A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

[LadyScribe]

Two Questions please:
My favourite film is with George C Scott as Scrooge and a multi star cast.
What is your favourite?
In the film Scrooge buys the big turkey as a present to the Cratchit family. Did Dickens write that or was it a goose. I am surprised that in 1843 turkeys were widely available. Anyone with the book to put me right?

Albert Finneys version. Love it 😊

Agree the others do not compare

The Muppets is my favourite.

The best version I've ever seen is the live production at the Old Vic. We'll be seeing it for the third year running this year. This year is Christopher Eccelestone as Scrooge.

My kids like the much maligned Jim Carrey animated version.

Alastair Sims version is the classic and best but I quite like the more obviously supernatural Patrick Stewart version.

Anything animated can do one.

I liked Spirited and any odd TV shows that reference Christmas Carol for modern times. It’s just such a good story.

Alastair Sim is the best for me. Its not Christmas until I've watched it.

Another vote for the Muppets, I watch it every year on Christmas morning

Albert Finney one. I like Muppets too though and have recorded the Patrick Stewart one to watch at Christmas as it was on the other day.

I haven’t watched any of the films but I do love the Guinea Pig Christmas Carol book…
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Guinea-Pig-Christmas-Carol-Classics/dp/1526601451/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2PXDLVQ9EU1SX&keywords=Guinea+pig+Christmas+Carol&qid=1700465172&sprefix=guinea+pig+christmas+carol%2Caps%2C66&sr=8-1

Muppets with the kids but I pretty much like all the versions! The visual effects in the Jim Carey one are great even if it's just on in the background while we wrap presents!

A good few years ago there was a made for TV film of a Christmas Carol where Ross Kemp(?) played Scrooge who was a bailiff/loan shark. I remember watching it when my mum was doing the Christmas ironing!

I'm off to google, it would being back such nostalgia.

It’s a turkey. They were in England at that time, but rare/exotic so only for the rich - whereas geese were common, and most pubs had a “goose club” for the locals who could pay a small amount each week and get a goose at Christmas. It would be cooked at the baker’s for a penny fee as poor people didn’t have their own ovens (just a fire which they could cook pots of stew, potatoes etc on).

True story: Dickens dashed ACC off really quickly to get some fast cash as he was broke. He wrote it so quickly he forgot to tie up the Tiny Tim story. It was only when his publisher asked what happens to him that he inserted the famous “and to Tiny Tim, who did NOT die…” line.

Oh, and my favourite is the Muppets - particularly because Michael Caine plays it so straight and not as a piss-take at all. I love that he treats it so seriously. But in terms of accuracy, the Jim Carrey version is brilliant and kudos to them for including Ignorance and Want.

Alistair Sim every time obviously

The Old Vic does a wonderful production of A Christmas Carol every year, they serve mince pies as you arrive and its wonderfully christmassy.

My favourite film version is Scrooged

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0291816/?ref_=nm_flmg_t_15_act here you go

@bruffin that's the one! Thank you!

Another vote for the Sim version

I went to see a reading of it in London with Simon Callow.

Don't get me wrong, I love the movie version, but I enjoyed the story but using my imagination bit.

"It was a Turkey. He never could have stood upon his legs, that bird. He would have snapped them short off in a minute, like sticks of sealing-wax."

I like Scrooged very much but haven't heard of some of these, will give them a watch! I absolutely love Hugh Grant reading ACC unabridged on Audible.

Muppets by far!

Thank you all for your favourites, some I had not heard of, but will certainly search for. Thank you @Tygertiger for putting me right on turkeys and geese.
I have another fave, not mentioned so far:
A 1935 film with Seymour Hicks, b/w but there is a colourized version. Both on YouTube. It seems more authentic because the costume fabrics are not modern so they do not fit so smoothly.

OK question for you all, I expect you to answer in unison.

How many ghosts are there in the book?

Hmm.

Marley
Christmas Past
Christmas Present
Is the future spirit a ghost, spectre too?

Who am i missing?

@bridgetjonesmassivepants that always bamboozled me too. They would have been tucking into it on boxing day surely?