85 of 91 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A haunting ghost story, December 6, 2001
Somehow, across the years, the story of Ebenezer Scrooge and his three ghosts has been transformed from it's spooky roots to light-hearted family fare. Scrooge is not so much evil, as grumpy. The ghost's tend to amuse rather than frighten.
This black-and-white version of "A Christmas Carol" maintains the horror roots of the story. Jacob Marley is one of the most frightening ghosts to haunt the silver screen. He grows intolerant of the idea that Scrooge is not frightened, and howls his rage and frustration. The Ghost of Christmas Past is an impersonal specter, cold and distant. Present is jolly and yet quick to anger. Future is the grim shade that he is supposed to be.
The back story of Scrooge is told in greater detail here than in any other version. He resents Fred, not because of his Christmas cheer but because his birth caused the death of Scrooge's beloved sister. He not only remembers the good times at Fezzywig's, he remembers putting Fezzywig out of business later in life. Alastair Sim brings this character to fullness more than any other actor. The Christmas morning scene is a delight, and worth the wait.
As a bonus, the Fleischer "Rudolph the Rednose Reindeer" is included on this disk. This is clearly Santa Claus by the people who gave us the first animated Superman. The animation is fluid and dynamic. One of the best extras on any DVD.
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17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
B&W & Color in this DVD, a must for the family film library, September 29, 2003
At the bottom of this review, there is a tiny bit of trivia, and I hope you'll like what I discovered. It's just some trivial tidbit stuff, that's all... So now, the review:
If you are changing to the DVD format from VHS, throw away your OLDER VHS tape and purchase this! The much older VHS tapes hadn't been remastered from the original print, which was discovered in England. The picture quality is so much better than those older 3rd- and fourth- generation tapes and broadcasts we've seen where everything seems like "Scrooge" was filmed in a fog. The contrast in the DVD is sharp and brilliant. The darks are deep yet the whites aren't at all washed out. Trust me, purchase the remastered version (I'm sure they also have released a remastered version in VHS, but I have converted to DVD).
The DVD has something for everyone, God bless us all. I watched the colorized version, but it seems... colorized. It simply doesn't have that warm, saturated, natural tone of movies filmed with color stock. Some may feel that younger people might in some way enjoy the colorized movie better, but try showing it to them in B&W first. Give them the chance to see the original which has stood the test of time, and for good reason. I still admire any DVD producer that takes advantage of the versatility of the options that can be pressed into the DVD format, and VCI Entertainment gave the consumer the choice. The black & white version is on one side, and just flip the double- sided disc over for the color version.
There are added features including a Max Fleischer cartoon of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. Although it was filmed in Technicolor, there was a very noticable color shift that occured in the original print. The audio wasn't that great, either. And honestly, it's not nearly as enjoyable as the animated puppet version that we used to see on CBS television with the Charlie Brown cartoon.
Also included is an introduction by Patrick Macnee, who you remember as John Steed in the TV series "The Avengers." I didn't understand at first why he was introducing the movie until I found that he played a bit part in "Scrooge (Macnee failed during his introduction to say whom he played)." So, I'll tell you: Look for him as the young Jacob Marley, early in the film, when Scrooge (Alastair Sim) is guided by the Spirit of Christmas Past (Michael Dolan). There is a 4- page color pamphlet included. One page shows a repro of an cute, yet quirky little original movie poster. Another has chapter stop and movie info. The inside pages are devoted to other DVD movie titles.
Okay, now the tidbit! What people liked about "Scrooge" is that the characters produced some more spontaneously funny moments that break the otherwise dark and gloomy tone of the story. Those of you who have watched "Bride of Frankenstein" have probably noted the similarities that I will describe! There are two characters in the "Scrooge" movie that I could have sworn mimicked two other characters in a different flick. The maid, Mrs. Dilber (Kathleen Harrison) in "Scrooge" seemed so much like the maid, Minnie (Una O'Connor) in "Bride of Frankenstein." Watch the similarities in how the characters play off each other in the different movies (Mrs. Dilber with Mr. Stretch, the undertaker [Ernest Thesiger] in "Scrooge;" Minnie with Dr. Pretorius [also played by Thesiger!]) I actually just discovered that Thesiger played in both movies! Maybe the producer and/or director of "Scrooge" tapped some ideas from the light moments between Mrs. Dilber and Mr. Stretch from the Frankenstein flick, but it worked. (I love that name, "Stretch!") Enjoy.
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11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Labor of Love, December 19, 2000
This review is from: A Christmas Carol [VHS] (VHS Tape)
I refer to the entire cast and crew as having made this magnificent
version as indeed a 'Labor of Love'. They all obviously cared deeply
about bringing the best of Dickens to the big-screen and succeeded. The
outdoor London 'sets' where several outdoor scenes of the offices of
Marley and Scrooge are shot are now long gone, real buildings from the
Victorian era that survived the 'Blitz' of WW II. And the indoor sets
were so well done, the flavor of the period well done.
Alastair Sim as Scrooge is marvelous, a wonderful turn by this fine
actor. But he is never better then when he awakens on Christmas Morning.
Dancing, singing, doing gymnastics! The pure joy on his face when he
inquires of Mrs. Dilber the housekeeper, played by Kathleen Harrison,
'what day is today'? And she responds 'Christmas Day' and his elation
that he hasn't missed Christmas. Or the following scenes with the
housekeeper. She thinks him quite mad! And why not? Hadn't he already,
in his sleeping gown, done a hand-stand on a chair, and she, screaming,
running out of his chambers with her apron over her face. When he
catches her up on the stairs and presses a golden coin in her hand she
pulls away at first, wondering what he wants from her. His face shows
her that all is well, a wonderful bit of acting in these two scenes by
Sim and Harrison.
Wonderful acting throughout, good sets, well shot and lit, a memorable
'Scrooge'/'A Christmas Carol'. I have the VHS version but now watch the
LD. Avoid the colorized version, my opinion. The colors just never look
right. Besides, the sets and lighting were done for B & W. Also, the LD
has far superior contrast then VHS could ever offer. Those who don't
have LD, I'm certain the DVD will be a joy. Regardless, buy a copy, even
if only VHS. Remember that the Christmas season really only begins on
Christmas Eve and runs to January 6. Plenty of time to buy and watch
this during the holidays. But see Leonard Maltin. Watch it anytime!
One last thing, note the production error in the Christmas Morning scene
when Sim as Scrooge is dancing merrily about his bedchamber. Few
reviewers ever mention this. Have you noticed it?!
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