Customer Reviews

Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol

5 star:		(194)
4 star:		(22)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I thoroughly enjoyed "Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol" when it first was broadcast on television back in 1962. Not only did it feature the then well-known lovable bumbler Magoo, as played by the great Jim Backus, but the musical score was absolutely wonderful. All of the songs in this "Broadway"-style rendition are catchy, and some of them are truly touching and memorable.

Since this brief animated production was created nearly forty years ago, there have been countless new "Christmas Carol" productions featuring everyone from George C. Scott to the Muppets to Fred Flintstone (really!) And yet the VHS release of the Magoo version, still apparently as appealing now as it was decades ago, is my own children's favorite version of Dickens' classic yuletide tale. In fact, my younger son at age three used to beg me to play this video again and again at Christmastime, calling it "Back, Back, Back," based upon the opening song in which Magoo sings about how it's "great to be back, back, back on Broadway."

This cartoon is reasonably true to the details of the original story, and yet adds its own bits of humor and whimsy. There also is a generous dose of Magoo "nearsightedness" humor associated with the premise that Magoo is playing the role of Scrooge in a Broadway production.

As other reviewers have indicated, the casting overall is first-rate and the production is superb throughout. This is truly a gem of a Christmas video and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

"Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol" has always been my favorite musical version of Dicken's classic tale for the simple reason that the songs have been better than all those other versions, including the most recent attempt with Kelsey Grammar. Since the music and lyrics are by Jule Styne and Bob Merrill, the same team that did "Funny Girl," this is not surprising. I have just finished watching the show again and I finally noticed that there are only four songs. They just happen to be four really good songs and even when there is not singing three of them are used to great effect as background music. No wonder that as soon as you hear the opening theme on the DVD the feelings and memories coming rushing back.

Once you get past the framing device of Magoo showing up for the performance and taking a curtain call as he brings down the house at the start and the end of the show there are only a few moments where you are dealing with Mr. Magoo's nearsightedness. For the most part Barbara Chain's script does "A Christmas Carol" straight up and it works, mainly because when Mr. Magoo scowls and does his whole "Bah, humbug" bit you buy it. As we all know Jim Backus does the voice of Mr. Magoo/Scrooge, while Jack Cassidy does Bob Cratchit, Royal Dano is Marley's Ghost, Les Tremayne voices the Ghost of Christmas Present, the great June Foray (a.k.a. Rocky the Flying Squirrel) does the Ghost of Christmas Past, Joan Garnder is Tiny Tim (who is "played" by another cartoon character from the 1950s, Gerald McBoing-Boing), and Paul Frees' recognizable voice does several characters. Frees and Foray sing together on "The Bandit Song" and Jane Kean sings "Winter Was Warm" as Belle, the woman beloved by the young Scrooge.

All things considered, "Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol" is my favorite animated holiday show and it is not Christmas unless I see it, "A Charlie Brown Christmas," and "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." I love the finale when they all sing "The Cratchit Family Dinner Song" (a.k.a. "We'll Have the Lord's Bright Blessing"). It does not matter that the animation is bare-boned (the audience never moves) or that there are some completely comic supporting characters, because the songs are so wonderful and the emotion of the story comes through. Watching your favorite holiday specials brings back memories of Christmas as a child, and there is not much in this world sweeter than that. I do not know if this show can win over a new generation of fans, but if you have ever seen this one you know you have to see it again.

Like so many other reviewers here, I grew up with this annual treat, and the DVD renews fond memories. But this particular TV special did something much more important for me in the long run--it got me interested in reading. I read the Dickens story as a result of watching it, and that led to a lifelong love of the written word. I'm a novelist now, and I owe it all to Mr. Magoo!

PARENTS, TAKE NOTE: The story is terrific, the songs are delightful, and every kid loves Mr. Magoo. And it manages to get the positive love-thy-neighbor message across in 52 animated minutes, with every famous moment and famous line intact--a lot easier on smaller children than the many 2-hour movie versions with live actors. Try parking your kids in front of this. Maybe they will do what I did and reach for the book. And watch it with them--it really is beautiful, and you'll enjoy it, too.

I humbly wish to thank Good Times Video for re-releasing this holiday treasure--and I write these words well into January. I ordered this DVD in a fit of nostalgia, and as I watched it for the first time since I was a child, I felt tears streaming down my face. I soon realized I hadn't seen this wonderful program since I believed in Santa Claus! I couldn't have been more than 7 or 8 since that last time I saw it, yet it has stuck in my mind and heart ever since--the INCREDIBLE Stine/Merrill score, the wonderfully "early 60s" animation style, the faithful retelling of the Dickens classic, the adorable Tiny Tim, the terrific voice performances by Jim Backus, Jack Cassidy, and many others. "Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol" might not have been the most sophistically animated Christmas special ever broadcast, but its warm heart and passionate script make it one of the most truly unforgetable (and beautiful) TV experiences of my lifetime. If you have a family with small children, perhaps ages 5 and up, order this program and enjoy it with them. Perhaps they too will have a holiday memory that will last as strongly as mine. Thank you, Good Times Video and Amazon--no make that an uppercase THANK YOU--for blessing me with this cartoon classic that I feared was lost forever. And those songs..........those wonderful,loving, memorable songs!

