Shower of Stars (TV Series) A Christmas Carol (1954) User Reviews

An interesting old musical interpretation for Carol fans

[roghache · 6/10 · 12 December 2008]

I bought the Bing Crosby / Kate Smith Christmas DVD specifically for the inclusion of this 1954 Frederic March version of A Christmas Carol as a bonus. For those who are real Carol fans and simply must see every version, naturally this shouldn't be missed. However, if this were the only adaptation available to me, I'd feel quite deprived!

Frederic March makes a fairly good Scrooge, in my opinion. The rest of the cast didn't much stand out with me one way or the other except that I didn't really like them 'doubling up' on roles. The same actress played both the Ghost of Christmas Past and Belle, and the same actor both nephew Fred and the Ghost of Christmas Present. I suppose it must have been fairly low budget and this was cheaper.

I found odd and objectionable the writers having Marley's ghost repeatedly moaning "Oh God!" The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come was ridiculous -- some sort of blackbird! Even the Ghost of Christmas Present was miscast. Instead of a cheery, benevolent, bare chested giant clothed in a green robe, he wore tunic and pants and seemed rather slovenly, lolling about on the floor singing! They modernized or Americanized the story a bit, having one of the songs refer to Santa and the Cratchits trim a Christmas tree.

The movie seemed to start out better than it ended. I found the first scenes preferable to later sequences, mainly because less seemed to be omitted early on! I prefer non-musical versions to musical ones anyway but find it especially irritating when they find time for several songs but omit crucial characters such as Ebenezer's sister Fan and eliminate numerous vital scenes. This version is short anyway, only about 50 minutes, and the story is pretty bare bones. Most of the details that enrich the tale are simply left out.

The music was pleasant enough and seemed to fit in suitably but for most of the numbers, I found they contributed little and I merely wanted them to get on with the story! Unlike the 1970 Albert Finney musical which did boast some truly catchy tunes, none of these songs were the least bit memorable. However, I did enjoy the carolers at the beginning of the movie. Also, Tiny Tim sings a song at the end which, if I heard correctly, tells the Christmas story (religious context) and it appeared as though Scrooge was truly moved.

Lest I appear too critical, this adaptation is a fairly traditional (if summarized) telling of Dickens' story and certainly maintains the original spirit. Again, I enjoyed March in the role and really loved some of the sets, especially the street scenes with the carolers and the drawing room with Fezziwig's party. I'd certainly recommend it to any Carol enthusiasts. Just keep an open mind and you'll enjoy it, but don't get your hopes up too high because you'll probably be disappointed!

Um, holy cow!

[barbjryan · 5/10 · 21 December 2018]

Last year I started watching all the Christmas Carol movies I could find and rating them. I gave this a 2 out of 5 and wrote in my notes, "um, holy cow". I couldn't remember why. I just rewatched it and my guess is it has to do with the singing in it. It is not natural or pleasant, and at times, downright goofy. ("Why Ghost of Christmas Present, you can do stupid stuff!"). Scrooge is fine. I kind of like them making the first two ghosts resemble people Scrooge knows, just for some variation. (For the most part I like the variations of all the different movies, otherwise it can be a bit boring, even if it is a great story). The song at the end that just rests on Scrooge's face is hilarious. This movie is close to "so bad it's good" territory. I recommend watching it with friends and booze.

Falls short but actually pretty decent

[TheLittleSongbird · 7/10 · 5 December 2014]

To me, this Christmas Carol definitely could have been better considering that it had Fredric March and Basil Rathbone starring and Bernard Hermann as composer and that the story is so timeless. It does have a few big debits but also a lot of things that came off well. The adaptation is too short, from personal opinion this should of if it were allowed been 25 minutes longer, and there are parts especially with Christmas Yet to Come- a scene that came off ridiculously sadly as well- that felt rushed, making Scrooge's change of heart/transformation rushed and less believable too. Some of the story is structurally bare bones, the basic elements are there but things that give Scrooge reason to change and that what made him like he was in the first place were missed out which further led to his transformation from miser rushed and not so believable.

The songs are hit and miss here and generally take up too much time of the running time. Some are pleasant, the best being the incredibly touching one sung by Tiny Tim, the most beautiful one melodically and the only song where the lyrics actually resonated with me, and the opening sequence song is the other truly memorable one. But others don't stick in your head very long and some have some corny lyrics, the worst one being Ghost of Christmas Present's which went on forever and didn't serve that much of a point to the story as well as suffering the worst of the lyric writing. The two original carols, outstandingly sung by the Roger Wagner Chorale, are great but don't quite fit within the Victorian/Dickensian setting.

