Published in 1843, Charles Dickens’ classic novella, ‘A Christmas Carol’, brought an air of festivity and philanthropy to an otherwise Puritanical era.
Its themes of morality, redemption, generosity and love for our fellow man ring true across eras and oceans, lending themselves to several film adaptations of which these are the five best.
5: Scrooged (1988)
Starring Bill Murray, Karen Allen, John Forsythe, Carol Kane and Robert Mitchum, this version is a modern, comedic retelling of the classic story with Murray as Frank Cross, a self-involved television executive who is staging a live production of ‘The Christmas Carol’ on Christmas Day. Sadly, his selfishness prohibits him from appreciating the story and its themes until he is enlightened by visits from four ghosts. Because of its contemporary take on the classic Dickens tale, this movie is wildly popular with young adults and Bill Murray’s large fan base.
4: Mickey’s Christmas Carol (1983)
The short featurette cartoon, released by Disney Studios in 1983. It originally ran before showings of the full-length film, The Rescuers. Mickey Mouse had not been featured in a release in over 30 years. This adaptation is beloved because of its clever casting, using Disney characters from movies such as Pinocchio and Robin Hood. Scrooge McDuck plays the part of Scrooge with his nephew, Fred, played by Donald Duck. Bob Cratchit is played by Mickey Mouse. ‘Mickey’s Christmas Carol’ is so popular, it has been featured on 4 various DVDs as of 2014.
3: The Muppets Christmas Carol (1992)
Starring Michael Caine as Ebenezer Scrooge. Other humans appear in the film as well, but the other main characters are played by The Muppets. Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy play Mr. and Mrs. Cratchit while Rizzo the Rat plays Himself. Even Gonzo makes an appearance as Charles Dickens. Michael Caine plays the straight man and provides a good counterpoint to the Muppets’ hijinx. This musical is a little short on music, with songs by Oscar winner (and frequent Muppets contributor) Paul Williams, but it makes up for the lack of music with laughs and heart. The film was one of the first features to be released by the Henson company after Jim’s passing, and it’s one of the most successful to date: it performed well at the box-office during it’s initial run, and it’s still shown everywhere throughout December, from local matinees at the Brooklyn Academy of Music to DirecTV marathons.
2: Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol (1962)
Mr. Magoo was already a popular cartoon character, voiced by Jim Backus, when this special first aired on NBC in Dec. 18, 1962. With songs written by the Broadway songwriting team of Jules Styne and Bob Merrill (who would also contribute to the film Funny Girl), the cartoon succeeds as a musical, a comedy, and a touching story. It was reissued on Blu-Ray and DVD in 2010 and aired on NBC for its 50th anniversary two years later. Part of what makes the special remarkable is that it stays surprisingly loyal to the original Dickens text.
1: A Christmas Carol (1951)
The film features Kathleen Harrison, Mervyn Johns and Alastair Sim, who plays the role of his lifetime as Ebenezer Scrooge. Many critics choose this as their all-time favorite Christmas movie. Though this film lacks the ornate set designs of its 1938 predecessor, the pared-down backdrops reflect the bleak, barren landscape of Scrooge’s soul, setting up a bittersweet juxtaposition to the dance scenes from his youth. The best part of this version is that Scrooge’s transformation has less to do with Christmas than with humanity, making this a film fit for viewing year-round.
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