When talking to people about A Christmas Carol, this movie comes up most often as the favorite adaptation, and I can see why. This one has so many wonderful elements. It’s a near perfect adaptation.

This was a British-American co production that was made for television broadcast. They spared no expense. From the sets and production design to the casting, this is full movie experience with lush costumes and sets, and cinematic flourishes that absolutely transported me.

George C Scott plays Scrooge this time around. David Warner as Bob, and Frank Finlay giving 1,000,000% as Jacob Marley. This movie has some of my favorites in any adaption starting with Marley.

This is my favorite Jacob Marley. Frank Finlay is unreal in this role. He is completely arresting and terrifying. His agony and rage is palpable. He is the first Marley who truly seems to be suffering in his afterlife and feels truly desperate to rescue Scrooge from his fate. His chains actually seem to be heavy, too many Marley’s are rattling weightless plastic-looking chains around. His eyes are glazed over, and he is constantly looking off into the distance never seeming to see the world around him. He is haunting, and what is a Christmas Carol but a ghost story. I love this Marley.

There’s an anger int his movie that permeates the whole story. Marley is full of Rage. Scrooge is angry with everyone. The Ghost of Christmas Present, typically a jolly fellow, is combative and angry toward Scrooge. When he throws Scrooge’s own words back at him there’s real venom behind the words. He dislikes Scrooge just as much as Scrooge dislikes Christmas. It’s a very unique dynamic in these movies, and I loved it. I loved that there’s some real conflict and antagonism against Scrooge.

I loved the Ghost of Christmas Future too. It is my favorite version of this ghost. Typically it’s a man in a black grim reaper costume. This one is always shown at a distance and in shadow almost becoming a part of the shadows of whatever room it’s in. It is the most menacing presence I’ve seen in these movies. It’s awesome.

The biggest thing that wasn’t my favorite was actually George C Scott. Everyone praises the performance, and I loved a lot of what he’s up to here, but he didn’t fully capture Scrooge for me. He’s too jovial in the opening scenes. He’s joking with a twinkle in his eye. No one likes his jokes, but he clearly has a sense of humor and likes to joke about the poor and destitute. He goes out into the world in this movie. He interacts with people. He is not “Solitary as and oyster” as Dickens described him. His transformation is jubilant, but it feels too abrupt. He sees his own grave and suddenly repents. His transformation just didn’t feel as earned as others I’ve seen. Now these complaints are minor. I’ve watched so many of versions of this story that I have a lot of comparisons to call to mind, and maybe I’m comparing too much, but Scott just didn’t fully capture Scrooge for me.

This is one of the best adaptations I’ve seen. I first watched it years ago, and sort of filed it away for future viewing. I’m vewry glad I returned to it. It is excellent. It is a great adaptation. I loved it. It’s not perfect, but I still enjoyed the heck out of it.

It is my cup of tea. A