To say Amazon's editorial review of this perennial holiday favorite is off-base would be a gross understatement. "Minimally animated"? Yes, but limited animation can be rewarding when the design work (for which the UPA studio was famous) is as beautifully executed as the work done here - the graveyard scenes and the changing visual landscapes that accompany the song "Winter Was Warm" (more about that below) are particularly striking and memorable. "...forgettable songs by Jules Styne and Bob Merrill"?!! First off, the man's name is JULE Styne - a "professional" critic might at least get the composer's name right. Secondly, the score is the most wonderful part of this thoroughly entertaining film, as noted by every single Amazon customer that has lovingly recommended it. JULE Styne and Bob Merrill ("Funny Girl") were at the peak of their creative powers when they wrote these songs, many of which have resonated with viewers through the years. "All Alone In The World," sung by the neglected child Scrooge, beautifully and poignantly expresses the emotions of many a left-behind child. Particularly gorgeous is "Winter Was Warm," a ballad of loss and heartbreak wistfully sung by Jane Kean, and long overdue for rediscovery by the cabaret set. One could buy this JUST for the score! The story has of course been edited to fit a one-hour tv time slot, but the dialogue is surprisingly faithful to Dickens, and the voice work (including of course Jim Backus, Jack Cassidy and June Foray) is top-notch. This little gem will still be watched and rediscovered for years to come.

I should preface this review by stating that I am somewhat prejudiced as my father, Lee Orgel, conceived and produced this classic animated TV special. I believe it is the finest thing he was ever associated with.

The Christmas Carol is presented as a show-within-a-show, with the premise being the myopic Mr. Magoo playing the role of Ebeneezer Scrooge on Broadway. While there are the usual sight gags in segments that bracket the main story, Magoo plays it straight while in character.

The script, by Barbara Chain, is a very faithful condensation of the Dickens classic. All the story elements are preserved, though necessarily shortened to fit a 52 minute time frame. Bob Crachit, Tiny Tim, Marley's ghost, and the spirits of Crhistmas past, present, and future are all there.

Voice talent, provided by Jim Backus (as Magoo), Tony Award winner Jack Cassidy, Paul Frees, Morey Amsterdam (The Dick Van Dyke Show), June Foray (Rocky and Bullwinkle), and others, is a cut above other animated TV specials of the era.

Where this show really shines, however, is the songs. Composer Jule Styne, whose work includes the Broadway hits "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes", "Gypsy", and "Funny Girl", and lyricist Bob Merrill, who penned 18 top-ten songs in the 1950's, and collaberated with Styne on "Funny Girl" and other Broadway hits, provide songs which other animated Christmas specials cannot touch.

This considerable assemblage of talent provides a truly special show. Sometimes lighthearted, as when Scrooge's belongings are sold by ragpickers, and sometimes poignant, as when we see the departed Tiny Tim's crutch by the fireplace, this show will move you. Since Tiny Tim comes out at the end and takes a curtain call, even young children will be able to enjoy the show.

My only negative comment, and the only thing that prevents me from giving this DVD 5 stars, is the washed-out colors in the transfer. Obviously GoodTimes DVD doesn't have the budget to restore the original colors to the production.

That quibble aside, I believe that you will find this to be the finest animated Christmas special ever made, one that will enchant the entire family.

I can still remember sitting and watching "Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol" at my grandparent's house during the Christmas season when I was a kid. This DVD brings back so many fond memories. While the animation may seem simple by some of today's standards the entire production is first rate! From the adaptation of a classic story, to the songs written for the cartoon, to voice talents and performances it is all top quality and will be enjoyed by both children and adults! When I got this DVD, I introduced it to my kids and it has become a Christmas tradition (along with A Charlie Brown Christmas). Highly recommended!

We make it a tradition in our house to watch this movie on Christmas - and we're Jewish! This is a funny cartoon version of A Christmas Carol, which has Mr. Magoo starring as Scrooge in a theatrical production (in the classic show within a show tradition). The songs are cute (yes, it's a musical) and the story remains intact, although shortened. The Tiny Tim here is the cutest one I've seen in any version of A Christmas Carol - in fact this is one of the best versions out there.

I loved "Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol" as a kid and always tried to find it every year. This year, when my husband told me he'd never seen it, I had to buy the DVD.

I still love the story and it always makes me laugh to see the dickens of a time Mr. Magoo has to get to the theatre just to put on "The Christmas Carol" on Broadway. You see, this story is not just the old tale, but a stage adaptation with music and the occasional bit part from the very harried director.

Also included on this disk is a history of Mr. Magoo, which is unfortunately only written for you to scroll through and read and a wonderful Mr. Magoo original cartoon. It's all very well done, but I was very much hoping for more of a history than just something I could have read off a pamphlet and that's my reason for the one - star deduction.

If you loved this story as a kid, you will probably love it as an adult--and your children might, too!

Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol has always been a favorite of mine, and for the past decade it's been virtually impossible to see on TV, and when it does pop up, it's always edited (For time reasons), and the "La La La" and "Ringle Ringle" songs are usually cut. The DVD delivers the entire uncut cartoon, text features about Magoo's history and the composing team of Jules Styne & Bob Merrill (who wrote the cartoon's excellent songs, which you'll be humming for weeks), a look at the movie poster (On the DVD; There's NOT a poster included with the DVD), and a bonus cartoon: "Magoo meets McBoing-Boing", where Magoo babysits Dr. Seuss's character Gerald McBoing-Boing. There are two different versions of this DVD (One by Goodtimes and one by Sony); Both DVD's are identical in content, but the Sony version seems to have sharper colors and better sound.