Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol (1962) (TV)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Abe Levitow

Writers:

Charles Dickens (story)
Barbara Chain (adaptation)

Release Date:

18 December 1962 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Comedy | Drama | Family | Fantasy | Musical

Plot:

An animated, magical, musical version of Dickens' timeless classic "A Christmas Carol." The nearsighted Mr...

Plot Keywords:

Christmas | Ghost | Christmas Eve | Scrooge | Doom

Cast

Jim Backus	...	Ebenezer Scrooge / Mr. Magoo (voice)
Morey Amsterdam	...	Brady / James (voice)
Jack Cassidy	...	Bob Cratchit (voice)
Royal Dano	...	Marley's Ghost (voice)
Paul Frees	...	Stage Director / Charity Man / Fezziwig / Eyepatch Man / Tall Tophat Man (voice)
Joan Gardner	...	Tiny Tim / Ghost of Christmas Past (voice)
John Hart	...	Billings / Stage Manager / Milkman (voice)
Jane Kean	...	Belle (voice)
Marie Matthews	...	Young Scrooge (voice)
Laura Olsher	...	Mrs. Cratchit (voice)
Les Tremayne	...	Ghost of Christmas Present (voice)

Runtime:

53 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #20330) | USA:G

Company:

United Productions of America (UPA)

Trivia:

The word "humbug" is misunderstood by many people, which is a pity since the word provides a key insight into Scrooge's hatred of Christmas. The word "humbug" describes deceitful efforts to fool people by pretending to a fake loftiness or false sincerity. So when Scrooge calls Christmas a humbug, he is claiming that people only pretend to charity and kindness in an scoundrel effort to delude him, each other, and themselves. In Scrooge's eyes, he is the one man honest enough to admit that no one really cares about anyone else, so for him, every wish for a Merry Christmas is one more deceitful effort to fool him and take advantage of him. This is a man who has turned to profit because he honestly believes everyone else will someday betray him or abandon him the moment he trusts them.

Quotes:

Ebenezer Scrooge: [looks at a horse] You my good man, Merry Christmas!
[horse neighs]
Ebenezer Scrooge: Ah same to you!

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "The Simpsons: 'Tis the Fifteenth Season (#15.7)" (2003)

Soundtrack:

Alone in the World

An Annual True Classic

This wonderful animated film is timeless. I had the special privilege of working with those talented individuals in this production. (I was the voice of young Ebenezer Scrooge.) Jim Backus, Royal Dano, Paul Frees, and all the rest were pure magic working together. You can imagine the antics that went on during rehearsals and taping. We were laughing almost as much of the time as we were performing our parts! The music (Walter Scharf, Bob Merrill, Jule Styne) had a style all its own which perfectly matched the characters and settings. It's no wonder this production has been so popular year after year. I'm sure it will continue to bring enjoyment to families for many years to come.