Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #574 in DVD
• Released on: 2006-11-06
• Rating: Universal, suitable for all
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Full Screen, PAL
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Icelandic, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 96 minutes

Special Features
4:3 Full Frame
DVD 5
English
English
Region 2
Dolby Digital 2.0 English
Dolby Digital 2.0
Interactive Menus
Scene Access
Czech\Danish\Dutch\English\Finnish\French\German\Greek\Hebrew\Hindi\Icelandic\Italian\Norwegian\Portuguese\Spanish\Swedish

Synopsis
This version of the classic Charles Dickens Christmas tale features George C. Scott as the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge. The cast also includes Frank Finlay, David Warner, and Susannah York.

Customer Reviews

An little known christmas gem
For anyone, like me, sick to death of the various americanised remakes - from the muppets to scrooged - this one will come as a breath of fresh air.

A genuinely moving retelling of the original story which also manages to remain thoroughly festive from start to finish.

The magic of this film owes much to the superb performances of not only George C Scott in the lead role, but also that of the excellent supporting British cast (Incidentally, George manages an admirable job of shaking his American accent).

This remains my all time favourite version of this classic christmas tale. If you only ever own one version of A Christmas Carol, make it this one.

My favorite adaptation of my favorite Christmas tale
Christmas just isn't Christmas unless you watch at least one version of A Christmas Carol, and this is by far my favorite. George C. Scott gives one of the greatest performances I have ever seen an actor give; he truly becomes Ebenezer Scrooge to the fullest degree possible. Scott can say more with just the slightest hint of a facial movement than many actors can say during the course of an entire movie. All of the performers here are excellent, bringing to life adored characters such as Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim, and Scrooge's nephew Fred. All four spirits are remarkable, none more so than Scrooge's old partner Jacob Marley; having Marley's jaw drop after untying the burial cloth holding his mouth closed is an important aspect of the story and certainly does make an impression on the viewer. This is just one example of the moviemakers' faithfulness to Charles Dickens' original story; another would be the inclusion of the two miserable children, Ignorance and Want, beneath the robes of the Ghost of Christmas Present.

This timeless tale works extremely well on its own, but the unsurpassed acting skills of Scott make it almost more than real. The change wrought in him during the course of the night, as he changes from a man of crass materialism and unkindness to a repentant soul pleading for a chance to change his ways, is powerfully presented and really touches the viewer emotionally. The simple happiness revealed in the lives of Bob Cratchit and others are as heart-warming as the forgotten mistakes and pains of a younger Scrooge are agonizing. If there is any heart out there that is not touched by the goodness and courage of Tiny Tim, I don't even want to know about it. No matter how many times you watch this movie, it proves itself capable of bringing a tear to your eye, a lump in your throat, and ultimately the very spirit of true holiday cheer and Christian charity that Dickens intended it to convey.

I cannot say I have seen every adaptation of A Christmas Carol, but I really cannot believe any other version could exceed the quality and emotional impact of this one. No matter how many times I read the story or watch the movie, it remains a source of eternal joy to me. This is more than a movie for me; it is an important and necessary part of each and every Christmas holiday season.

Perennial christmas favourite
This is one of the finest productions of this Charles Dickens classic story about the miserable Ebenezer Scrooge being shown the error of his ways. He is visited first by the ghost of his old partner Jacob Marley who warns the old man that his immortal soul will wander the earth for eternity if he doesn't mend his miserly manner. He is also warned he will be visited by three ghosts, Christmas past, Christmas present and Christmas future who will try and help him avoid an eternity of wandering bound in chains. Initially Scrooge is sure the spectres are caused by "a piece of bad beef" but as the story progresses he is forced to face the reality of his life and to realise that he has a duty to his fellow man.
George C Scott is outstanding as the miserly, miserable Scrooge. Other well known faces appear such as Edward Woodward, Frank Finlay, Susannah York and Angela Pleasance. This is a film that warms the heart and never becomes dated. Essential viewing during the festive season.