UK, USA, 1970
113m
35mm, Panavision (anamorphic), Technicolor, 2.35:1
mono (35mm prints), 70mm 6-Track (70 mm prints), English
An Anglo-American fantasy film directed by Richard Neame.
Plot Summary
Miserly London businessman Ebenezer Scrooge is visited on Christmas Eve by the ghost of his dead business partner Marley, who warns him that three more ghosts will appear during the night trying to show Scrooge the error of his ways. As the night wears on, he's visited by the Ghost of Christmas Past, the Ghost of Christmas Present and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. But will even they be enough to soften old Scrooge's heart?
Credits
Crew
Directed by: Ronald Neame
© MCMLXX [1970] Cinema Center Films Inc.
Cinema Center Films presents a Waterbury Films production [opening credits] A Cinema Center Films presentation. A National General release [end credits]
Executive Producer: Leslie Bricusse
Produced by: Robert H. Solo
Associate Producer: David W. Orton
Screenplay by: Leslie Bricusse
Based on A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Director of Photography: Oswald Morris
Film Editor: Peter Weatherley
Music and Lyrics by: Leslie Bricusse
Sound Mixer: Jock May
Costume Designer: Margaret Furse
Chief Make Up Artist: George Frost
Chief Hair Stylist: Bobbie Smith
Special Effects: Wally Veevers
Production Designer: Terry Marsh
Made at: Shepperton Studios, London, England
Cast
Albert Finney (Ebenezer Scrooge)
Edith Evans (Ghost of Christmas Past)
Kenneth More (Ghost of Christmas Present)
Laurence Naismith (Mr Fezziwig)
Michael Medwin (Fred)
David Collings (Bob Cratchit)
Anton Rodgers (Tom Jenkins)
Suzanne Neve (Isabel Fezziwig)
Frances Cuka (Mrs Cratchit)
Derek Francis (1st portly gentleman)
Gordon Jackson (Tom)
Roy Kinnear (2nd portly gentleman)
Mary Peach (Fred's wife)
Paddy Stone (Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come)
Kay Walsh (Mrs Fezziwig)
Geoffrey Bayldon (toyshop owner)
Helena Gloag (women debtor)
Reg Lever (Punch and Judy man)
Keith Marsh (well wisher)
Marianne Stone (party guest)
Alec Guinness (Jacob Marley's ghost)
Alternative Titles
O Adorável Avarento – Brazilian title
La alegre historia de Scrooge – Argentine title
Hristougenniatiki balada – Greek title
Et juleeventyr – Danish title
Muchas gracias, Mr Scrooge – Spanish title
La più bella storia di Dickens – Italian title
Saiturin joulu – Finnish title
Links
Extracts included in
The Great Christmas Movies (1998)
Screen Test: 7 February 1973
Production Notes
Pre-production
Finney became involved with the film when he read a copy of the script belonging to Michael Medwin and asked to be considered for the title role.
Production
The budget was reported to be $5 million. 1Today's Cinema no.9771 (16 January 1970) p.8
Release
The film was the ninth most successful “road show” release in the UK during 1971. 2CinemaTV Today no.9961 (1 January 1972) p.2
Press
The film was largely well-received by the critics. Murf in Variety for example called in “a most delightful film in every way,” heaped praise on Albert Finney's “remarkable performance in the title role”, Leslie Bricusse's “fluid adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic […] plus his unobtrusive complementary music and lyrics”, Ronald Neame's “delicately controlled direction” and the “outstanding work of [cinematographer] Oswald Morris.”
References
Periodicals
- Boxoffice 5 January 1970 p.14 – note
- Castle of Frankenstein no.16 p.62
- CinemaTV Today no.9961 (1 January 1972) p.2 – article (The top films of 1971)
- Dickens and Film by A.L. Zambrano p.406 – credits
- Kine Weekly vol.633 no.3257 (14 March 1970) p.18 – credits (Shooting now)
- Kine Weekly vol.633 no.3263 (25 April 1970) p.13 – note (Studio Round Up: Production Review: Shepperton by Rod Cooper)
- Kine Weekly vol.633 no.3264 (2 May 1970) p.20 – credits (Shooting now)
- Kine Weekly vol.633 no.3265 (9 May 1970) p.14 – credits (Shooting now)
- Screen International no.250 (19-26 July 1980) p.6 – note (Stateside: TV round up) – by BJ Franklin
- Today's Cinema no.9770 (13 January 1970) p.5 – credits (In production)
- Today's Cinema no.9771 (16 January 1970) pp.1; 8 – note (Ghostly Guiness); illustrated article (It looks like a happy Christmas for this Scrooge); credits (In production)
- Today's Cinema no.9773 (23 January 1970) pp.6-7 – illustrated article (Production extra: ‘Affection beaming in one eye: calculation shining out of the other – by “Charles Dickens”)
- Today's Cinema no.9799 (28 April 1970) pp.8, 10 – illustrated interview with Robert H. Solo (Solo goes solo by Sue Clarke)
- Today's Cinema no.9801 (5 May 1970) p.4 – credits (In production)
- Today's Cinema no.9803 (12 May 1970) p.32 – credits (In production)
- Variety 4 November 1970 p.16 – credits, synopsis, review (by Murf)
Books
- Charles Dickens on the Screen: The Film, Television and Video Adaptations by Michael Pointer p.140
- A Christmas Carol and Its Adaptations: A Critical Examination of Dickens's Story and Its Productions on Screen and Television by Fred Guida p.196 – credits
- The Encyclopedia of Novels Into Films second edition by John C. Tibbetts and James M. Welsh pp.54-56 – illustrated credits, review (by F.T. [Frank Thompson])
- English Gothic: A Century of Horror Cinema by Jonathan Rigby p.350
- Reference Guide to Fantastic Films by Walt Lee p.423 – credits
- Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror Film Sequels, Series, and Remakes by Kim R. Holston and Tom Winchester p.426-427 – illustrated credits, review
