This lavishly mounted film benefits tremendously from the inspired casting of Albert Finney, who really sinks his teeth with into the juicy lead role of a spot-on miserly and miserable misanthropic curmudgeonly Ebenezer Scrooge.
Director Ronald Neame keeps the always engrossing and heartwarming story moving along at a fitful pace, offers a vivid and flavorsome evocation of the Victorian era setting, stages the song and dance set pieces with considerable brio, and adds a few nice touches of amusing dark humor. The songs are a bit of a mixed bag, with the insanely catchy "Thank You Very Much" standing out as the single most rousing and hummable tune while "Happiness" proves to be quite haunting and poignant.
The spirits are a distinctive and memorable bunch: Edith Evans as an elegant Ghost of Christmas Past, Kenneth More as a hearty and imposing Ghost of Christmas Present, and Paddy Stone as a creepy skeletal Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. The rest of the cast are likewise rock-solid: Alec Guinness as a tormented Marley's Ghost, David Collings as a sympathetic Bob Cratchit, Michael Medwin as Scrooge's kindly nephew Fred, Laurence Naismith as the jolly Mr. Fezziwig, Suzanne Neve as the sweet Isabel, and Anton Rodgers as the robust Tom Jenkins. Both Leslie Bricusse's jaunty orchestral score and the sumptuous widescreen cinematography by Oswald Morris further enhance the overall sterling quality of this fine and uplifting film.
Director Ronald Neame keeps the always engrossing and heartwarming story moving along at a fitful pace, offers a vivid and flavorsome evocation of the Victorian era setting, stages the song and dance set pieces with considerable brio, and adds a few nice touches of amusing dark humor. The songs are a bit of a mixed bag, with the insanely catchy "Thank You Very Much" standing out as the single most rousing and hummable tune while "Happiness" proves to be quite haunting and poignant.
The spirits are a distinctive and memorable bunch: Edith Evans as an elegant Ghost of Christmas Past, Kenneth More as a hearty and imposing Ghost of Christmas Present, and Paddy Stone as a creepy skeletal Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. The rest of the cast are likewise rock-solid: Alec Guinness as a tormented Marley's Ghost, David Collings as a sympathetic Bob Cratchit, Michael Medwin as Scrooge's kindly nephew Fred, Laurence Naismith as the jolly Mr. Fezziwig, Suzanne Neve as the sweet Isabel, and Anton Rodgers as the robust Tom Jenkins. Both Leslie Bricusse's jaunty orchestral score and the sumptuous widescreen cinematography by Oswald Morris further enhance the overall sterling quality of this fine and uplifting film.