Directed by: Ronald Neame
Starring: Albert Finney, Michael Medwin, Dame Edith Evans, Alec Guinness, Laurence Naismith, Suzanne Neve, Kenneth More, David Collings
The Scrooge soundtrack and movie were staples at my house during the Christmas season. It took me years to decipher the lyrics to "Thank You Very Much" due to the singers' Cockney accents. But I did, by God. One could easily assume a musical based on Dickens' A Christmas Carol would be a surefire disaster. However, the songs are good and the actors play the material with spirit. The rest takes care of itself.
Scrooge's plot and themes are so universally known by now that I don't need to recap the finer plot points. What a relief. And if you do not know A Christmas Carol because you have been trapped in an underwater cave for most of your life, then read the book before reading one more sentence of this review. Ebenezer Scrooge is played by Albert Finney, who is pictured above. It is mind boggling to realize he was only about 35 when the movie was made. His makeup and mannerisms ensure a convincing performance as the old, mean miser. Alec Guinness is a Jacob Marley complete with very heavy looking chains and a load of regret in his soul. I read on imdb.com the weight of the chains injured Guinness and forced him to undergo surgery. I wasn't aware they were so authentic.
The songs by Leslie Bricusse are enjoyable. "Thank You Very Much" is the highlight, but there are some nice quiet numbers underscoring Scrooge's regret (You, You) and even loud, bombastic celebrations (December the 25th). They work well and they don't force you to fast forward to the scenes in which the characters aren't singing. Not every musical can claim that.
Scrooge is a faithful adaptation of the Dickens classic. It does take liberties with the story by having Scrooge reveal exactly how much he donates to the charity he initially shunned and by identifying himself as the turkey donor to the Cratchits. The scene in which Cratchit receives an unexpected raise the day after Christmas is gone too, mostly because Scrooge takes care of all of that business when he delivers the turkey. This is a big-scale musical that succeeds.
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