This version of "A Christmas Carol" is wrong on so many levels I don't know where to start. First and foremost is Finney's depiction of Scrooge. His interpretation consists of a constant half sneer on his mushmouth and his diction delivers like John Cleese in drag. The songs are bargain basement "showtunes" and add nothing to the story. The painted backdrops and extremely bad "special effects" boggle the mind.The screenwriter has eliminated some of the basic tenets of the tale so that more time can be spent at Fezziwigs and in Hell. Both seem strangely interchangeable. When will these crappy Scrooge productions stop using the party at Fezziwigs as an excuse to ramp up the lame choreography? This looks like a community theater production of "Seven Brides" for Chrissakes! Add to this one of the worst child actors I have ever witnessed in the role of Tiny Tim. You wouldn't buy this kid having a bad cold let alone having a life threatening illness. He leans against his crutch like he's ready to light a cig. Oh, and they added an 18th century wheelchair for him to get around in. Just when I thought this could not get any worse, the rousing finale has Scrooge donning a Father Christmas outfit to bestow liquor and gifts on the entire citizenry of the hamlet. I have to ask......IS NOTHING SACRED?? This turkey stands proudly alongside that other musical Scrooge abomination from a few years back that starred Kelsey Grammar. A double bill direct from Hell.Marley got off easy being fettered in chains. The real torture would be having to view this steaming pile of poo again.
Scrooge
(1970)
Felt like I was watching "Monty Python performs Dickens"
11 December 2010
Warning: Spoilers