Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol (1962)

This musical adaptation of the classic tale by Charles Dickens stars Magoo as the cold-hearted old miser, Ebenezer Scrooge.

Director:

Abe Levitow

Writers:

Charles Dickens (story), Barbara Chain (adaptation)

Stars:

Jim Backus, Morey Amsterdam, Jack Cassidy

Cast

Cast overview:
Jim Backus	...	Ebenezer Scrooge / Mr. Magoo (voice)
Morey Amsterdam	...	Brady / James (voice)
Jack Cassidy	...	Bob Cratchit / Dick Wilkins (voice)
Royal Dano	...	Marley's Ghost (voice)
Paul Frees	...	Stage Director / Charity Man / Fezziwig / Old Joe / Undertaker (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 / Cratchit Daughter (voice)
Laura Olsher	...	Mrs. Cratchit / Boy Who Buys Turkey / Cratchit Son (voice)
Les Tremayne	...	Ghost of Christmas Present (voice)

Storyline

Bah, Humbug, Mr. Magoo. Watch Charles Dickens classic tale of regret, redemption, and the power of the Christmas spirit like never before with Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol. Starring the beloved, bumbling Mr. Magoo as Ebenezer Scrooge, a miserly businessman who learns the error of his greedy ways on a magical and musical journey through the past, present, and future Christmases of his life. Jim Backus, Morey Amsterdam, Jack Cassidy and Royal Dano lend their voice talents to the first animated holiday special in television history.

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Plot Keywords:

a christmas carol | ebenezer scrooge character | mr. magoo character | nearsightedness | adaptation of a christmas carol | 

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Genres:

Animation | Comedy | Drama | Family | Fantasy | Musical

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

The first of the cartoon Christmas specials that were run annually by the major networks and now by various cable channels.

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Goofs

The Cratchits repeatedly wish for a Christmas tree. In 1843, when "A Christmas Carol" was published and presumably takes place, German-style Christmas trees had just been introduced to England by the Royal Family, and were unknown to working class people such as the Cratchits.

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Quotes

Ebenezer Scrooge: Spirit! They're gone! Spirit, they've vanished!
Ghost of Christmas Past: Not quite all.

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Alternate Versions

Although shown in its entire 53-minute version during the 1960s, many current television prints of the "Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol" have been cut by as much as 10 minutes to make room for longer commercial breaks. The "Back to Broadway" framing story is often eliminated, as well as the songs "Ringle, Ringle" and "We're Despicable".

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Connections

Version of A Christmas Carol at Ford's Theatre (1979)

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Soundtracks

Joy To the World
(uncredited)
Written by Isaac Watts and Lowell Mason
Performed by Carolers

User Reviews

DVD version is still an edited version.

This has always been one of my favorite Christmas specials; however, one of the scenes that makes it so memorable has been cut out of the newest release.

When I watched this growing up in the late 70's and early 80's, I never saw the opening and closing "Broadway" scenes. Users on IMDb and other websites have commented that they were delighted to have these missing scenes in the latest version. Unfortunately, I do not share their enthusiasm. I find these book ending scenes annoying and darn-near un-watchable. The "Back, back, back on Broadway" number that opens the special makes me want to leave the room. The slapstick is completely unrelated to the tone of the play and distracting. I must come clean that I have never been a big fan of Mr. Magoo cartoons ... except this one. That is only because he isn't acting like Mr. Magoo for the vast majority of the show. I half-joked to my wife that they should just call it Jim Backus's Christmas Carol.

In any case, the one scene that I looking forward to seeing has been cut out of this version. After the "Winter Was Warm" number, the Ghost of Christmas Past tells Scrooge that there "is one shadow more." And then we get this strange wavey cut to the scene where the Ghost leaves him and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come appears. Within that wavey cut is the missing scene I am referring to.

In the scene, the Ghost takes Scrooge to a large country home. In it we see an older Belle. Her husband and children come home, and it is obvious that they are a happy family getting ready for Christmas. Belle's husband remarks to Belle that he "saw an old friend of yours in town today." He saw Scrooge and tells Belle how mean and unhappy he looked. Belle turns and stares at the snow falling outside the window and you can hear the tune from "Winter is Warm" being reprised. This scene always struck me as a child. Not only does it show the happiness that Scrooge missed out on ... which is obvious. But it also demonstrates the loss that Belle still feels even though she lives such a good life.

The fact that no one has mentioned this scene in all the user reviews for this special had me half-believing I had imagined it. However, I have verified that the scene is in the Dickens's original story (I have never read the original all the way through and only discovered this scene when I was searching for it in connection to this "Magoo problem"). Furthermore, before the wavey cut, the Ghost states he has "one shadow more." I do not believe he is referring to the Ghost of Christmas Future. The "shadows" are not the ghosts, they are the shadows of the past.

Is there anyone out there who also remembers this scene or am I completely mad!?!

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Universal Pictures Home Entertainment [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 December 1962 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Christmas Carol

Company Credits

Production Co:

United Productions of America (UPA)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

53 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1