Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol
This is my favorite version of the Dickens classic, songs by Jule Styne and Bob Merrill, featuring the voice of Jim Backus. There's supposed to be a framing device with Mr. Magoo getting ready for the show--but it was sometimes cut to make room for more commercials. Too bad, if that's the case. This bit of ironic distance could help arm the kids in the crowd for the horrors to come.
I also like the George C. Scott version--originally made as a movie for television. He's especially good when he's happy at the end. And while I know I'm supposed to love Alastair Sim in the role, I'm not crazy about him before the big transformation, until after he is redeemed (which is never any fun at all), at which point I become nostalgic for him earlier in the film. I don't like him happy and I don't like him sad.
What's your favorite Christmas Carol?
Labels: unsolicited criticism
posted by John Levenstein at
1:13 PM
8 Comments:
While I remember very much enjoying Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol as a child, I'll have to watch it again, I haven't seen it in approx. 40 years (Yikes!). John, I don't know what to say, I think Alastair Sim's version stands head and shoulders above all others - I think he's a brilliant Scrooge and the production, in general, rocks! In any case - Merry Christmas to all!!
i was being provocative
Favorite Christmas song (not quite what you asked): "Calling on Mary" by Aimee Mann. Favorite versions of any Christmas carol (also not quite what you asked): tie between the Dandy Warhols' "Little Drummer Boy" and Aimee Mann's "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen". The production on the latter makes it sound like a Halloween song. Very spooky and cool.
I once heard a version of Santa Claus is Coming To Town that turned it into a horror song, it was hilarious! Santa Claus is coming dumdumdumdum Santa Claus is coming dumdumdumdum - he knows when you are sleeping, he knows when you're awake!! I don't remember who did it but it was awesome.
Least favorite version of a Christmas Carol: "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" by Aimee Mann.
Just so you know I don't like just anything by her.
alastair sim plays ghoulish well, but i don't like to look at him, not in the way i like to look at alec guiness. so when he's happy, he's still gruesome, it's like frankenstein falling in love. but when he's miserly, you feel, well, of course.
"O Come O Come Emmanuel" by Belle and Sebastian is really good.
Wasn't there a TV show of "A Christmas Carol" starring Henry Winkler as Scrooge? That probably wasn't my favorite.
And what about all the versions of "It's a Wonderful Life"? I saw an episode of Laverne and Shirley once where Laverne wished she'd never been born. Or maybe that she'd never moved to California, because it was in that final stage of the show.
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