the story progresses; Mervyn Johns is delightfully sweet as Bob Crachit; and Michael Hordern's turn as Jacob Marley's ghost is bloody frightening. Great stuff.
It is interesting how this Christmas tale manages to chuck in a few scares, much of which are due to the overpowering choral music (a plus, for a change) and the great direction. The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come has never been spookier than here. I do question really whether this film is suitable for young kids - they'd probably be better off with the Muppet version - but for adults this one can't be bettered. Alastair Sim's "Scrooge" should be a cornerstone of everybody's Christmas holidays.
Central to all this is a master class performance from Alastair Sim and it's a crime that his talents are not more widely spoken of today - he should be up there with Olivier in discussions about the best actors Britain ever had. Sim imbues Scrooge with a wonderfully ghoulish quality and effortlessly transforms from crotchety git to joyous nutcase; this Scrooge doesn't make an arbitrary decision to be nice 5 minutes from the end, his growing self-doubt and desire to repent can be witnessed throughout thanks to Sim's multi-layered portrayal. Sim was an actor who could chill you to bone with a single glance but have you in tears of laughter a few moments later. He was one of the acting world's treasures and "Scrooge" shows him in one of his finest roles. The rest of the cast are good too - there isn't a single bad performance - though naturally all are eclipsed by Alastair Sim. Regardless, George Cole makes for a good choice as a younger Scrooge, his boyish charms conveying a growing steeliness as the story progresses; Mervyn Johns is delightfully sweet as Bob Crachit; and Michael Hordern's turn as Jacob Marley's ghost is bloody frightening. Great stuff.
It is interesting how this Christmas tale manages to chuck in a few scares, much of which are due to the overpowering choral music (a plus, for a change) and the great direction. The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come has never been spookier than here. I do question really whether this film is suitable for young kids - they'd probably be better off with the Muppet version - but for adults this one can't be bettered. Alastair Sim's "Scrooge" should be a cornerstone of everybody's Christmas holidays.