The five best film versions of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol

hAny story outside the Bible has been adapted and performed more times than a Christmas CarolThe story of Ebenezer Scrooge and four ghosts who set out to change his miserly ways has been reworked and reimagined hundreds of times over the past 180 years.

All have been accompanied by stage productions, radio shows, films, musicals, television adaptations and animated specials. jim carrey And Ryan Reynolds Daffy Duck and Barbie give us their take on Scrooge.

When Charles Dickens first published his original novel a few days before Christmas in 1843, it was an instant hit. Within weeks it was being performed on stage at the Surrey Theater in London, and by 1853 Dickens himself was attending. This book was the subject of the author’s first public reading, A rousing reception was given at Birmingham Town Hall.

The first film versions followed just a few decades later, within a few years of the medium’s invention. Produced by film pioneer Robert William Paul and directed by magician Walter Robert Booth, 1901 Scrooge, or, Marley’s Ghost Revolutionary visual effects of the time were used to pull off tricks such as superimposing Marley’s face on Scrooge’s door knocker.

In the century since, this story has been told and retold more times than anyone can count, with no end in sight. bend It Like Beckham Filmmaker Gurinder Chadha directed it “Bollywood-inspired” adaptation christmas karma This year, While Johnny Depp will reportedly play Scrooge in a version overseen by horror director Ty West next year.

Some of these adaptations are merely poor iterations that made audiences go “Bah, Humbug!” Made to groan, but there have been some Christmas miracles. Here we have selected the five best film versions a Christmas Carol,

5. Mickey’s Christmas Carol (1983)

The character of Scrooge McDuck, Donald Duck’s wealthy but capricious uncle, was first created in 1947, but it was not until the early 1980s that he achieved his fortune by playing the role that inspired his name. This Disney animated version of a Christmas Carol May be abbreviated somewhat, but it’s a very faithful retelling that packs all the important story elements and presents them in stunning animation.

Despite the title, Mickey Mouse is only a supporting character Mickey’s Christmas CarolCast as “overworked and underpaid” Bob Cratchit. We also get a triumphantly clumsy Goofy in the role of the ghost of Jacob Marley, tripping on Scrooge’s walking stick and strapped into heavy chains that he is forced to carry “to eternity… maybe even longer.” Jiminy Cricket makes a suitably moral ghost of Christmas Past, and even the extra background details have been given loving attention to. Appearance of Toad from wind in the willows As Fezziwig, fiddling in a powdered wig while presiding over a jolly party, is pure joy.

This lively story is carried forward by McDuck, who, with his Scottish accent and fondness for belittling his subordinates, might seem to modern audiences as inheritanceThere’s Logan Roy for that. Another notable advantage of this version, especially for younger audiences, is that it is only 26 minutes long.

Mickey’s Christmas Carol Available to stream on Disney+.

4. stingy (1970)

This musical version of a Christmas Carol It was produced as a sequel to the smash hit of 1968. Oliver!based on dickens himself Oliver TwistIt stars Albert Finney as Scrooge, who enjoys delivering stilted dialogue apparently taken from the original story,

He spits, “Every idiot who walks around with ‘Merry Christmas’ on his lips should be steamed with his own pudding, and a chunk of holly buried in his heart.”

He also enjoys musical numbers, particularly the rousingly misanthropic “I Hate People”. Finney was only 34 years old when he took on the role, giving him the chance to play both younger and older versions of Scrooge thanks to some excellent makeup work. Alec Guinness also appears as the ghostly Jacob Marley, who sings the creepy song “See the Phantoms”.

Finney won a Golden Globe for her performance, while the film was also nominated for four Oscars, including Best Original Song for “Thank You Very Much”. It was remade by Netflix in 2022 as a digital animation with Luke Evans voicing Scrooge, but this version is worth watching again.

stingy (1970) Streaming on Paramount+ in the US and Prime Video in the UK.

3. scrooge (1988)

From its insane opening sequence starring six million dollar man Lee Majors is defending machine-gun-wielding Santa as an action hero the night the reindeer died, scrooge Announces itself as a decidedly unconventional take on Dickens. In place of Ebenezer Scrooge, bill murray Plays eccentric and self-absorbed television executive Frank Cross, who is visited by an equally loud and aggressive series of ghosts bent on restoring his Christmas spirit.

The late, great New York Dolls frontman David Johansson Steals the scene as the wise Ghost of Christmas Past, roaming the streets of New York in a spectral cab, drinking wine and smoking cigars. Carol Kane, as the Ghost of Christmas Present, knocks some sense into the undead with a toaster. The Ghost of Christmas Future, in a significant casting coup, appears to be played by Death himself, the Grim Reaper.

When it was first released, critics generally disliked it. scroogeRoger Ebert called it “one of the most unsettling, disturbing films to come out in quite some time”, but perhaps this is part of its contemporary appeal,

A deliberate antidote to more traditionally heart-warming festive fare, no other Christmas movie would dare climax with an eight-minute speech that plays like Peter Finch’s “Mad as Hell” speech. network Climbed on the candy cane. When the dead scream “May a miracle happen to you,” it will also restore your Christmas spirit.

scrooge Available for free with commercials on Paramount+ and Prime Video in the US and on Sky Go, Now TV Cinema and YouTube in the UK.

2. a Christmas Carol (1984)

Film adaptations are often evaluated based on their fidelity to the source material, but in 1984 a made-for-television film a Christmas Carol The rare trick of carefully bringing Dickens’s entire story to the screen is accomplished while also deepening and expanding Scrooge’s background. The result is a dramatic, sometimes hair-raising version of the well-worn story atlantic 2023 argued that it is the only “truly great version” ever made.

The film builds on Scott’s stellar performance, taking place two decades after his star-making transition Dr Strangelove And PattonMany great actors have played Scrooge (honorable mention goes to Alastair Sim in 1951 and Patrick Stewart in 1999), but few have done as impressive a performance as Scott does here, There’s a genuine nastiness to his portrayal, which makes highlighting his essential humanity all the more compelling,

a Christmas Carol (1984) is streaming on Paramount+, Hulu, and Disney+ in the US and can be purchased through Apple TV, Prime Video, and the Sky Store in the UK.

1. Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

Can there be any doubt about this? It’s unlikely that Charles Dickens ever imagined his story would be retold in the form of a musical by a frog, singing doves and gonzo whatever (“a blue, lovable Charles Dickens who hangs out with a mouse”), but somehow it all comes together brilliantly and becomes one of the best Christmas movies of them all.

As silly as the charmingly fast-paced Muppet gags are, overall the film always remains respectful of its source. “If you like it,” Gonzo comments, “you should read the book.”

It was the first Muppet film to have a human as the protagonist, and Michael Caine gave a brilliant performance. He plays this with complete sincerity, never batting an eye towards the audience or his co-stars’ antics, making his final redemption a real emotional kick.

bugsy malone Songwriter (and later Daft Punk frontman) Paul Williams elevates the material further with a stellar selection of songs for Kermit and company. Many fans have expressed surprise that Gonzo’s line “And Tiny Tim, who didn’t die” is a direct quote from the original novel. Maybe there was a little Muppet inside Dickens after all.

Muppet Christmas Carol Is on Disney+.