Official PoCo Muse Film Critic Jeff Schultz revisits Scrooge for his January 2021 Review.
When it comes to choosing which version of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol to watch, there is no shortage of options. You’ll find dozens listed on YouTube or rent your personal favorite whether it’s with the Muppets, Bugs Bunny, Jim Carrey or Bill Murray.
Rarely a year goes by now without a new movie or TV show that is in some form based on Dickens’ classic tale, adding to an already plethora of choices for audiences eager to get into the holiday spirit. This was not the same luxury 50 years ago however when the Premier Theatre in downtown Valparaiso showed the 1970 version of “Scrooge” in its original theatrical run. Adults then may have remembered seeing the 1938 MGM version with actor Reginald Owen in the role of Ebenezer Scrooge, or perhaps one of the British film adaptations starring Sir Seymour Hicks or Alastair Sim. Kids may have remembered the story best from a cartoon like “Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol” which played on TV in the 1960s.
Despite its popularity, A Christmas Carol never really got the so-called “Hollywood treatment” prior to 1970. Previous film versions were made rather inexpensively and shot in black and white. Not only was the 1970 version the first musical adaptation, it was the first to have been made in color and on a grand scale, so those watching it in movie theaters like the Premier probably found it to be rather special experience compared to today.
Playing the title role of Scrooge is Albert Finney. Watching the movie, you would think Finney to be a natural pick but the casting is a little more offbeat than you might think. Surprisingly, Finney was only in his early 30s when the movie was filmed, whereas Scrooge’s age is more than twice that. To achieve the look of an old miser, Finney underwent extensive makeup that would require three hours each day to apply. Audiences then probably remembered Finney best from his Oscar-nominated role as the mischievous lothario in “Tom Jones,” which won the Best Picture Oscar in 1964. What would have been more recent, he co-starred with Audrey Hepburn in a romantic hit from 1967 titled “Two For the Road.”
Other notable casting is the revered Sir Alec Guinness as the ghost of Scrooge’s former business partner Jacob Marley. It would be several years later when Guinness would play his most iconic role as Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars, but American audiences in 1970 would have known him best from three David Lean-directed epics – “The Bridge On the River Kwai,” “Lawrence of Arabia,” and “Doctor Zhivago.” Playing the Ghost of Christmas Past is Dame Edith Evans who also starred with Finney in “Tom Jones.” One of her famous movie roles was that of the Rev. Mother Emmanuel in 1959’s “The Nun’s Story.” Making his film debut in “Scrooge” as Tiny Tim is 8-year-old Richard Beaumont who has a song of his own titled “The Beautiful Day” in the movie.
The songs in “Scrooge”, as well as the movie’s script, were written by English composer and lyricist Leslie Bricusse. Bricusse previously wrote songs for James Bond movies, including the themes to “Goldfinger” and “You Only Live Twice,” and a wealth of popular songs from the 1960s and 1970s such as “Feeling Good” sung by Nina Simone and “The Candy Man” from the film “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” later made popular by Sammy Davis, Jr. Bricusse won an Oscar for Best Original Song in 1967’s “Doctor Dolittle” writing the lyrics to “Talk to the Animals.”
Musicals remained a popular and bankable genre for movie studios when “Scrooge” was released, making a comeback after being a box office draw throughout the 1930s. Some of those studio heads were still around and were reluctant to make new kinds of films reflecting the spirit of the counterculture movement. It’s likely that “Scrooge” was made as a result from the critical and financial success brought on by another musical adaption of a Charles Dickens novel, “Oliver!”
Given a lush budget and songs by Leslie Bricusse, “Scrooge” provides enjoyable screen entertainment. The film is rated G for families, but if you were watching in the Premier Theatre you may have seen a few parents take their young children out into lobby during the ghost scenes as some are potently frightening. There are more tender moments to counteract those. Many patrons were likely humming along with the film’s big musical finale, “Thank You Very Much,” unable to remove the earworm until next Christmas. While it may not maybe as masterful or beloved as other adaptions, “Scrooge” may have the most indelible ending shot with Scrooge returning home and affixing the infamous Marley door knocker with a Santa Claus hat and beard.
Going Back to the Movies gives “Scrooge” 3 out of 4 stars.
Scrooge is currently available for on-demand viewing at no cost through Tubi TV. We have no affiliation with Tubi, but it’s neat you can watch it for free from home.