What’s your favorite production of A Christmas Carol?
Include as much detail as you can to explain why it’s your favorite and what you like about it. Feel free to include your least favorite as well.
I’ll start.
My favorite is the 1999 TNT version.
What I like about it:
It has an incredible cast including Patrick Stewart as Ebenezer Scrooge and Richard Grant as Bob Cratchit (also Joel Grey, Dominic West, Saskia Reeves, Ian McNeice, etc.). The story is well realized. It stays true to source material and fills in where necessary for the television production. I particularly enjoy seeing the travels of the Ghost of Christmas Present as he visits various people to spread his blessing. I also like how Richard Grant’s Cratchit reacts when first encountering Scrooge in his redeemed state.
If I had to give a runner-up, I’d say the 1951 version with Alistair Sim as Scrooge. I really love his Christmas Day performance after he’s repented. The playful, manic, childlike joy he expresses really touches me.
After that, it would be the Muppet Christmas Carol, with Statler and Waldorf playing Scrooge’s business partners, Jacob and Bob Marley.
My least favorite is the 2009 version with Jim Carrey. I can’t get past the uncanny valley effect. It seems more gimmick than art to me.
Muppet Christmas Carol is the only Christmas movie I still look forward to when the Christmas season first starts. I like the changes they made to make it more family friendly while still letting Ebenezer hit a proper rock bottom with Christmas Future. Gonzo and Rizzo do a great job bringing the fully Muppetness to the story in a way that doesn’t feel unnatural at all. Two Marley’s I think helps sell the impact on Ebenezer, and it gives us the Bob Marley gag. And Micheal Cain gives it 100%, not at all hammed up because most of his costars are felt.
Most years I do find time to also watch Scrooged. Put Carol Kane in a thing, and I’m going to watch it.