Which version of "A Christmas Carol" do you prefer?

[CBHagman]

Ladies and gentlemen, the holiday season has us in its grip, and you cannot escape! It is time to scan your television schedules and behold the seemingly endless listings for different interpretations of "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens. There are cartoons, parodies, cinematic versions, TV movies, and dramatic readings.

Okay, let's have fun with it. Tell me which version you prefer and why.

And let's hope three spirits visit George W. this Christmas Eve and scare him into a mending of his ways...

[bleedingheart]

1. I am really torn... I love the one with George C Scott but

I also love Michael Caine in the Muppet version... I absolutely love Gonzo and Rizzo!

[CBHagman]

2. Scott was brilliant, but Stewart's no slouch.

My favorite, though, is the Alistair Sim version. It has a wonderful score, great atmosphere, and Sim, as usual, is fabulous.

[joeybee12]

3. I think this poll has been done before, but I voted again for Alistair

Sim.

[Keebs]

4. Other

The one with Susan Lucci. Umm, Ebbie is the name I think. LOL

[KittyWampus]

5. Patrick Stewart Was Wonderful!

Especially the part where he wakes up Christmas Morn and trys laughing for the first time in decades.

[mac56]

6. Mister Magoo takes the prize.

"Where is a voice to answer mine back?
Where are two shoes that click to my clack?
I'm...all alone...in the world...."

Got me every single time.

[GH0ST]

7. Sim

Better than the book, and that was great. The story is a cross of Halloween and Christmas, that's what makes it classic. A scary Christmas story. That poor soul hollering, "Mankind was my business!"

[alphafemale]

8. I voted for George C but I also loved "Scrooged" with Bill Murray

That wasn't an option.

[mvd]

9. Voted 1951 version

Alistair Sim is the best Scrooge. I think the story is really smooth and the ghosts the best in the George C. Scott version, but the presentation of the 1951 version is more authentic.

[Rabrrrrrr]

10. Patrick Stewart's one-man stage version

Incredible.

Get the recording, if you can find it.

It will blow you away.

[NightTrain]

11. I'm rather fond of Lord Buckley's hipster-styled parody

n/t

[DivinBreuvage]

12. My favorite scene in the Alastair Sim version...

is when he's visiting his old boyhood school with the Ghost of Christmas Past and his sister Fan (in real life long since dead) bursts in calling his name, and he spins around and says "Fan!" with such emotion, putting out his arms to catch her, and she runs right through him.

Second favorite scene, when he goes to his nephew's house for Christmas. They're singing that beautiful version of "Barbara Allen" and it suddenly stops as everyone looks up in shock to see Scrooge standing there. Then he apologies in such a gentle and humble way to Fred's wife for being such a lout for so many years.

Another favorite, when he comes after his housekeeper and she freaks out, but he calms her down and is so tender with her... or when he tells Bob Cratchit he's going to get a raise and Cratchit just stands there with this look of utter stupefaction on his face....

I think George C. Scott is absolutely fantastic in portraying Scrooge as a man who has so repressed himself over the years that he's come to seem perfectly soulless, but his "conversion" scenes, IMO, don't ring quite as true as some other actors' performances.

There are many things I like about the musical version with Albert Finney, such as how the Ghost of Christmas Present takes such pleasure in mocking him.

Francoise

[Iverson]

13. the '51 version is great

Interestingly, the '30s film has Leo G. Carroll, who some of us may remember from The Man from U.N.C.L.E., as Marley's ghost. Nearly every version has something worthwhile about it.

[jpgray]

14. Mickey's kicks ass

We've had that since I was small.