This 1970 muscial written by Leslie Bricusse stars Albert Finney in the title roll of Charles Dickens character Ebanezer Scrooge
For those unfamilar with the story of Scrooge here goes, Scrooge is a money lender and very careful with his money. He is visited over the course of Christmas night by his dead partnet Jacob Marley who implores him to change his ways or endure the fate of Marley walking for eternity carrying a huge chain - the chain he forged in life - for his inhuminity to his other men. To push his point home Marley sends Scrooge visits from three ghosts over the course of Christmas Eve, these ghosts show him the past, the present and the future and how things may turn out if he does not mend his ways. Well eventually he does and he wakes Christmas Day a changed man
This has been filmed seriously many times prehaps most famously by Alistair Sim in the 1951 version. Well hot on the heels on the success of Oliver in the late sixties came this muscial and although not as great as Oliver it aint arf bad either guvoner.
Finney was a strange choice as whilst he carries the acting off with no problems he is not known for his singing ability, it is approached however much in the same way Rex Harrison used to approach Musicals in a sort of talk/sing mode
The supporting cast is great especially Sir Alec Guinness as a spooky Marley
The numbers are varied but the rousing Thank You Very Much is the definate show stopper here
The film was eventually turned into a stage musical and played about ten years ago to great acclaim with Anthony Newley in the lead. This year also sees a revival of it starring Tommy Steele in London and Shane Ritchie on tour if you have seen any of the excellent productions then it is interesting to see how the musical has evolved since this,its first outing
There are no extras on this DVD
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A mixed bag as variations onA Christmas Carolgo, this 1970 British musical tells the usual ... more
story of Scrooge (Albert Finney) and his spirits on Christmas Eve, although the whole thing is set to music by Leslie Bricusse. Except for Finney's feisty and in...
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The spirit of Christmas becomes a musical celebration of life in this rousing adaptation ... more
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