A Christmas Carol/Scrooge

I don't own any version of this classic Christmas story on any video format. Of all of the versions of this (how many are there?)...Alastair Sim, George C. Scott, Reginald Owen, Patrick Stewart...Which one (or two) do you think are the best to get? (I'm looking for the classic story...not something that was re-worked, like the Bill Murray film.)

Thanks!
Dexter

 

...every year we watch...Alastair Sim, George C. Scott, Reginald Owen versions, and the Jack Palance Western version...Ebenezer!

 

Alastair Sim all the way

 

Alastair Sim or Mr. Magoo ("Great to be back on Broadway!!!!")

 

Albert Finney gets my vote. Thank you very much, Thank you very much....

 

Alastair Sim. All the elements perfectly executed. Heartbreaking and uplifting. Simply a classic film. Wouldn't be Christmas without it.

 

Yeah, mine too.

 

I like the Albert Finney version the best, and that's the 1970 musical adaptation in case you didn't know. Otherwise the Alastair Sim version is the way to go.

 

Alastair Sim for me. Michael Caine too (Muppet Christmas Carol)

 

I was looking for a DVD of some classic that I don't have, and in particular, White Christmas, but the B&M store I was in a few days ago only had some kids cartoon Xmas movies, and Christmas with The Kranks

Anyway, Alastair Sim and the other usual suspects -Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th, etc, will get their annual spin.

 

The Mr. Magoo version scared the crap out of me for years when the ghost of christmas future appears. My favorite is a recorded version with Lionel Barrymore as Scrooge.

John K.

 

What, no votes for the version starring Fonzie?

Alastair Sim and Magoo here.

Other holiday watching planned, Charlie Brown, The Grinch (cartoon), A Wish For Wings That Work, the great Christmas With SCTV, and The Brian Setzer Orchestra's Christmas Extravaganza.

We've also got one of those holiday fireplace DVD's too!

 

Get the 1951 Alastair Sim version. After watching it, I found myself wondering why anyone would need to redo this story. Alastair Sim is a powerful Ebenezer Scrooge. I was stunned by how good he is. So was my wife.

 

My faves are Alastair Sim and George C. Scott. The version that came out a couple of years ago with Patrick Stewart was pretty good too, I thought. But then I'm a "trekker" so I'm a bit partial...

 

Alastair Sim is my sentimental favorite, but I think the George C. Scott version is extremely well done. It will become a classic, IMO.

 

Alastair Sim's Ebeneezer Scrooge cannot be topped, and the George C. Scott overall production is as good as it gets.

The Alastair Sim version is from 1951, and to date, no really great transfer has been done in any format. I hear of a Canadian version that might be as good as, or perhaps a small amount better than the Region 1 VCI version. There are rumors of a better release perhaps next year.

I love the music in both versions, and both get played every year in our house, along with the Reginald Owen version, respectable in its own right, even with its Hollywood flourishes.

 

I would say the George C. Scott version is the best.

 

George C. Scott is a great actor. You really can't go wrong with this TV version, either. Here is some trivia from the IMDB that is interesting:

Director Clive Donner was the film editor on Scrooge [Alastair Sims] (1951).

 

Agreed !!!

That version is a Christmas tradition in our house as well.

Merry Xmas

NicS

 

Ya know, I really should get around to watching the VCI Alastair Sim dvd. I remember one of my friends at VCI bragging about how they had the rights to the best version, but I wasnt sure if he was just happy to have the rights or if it really was the best version. I guess now is a good time to call him up and invite myself over to watch it. My favorite is the Muppet version, just watched it last night.