However, from a visual standpoint this Christmas Carol looks surprisingly good. It's very well shot throughout, with a big shout out going to the extended shot at the end, and the period detail is evocative and handsomely constructed. The street scenes with the Carollers and Fezziwig's drawing room are agreed the best of the interiors while the snow looks Christmassy and real. While the songs don't quite come over well generally Bernard Hermann's score absolutely does, the chorus writing in the Jacob Marley scene is wonderfully spooky. If there was anything actually that can be singled out as the best thing about this it would definitely be the score. Even with a lot missed out of the story there is no problem at all with understanding the script, which is witty and heart-warming, and while the story is truncated which compromises the pacing and length it still packs a powerful emotional punch(the ending is a tear-jerker) and makes its point effectively.

In the acting stakes, nobody is outstanding in the support acting but nobody's disastrous. It was an interesting move to have Belle/Ghost of Christmas Past and Fred/Ghost of Christmas Present doubled up, that has never been done before, and it didn't come off too badly, Sally Fraser's beguiling and Ray Middleton's appealingly hearty(he is better though as Fred, he got the joviality of Ghost of Christmas Present just right but wasn't quite benevolent enough). Wasn't a big fan of the over-sized and rather stereotypical nose but Fredric March really gives his all as Scrooge and is very good, he is great doing the gruff miserable miser but the character's transformation is convincingly acted. His best moment is his facial expressions during the extended shot with the choral singing of Tim's song, a wide mix of emotions beautifully conveyed by March, it was another bold move made here and was most telling. One mustn't forget Basil Rathbone either, who chills the bones as Jacob Marley though in an understated way, a way that not many other actors can do as effectively as Rathbone could.

All in all, a pretty decent adaptation of a Christmas classic, thanks to Hermann's score, a couple of good innovations, the visuals and the performances of March and Rathbone but due to it being too short and rushed with a bungled Christmas Yet to Come scene and hit and miss songs it does fall short as well. 6.5/10 Bethany Cox

Worth watching - if you can find it

[eggheadjon · 23 December 2002]

I remember watching this for several Christmases when I was a young boy. Basil Rathbone as Marley scared the bejesus out of me, and I had nightmares.

I never thought I'd ever see it again until a friend found it in a big catalog and gave me a print for Christmas. What a wonderful cast and what a shame this version wasn't better preserved. Maxwell Anderson, the adaptor, was born just a few miles from here and is buried in Crawford County.

The cast is superb. Whoever hears of Ray Middleton any more, or Bob Sweeney. Frederic March's reputation has held up a little better, but any would-be actor could do a lot worse than to watch him work.

The songs were corny and had the sound of being tossed off between breakfast and lunch. The boy soprano in the beginning had the same effect on me as a dentist's drill.

It was neat that the print I got has the Chrysler commercials, spaced out a heckuva lot further apart than they are today. Sadly, they made a fuss about telling viewers the show was in living color, but mine came through in black and white - just like our TV did in 1955.

Bah Hambug!

[Sylviastel · 7/10 · 26 December 2016]

Back in the day, every great actor had played Ebenezer Scrooge and it was Fredric March's turn. Basil Rathbone played Jacob Marley. But I really wanted to see this episode for an appearance of a young Bonnie Franklin as Martha Cratchit. She and her sister Judy Franklin played sisters in this episode as the Cratchit sisters. Bonnie must have been only 10 years old. Sally Fraser's singing voice was dubbed by the great Marilyn Horne. Bernard Hermann wrote the score. We could argue forever which is the best Scrooge actor and which film is best of all. Every actor like Fredric March takes a different approach and every "Christmas Carol" rendition is worth watching especially with Basil Rathbone as Jacob Marley. This version only lasts about an hour.

Much Better Than The Reviews Here

[fshepinc · 7/10 · 25 December 2020]

This made-for-television version was necessarily quite short, with the story pared down even more by the inclusion of the songs by Maxwell Anderson and Bernard Herrmann. Herrmann's score is the real star here. Atmospheric and moody, the music really helps build the suspense in what is, essentially, a ghost story. It is sad that so many of the modern reviewers cannot appreciate its beauty and lyricism. It was hearing the score that made me track down the DVD. The production is fairly lavish for television in the early 1950s. If you're a fan of serious music and good, old-fashioned singing, check this version out.

