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A Christmas Tradition Forever..."Thank You Very Much!"

BRUCE A. EISERT/bruce.eisert@mail.s | Louisville, Ky | 12/13/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Albert Finneys "Scrooge" is by far the best Holiday Classic. There will never be another one like it. For the past 17 years this movie has been a traditon of mine and now my own families. Albert Finney is wonderful and no one has been able to play the part of Scrooge as he did. I will watch it 2-3 times during the holidays. Despite what the critics have said, i think the music is wonderful. My wife and I will even listen to the music playing from the tape while putting up our decorations. This leads me to ask is there a soundtrack available? If so, could someone please let me know how to get a hold of it. I've had no luck locating one. This is a movie that is very special to me and will be passed down and enjoyed with my new born son. The joy that this film brings is one that all should take in during the holidays. Merry Christmas and from the words of Tiny Tim..."God Bless Us Everyone"."

Over 200 5-star Reviews vs. Ammy's Editorial Review. Choose

Reviews No More | 11/13/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have loved this 1970 musical version of the old Dickens novel since I was an 8 year-old girl and the staff at my school adopted the song "Thank You Very Much" for one of our school pageants. This is a charming and magical film with the heart put right into it every step of the way, not to mention that Albert Finney is one of my favorite old school actors.

Sure, there were liberties taken, but IT'S A MUSICAL, for crying out loud, and a handsome one at that. If you don't like musicals, stop reading my review and, in fact, why are you even reading any of the others? Unlike most musicals, however, this one manages to keep a strong storyline intact, with or without the songs, and nowhere is this made more clear than when Ebenezer Scrooge (Albert Finney), is confronted by the ghost of Christmas future. Some people have said that this movie tends to be scary, but I think it is more creepy than scary, except for this one pivotal scene. It is wonderful to see Finney at the top of his game (Isn't that common for him anyway?), as one of the most effective and sympathetic--at times even empathetic--Scrooges to grace filmdom? I love his portrayal of the old miser from the fact that he's such a tight rich man that he dresses lousy compared to the other rich people you see on the streets, and his house is dark, almost barren, not unlike the man himself.

I absolutely love David Collings' performance as Bob Cratchet, which is so well done that you understand how he and his family are richer than Scrooge in their poverty from the outset. In fact, the entire cast is exceptional, and Alec Guiness gives a darkly humorous performance as the ghost of Jacob Marley that often shows his character's sardonic wit in his resentment of having to lug around a chain he "gets" to warn his former business partner about. Another actor who impressed me in this adaptation was Kenneth Moore as the Ghost of Christmas Past. "Come here, you weird little man," always makes me laugh.

This movie is just what the doctor ordered if you are getting bah humbuggish about the oversaturation of the holiday's exploitation. I don't care if turkeys are indigenous to the U.S. as one writer complained. America could have imported them live to England back in 1860 by boat, now couldn't they, and wouldn't that have looked like an exotic delicacy for the holiday to both rich and poor alike in Victorian England? Beautiful costumes, and lovely sets only make this underrated holiday treasure more of a delight.

Watch for some of the best scenes as Albert Finney plays the young Ebenezer who is engaged to Fezzywink's daughter Isabelle during the beautiful number "Happiness." This is some of the most gorgeous cinematography in the movie. That brings up another issue: Leslie Bricusse's musical score is wonderful and, in fact, I had this movie in last night simply because I wanted to hear "I Like Life!" How anyone can dismiss this beautifully done musical is beyond me, because I have seen several adaptations of the Dickens novel, and this is my favorite. Beside that, I bet you can't get "Thank You Very Much" out of your head long after you've finished watching this charming, thought provoking, and well-crafted Christmas gem."