Scrooge (1970) 7.2
A musical retelling of Charles Dickens' classic Christmas tale. Director:Ronald Neame |
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Scrooge (1970) 7.2
A musical retelling of Charles Dickens' classic Christmas tale. Director:Ronald Neame |
|
| 0Share... |
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Albert Finney | ... | ||
| Edith Evans | ... | ||
| Kenneth More | ... | ||
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Laurence Naismith | ... | |
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Michael Medwin | ... | |
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David Collings | ... | |
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Anton Rodgers | ... |
Tom Jenkins
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Suzanne Neve | ... | |
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Frances Cuka | ... |
Ethel Cratchit
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Derek Francis | ... | |
| Gordon Jackson | ... |
Tom - Friend of Harry's
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| Roy Kinnear | ... | ||
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Mary Peach | ... | |
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Paddy Stone | ... | |
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Kay Walsh | ... | |
In 1860, the stingy and cranky Ebenezer Scrooge that hates Christmas; loathes people and defends the decrease of the surplus of poor population runs his bank exploiting his employee Bob Cratchit and clients, giving a bitter treatment to his own nephew and acquaintances. However, in the Christmas Eve, he is visited by the doomed ghost of his former partner Jacob Marley that tells him that three spirits would visit him that night. The first one, the spirit of past Christmas, recalls his miserable youth when he lost his only love due to his greed; the spirit of the present Christmas shows him the poor situation of Bob's family and how joyful life may be; and the spirit of future Christmas shows his fate. Scrooge finds that life is good and time is too short and suddenly you are not there anymore, changing his behavior toward Christmas, Bob, his nephew and people in general. Written by Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
This film is an underrated classic family musical. In the spirit and tradition of Oliver! and My Fair Lady, with an energetic memorable score and an eclectic cast all on top form. Sir Alec Guinness, Dame Edith Evans and the wonderful Kenneth Moore support magnificently. Moore in one of the last roles before his untimely death, clearly enjoying hamming it up as the ghost of Christmas present carrying the miserable scrooge along for the ride of his life whilst singing `I like life!' is a joy to see.
But Finney's performance is the standout. At a time when he was making films like Charlie Bubbles and Gumshoe, and with a reputation of being one of Britain's foremost angry young men this role was as unexpected as it was wonderful.
As a side note I was lucky enough to be able to see Anthony Newley as the miser in Bricusse's early nineties theatrical revival, and although good was no where near as cutting or humorous as Finney.
A must see at Christmas time, you too will be singing `I like life' and `thank you very much' for days afterwards!