Scrooge (1970) – Nostalgia Central

This 1970 film was the first colour movie adaptation of A Christmas Carol and the first big-screen musical version of Dickens’ tale.

Younger and more conventionally handsome than his movie predecessors in the role, Albert Finney stars as Ebeneezer Scrooge. Wearing little discernible “old age” makeup, the 33-year-old Finney instead scrunches up his face, scowling and sneering his way through the film.

Alec Guinness gives a captivating and creepy performance as Marley. Dame Edith Evans harrumphs down her nose as the Ghost of Christmas Past, and Kenneth More plays the Bacchanalian giant Ghost of Christmas Present. The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come is wrapped in an anonymous shroud before being revealed as a death’s head (it’s Paddy Stone underneath).

This film version takes several considerable liberties with Dickens. Here, Scrooge walks around town collecting payments from street vendors – a clothing concession, a soup seller, a Punch and Judy show puppeteer – and when the vendors beg for more time, Scrooge increases the interest and helps himself to some of their goods (a scarf, a mug of soup). It’s a Trump-like power trip akin to Don Fanucci preying on old New York in The Godfather: Part II.

In flashback, young Scrooge’s sweetheart, Eva (Suzanne Neve), is the daughter of Mr and Mrs Fezziwig. Dating the boss’s daughter is a twist found nowhere in Dickens.

In a big production number (Leslie Bricusse’s songs are delightful), one of Scrooge’s debtors dances on top of Scrooge’s coffin as it winds through the cobblestone streets of Victorian London to the cheers of townfolk. Referring to Scrooge’s act of dying, they sing, with ironic sprightliness, “That’s the nicest thing that anyone’s ever done for me.”

A daring liberty comes courtesy of the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come (who looks like something out of Dr Phibes). After being shown his gravestone, Scrooge actually descends into Hell – with Marley returning as his guide:  “I heard you were coming down today”, he says, “so I thought I’d come to greet you.”

Produced at Shepperton Studios, Scrooge reused many of the sets created for the musical Oliver! two years earlier.

Ebenezer Scrooge
Albert Finney
Jacob Marley’s Ghost
Alec Guinness
Ghost of Christmas Past
Edith Evans
Ghost of Christmas Present
Kenneth More
Mr Fezziwig
Laurence Naismith
Mrs Fezziwig
Kay Walsh
Isabel Fezziwig
Suzanne Neve
Scrooge’s Nephew, Fred
Michael Medwin
Fred’s Wife
Mary Peach
Tom 
Gordon Jackson
Bob Cratchit
David Collings
Kathy Cratchit
Karen Scargill
Tiny Tim
Richard Beaumont
Tom Jenkins
Anton Rodgers
Ethel Cratchit
Frances Cuka
1st Gentleman of Charity
Derek Francis
2nd Gentleman of Charity
Roy Kinnear
Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come
Paddy Stone
Pringle 
Geoffrey Bayldon
1st Woman Debtor
Molly Weir
2nd Woman Debtor
Helena Gloag
Punch and Judy Man
Reg Lever
Goose Boy
Nicholas Locise

Director
Ronald Neame