At least it's free.

[howzyabird · 3/10 · 25 May 2006]

This show is on DVD, it's a bonus feature on the Bing Crosby and Kate Smith Christmas DVD. I was excited to watch this, never knowing that March played Scrooge before, and always up for seeing a new adaptation of A Christmas Carol. What a huge disappointment! This is borderline garbage. March doesn't deliver and the rest of the actors, except for Rathbone of course, are lousy. The songs aren't memorable, nor even mediocre enough to sit through, and the choice of the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come is unbelievably ridiculous. The only consolation is that the Bing Christmas show is the main feature and worth paying the $8 for, so you're not really paying for this version of A Christmas Carol (unless you watch it).

an uninspired, lackluster bomb made only to sell cars.

[patrickharman · 1/10 · 16 December 2013]

My wife's uncle gave us this clunker. It is by far the worst video adaptation of the Dickens classic we have ever experienced! From a visual storytelling perspective, there is far too much wasted screen time that advances the story not a whit; vapid songs about the "Spirit of Christmas" contribute only a "spirit of ennui" to the production, which bears little resemblance to the powerful tale of a soul's miraculous conversion and redemption that comes through the printed word and many fine films. If this video vehicle has any value at all, it could only be as a snapshot of the crass, commercialized America at mid-century that mistook drivel like this for high culture.

The 1984 TV movie with George C. Scott delivers a far more satisfying experience.

One of the worst versions out there

[HotToastyRag · 1/10 · 19 December 2018]

Everyone knows I tend to rent every version of A Christmas Carol I can get my hands on. No offense to Fredric March and everyone else involved in this 1954 television special, but this is one of the worst versions I've ever seen, if not the worst. Even if you love Fredric March, don't rent it.

Ray Middleton, doubling as Nephew Fred and the Ghost of Christmas Present, makes his entrance as the latter by singing "A ve-e-e-e-ry, a me-e-e-e-ry, a very Merry Christmas. . ." while prancing around Scrooge's bedroom, twirling him around, and even holding up mistletoe and kissing him on the forehead. In response, Fredric March grins an idiotic grin and tries to bounce up and down on his toes in time with the music. Trust me, you can feel sorry for him without having to watch it.

I don't know who thought it was a good idea, but this version of A Christmas Carol has more singing than talking. The songs, by Maxwell Anderson and Bernard Herrmann, are very poor, with unimaginative lyrics, unmemorable notes, and sometimes downright creepy melodies. The few lines of spoken dialogue that are present are dumbed-down for television audiences, so much that it would only be entertaining for a four-year-old. I truly feel sorry for everyone who sullied their careers by being a part of this tv-movie.

A Wonderful Trip Back To The 50's

[selicate · 8/10 · 23 December 2007]

I first saw the Shower of Stars production of A Christmas Carol as a child in 1954. I must say, my jaw dropped at the first sight of Sally Frazier (the Ghost of Christmas past). I thought she was a Goddess,easily the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. When I was able to purchase an obscure video tape of this show in 1988 however, imagine my disappointment at the trick my 11 year old eyes had played on me. While still beautiful, she was nothing like I remembered. (or imagined!) What I did not remember, and was pleasantly surprised at was the outstanding score by the great Bernard Herrman. From the opening sounds of a child trumpeting his flute for the coming (acappella) carolers who sing their message as a foreboding warning of things to come, (so Herrman!) to the well done musical interludes that DON'T intrude on the story, this was an unexpected delight! I wish this was available on DVD and at the very least, Bernard Herrman's wonderful and ORIGINAL Chistmas score should be made available.

Well, that's an hour of my life I'll never get back.

[kathy-99878 · 1/10 · 28 November 2020]

I really don't know where to begin, except to say I'm appalled. This film is a hodgepodge of early Victorian England and 1950s America. Some of the language is straight from Dickens and some actually includes American phrasing. Fredric March's talents are so wasted that at times this looks like a bad high school production. The directing is downright amateurish. March's makeup is preposterous, and his enormous false nose in no way even slightly resembles the nose of the young Scrooge, who wears a very stylish haircut. James Dean would be proud. Scrooge's bedroom, except for the bed curtains, looks almost feminine it's so 1950s. And only the barest structure of the story makes the cut. The rest is lost to make room for impossibly bad music. By the third song I was considering the best sharp objects to drive into my ears - ANYTHING to make it stop. Finally, if there's anyone out there who can tell me... What, what, WHAT is sticking out of the back of Marley's head?? It looks like an icicle covered in hair.

