So I Saw A Christmas Carol - 1984...

So... I finally saw the 1984 version of A Christmas Carol starring George C. Scott.

I enjoyed it. I was impressed by Scott, a different portrayal than Patrick Stewart or Michael Caine. I think I still like the Patrick Stewart portrayal the best, but I did like Scott. He is gruff, mean, unlikeable. He plays it more inward, Stewart and Caine more outward (showing the difference between American and British acting technique). It was interesting to see how the same character can be played differently by very good actors, and each seems perfect for the part. They also found good actors who looked like Scott to play the younger versions of Scrooge (and even the father looked like him a bit.) One problem... Scott is trying to do a British accent, but it doesn't really stick. But I forgive him, I didn't notice much:)

The effects were definitely not as seamless as the Muppet version or the Stewart version, mostly because they were physical effects, lighting effects, or superimposed images (Marley in the door knocker, walking up stairs, the ghosts moving in time etc.) I don't fault the film for this, it was made in 1984:) I noticed, by the way, that Jacob Marley never blinks... freaky. They were quite good physical effects, except for one shot of the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come moving across the screen... it looked like a man in a cloak on a dolly.

I thought the Ghost of Christmas Present was a bit to gruff, not joyful enough. It was similar to the whole film, it was very concerned with making sure you got the point. Scrooge says things to himself that should have been left in images ("those are my things") and the music was a bit overpowering. Subtlety is a wonderful thing. Yes, the Stewart version dumbs down some language, but it keeps that subtlety in the theme and message.

The Ghosts... Past was... fine. In the book it is described as a child who looks old. This was a woman... looked like a woman not a child. Whatever. Present... I thought was gruff, a bit less cheery than I like. Future... wooden and physical (you can tell they were going for an effect that would be easy now) but other than that, which is a result, again, of when it was made... I found the "voice" to be rather annoying. I like the silent, dark cloaked figure that looks like death idea.

I did like the Crachitt familiy portrayal all the way around. And Fred and his wife. "Tight as a drum".

But those are minor squabbles. It was a good film, well done, nicely filmed, well acted.

I still like the Stewart version best. I'll have to see that one again to make sure. But this was a worthy version, and definitely in the top 2.