The great pity of it all is that "A Christmas Carol" is one of my most beloved stories. I wish I'd never watched this, because I can never un-see it.

A television version of the most copied and overdone story in the English language!

[planktonrules · 5/10 · 3 December 2020]

Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" not only has countless versions on film and television, but the basic story idea has been reworked a bazillion times over by such cartoons as "The Flintstones" and even "Mr. Magoo". Why? Well, the original story is very good AND it's in the public domain! But that doesn't mean that I like the plethora of versions of the tale....no, I rather hate most of them. Now there are some brilliant versions, such as the George C. Scott version from the 1980s....and the Muppets version is a great family film But too many others simply are bereft of originality and energy...and hopefully this television version from 1954 isn't one of these unnecessary versions.

I won't bother to explain the plot...practically everyone knows it. In the lead is Frederic March and Basil Rathbone stars as long-dead Marley. They are both wonderful actors, though March isn't at his best here. As for the rest, well, some are decent, some, such as the guy playing Scrooge's nephew, tend to overact. As for the look of the film, it's actually very good for mid-50s TV...especially the look of Marley. But on the negative side, aside from the over-familiar plot, is the pacing. Most versions run about 90 minutes...and shoving this version into a one-hour time slot makes everything seem a bit rushed. Overall, yet another one of too many installments of this story...not bad but also not especially inspired nor original.



If you are interested in seeing this, you can watch it on YouTube....you don't need to buy the Bing Crosby DVD mentioned by some other reviewers. Also, this YouTube version bears the original Chrysler commercials from the show....I am not sure if this is the case of the copy on the DVD.

This one is NOT the "best" of the Scrooges.

[Byrdz · 26 December 2016]

Shower of Stars - 1954. Fredric March as Ebenezer Scrooge. Basil Rathbone as the Ghost of Jacob Marley. Bob Sweeney as Bob Cratchit. What could possibly go wrong ?

Where do I begin ?

The first three minutes of the program is taken up by Choral Singing. In fact, the program turns out to be a series of mediocre to bad songs interrupted occasionally with an abbreviated telling of "A Christmas Story". There is a way overlong love filled duet by the young Ebenezer and Belle following which she breaks off their engagement. Ummm... wha ? Following this, Ray Middleton goes on and on about Christmas and Santa which has nothing to do with the story. It's like he is supposed to be the "Ghost of Christmas PRESENTS"

To make matters worse, March has a distractingly huge and obviously false nose that is not the color of his face. Then there is the final carol by "Tiny" Tim / choir during which we see several minutes of Frederic March making faces. It's just too too odd.

I looked forward to seeing Basil Rathbone as Marley's Ghost but found him to be nothing special in the role.

If you have made a list of "A Christmas Carols" to watch and need to check this one off .. do so... otherwise skip it.

Almost forgot .. there are some cool ads for Chrystler cars !

A Notch Below Plan 9 From Outer Space

[jjordan-23721 · 1/10 · 17 December 2020]

This is a bizarre show. The songs are ridiculous, the singing strange and the entire thing lacks any emotional impact. The last song, with the camera fixed on Scrooge's face as he...well...makes faces...is very unusual. And then there's Scrooge and Tiny Tim. The way Scrooge smiles and stares at the boy--troubling. I will watch it again simply because it's so bad.

Scrooge light.

[mark.waltz · 5/10 · 26 November 2015]

Three talkie movies of the Charles Dickens classic had come out when Oscar winner Frederic March tackled the role for this television musical that cuts out much of the meat and left and disguises it with bits of parsley disguised as mistletoe to make it seem better than it is. Adding mediocre songs makes it even more tedious although much of what makes this beloved is there. March isn't so much miserly than a lonely old man too filled with pride to admit that all he was wants is a little attention. He isn't scary at all, and one thing that should be clear is that his wealth makes him a force to be reckoned with whether it be as a lender seeking the return of a loan or as an imperious boss. Basil Rather one is on and off quickly as Marley, but the usually bland Ray Middleton seems liver than normal as both Scrooge's nephew and the ghost of Christmas present. Sti, the plight of Tiny Tim is touching and the themes remain timeless. Remade countless times in several ways, this one will remain an obscure view of Dickens' most beloved classic. It won't ever compare to the several later musical versions, especially the Albert Finney remake in 1970.