Scrooge (1970)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Ronald Neame

Writers:

Charles Dickens (story)
Leslie Bricusse (screenplay)

Release Date:

5 November 1970 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Musical | Fantasy | Family

Tagline:

A NEW MUSICAL

Plot:

A musical retelling of Charles Dickens' classic Christmas tale.

Plot Keywords:

Christmas | Ghost | 1860s | Rowboat | Abyss

Awards:

Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 1 win & 6 nominations

Cast

Albert Finney	...	Ebenezer Scrooge
Edith Evans	...	Ghost of Christmas Past
Kenneth More	...	Ghost of Christmas Present
Laurence Naismith	...	Mr. Fezziwig
Michael Medwin	...	Nephew Harry
David Collings	...	Bob Cratchit
Anton Rodgers	...	Tom Jenkins
Suzanne Neve	...	Isabel Fezziwig
Frances Cuka	...	Mrs. Cratchit
Derek Francis	...	1st Gentleman of Charity
Gordon Jackson	...	Tom - Friend of Harry's
Roy Kinnear	...	2nd Gentleman of Charity
Mary Peach	...	Fred's Wife
Paddy Stone	...	Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come
Kay Walsh	...	Mrs. Fezziwig
Geoffrey Bayldon	...	Pringle - Toyshop Owner
Helena Gloag	...	2nd Woman Debtor
Reg Lever	...	Punch and Judy Man
Keith Marsh	...	Well Wisher (as Keith March)
Marianne Stone	...	Party Guest
Molly Weir	...	1st Woman Debtor
Richard Beaumont	...	Tiny Tim
Philip DaCosta	...	Child (as Philip da Costa)
Raymond Hoskins	...	Child
Gaynor Hodgson	...	Child
Nicholas Locise	...	Goose Boy
Peter Lock	...	Urchin
Joy Leigh	...	Child
Sara Gibson	...	Child
Clive Moss	...	Urchin
John O'Brien	...	Child
David Peacock	...	Child
Michael Reardon	...	Child
Karen Scargill	...	Kathy Cratchit
Terry Winter	...	Child
Stephen Garlick	...	Child (as Steven Garlick)
Alec Guinness	...	Jacob Marley's Ghost
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
James Cossins	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
John Owens	...	(uncredited)
Kenneth Waller	...	Party Guest (uncredited)

Directed by
Ronald Neame

Writing credits
Charles Dickens		(story "A Christmas Carol")
Leslie Bricusse		(screenplay)

Produced by
Leslie Bricusse	....	executive producer
David W. Orton	....	associate producer
Robert H. Solo	....	producer

Original Music by
Leslie Bricusse

Cinematography by
Oswald Morris

Film Editing by
Peter Weatherley

Production Design by
Terence Marsh		(as Terry Marsh)

Art Direction by
Robert Cartwright		(as Bob Cartwright)

Costume Design by
Margaret Furse

Makeup Department
George Frost	....	chief makeup artist
Bobbie Smith	....	chief hair stylist
Hugh Richards	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Ed Harper	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Roger Simons	....	second assistant director
Ted Sturgis	....	assistant director

Art Department
Pamela Cornell	....	set dresser

Sound Department
John Cox	....	sound supervisor
Bob Jones	....	dubbing mixer
Jock May	....	sound mixer
Jim Shields	....	dubbing editor (as James Shields)

Special Effects by
Jack Mills	....	special effects cameraman
Wally Veevers	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Gerald Larn	....	matte painter (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Jimmy Turrell	....	camera operator (as Jim Turrell)
Maurice Gillett	....	gaffer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Ivy Baker	....	wardrobe supervisor

Music Department
Ian Fraser	....	conductor
Ian Fraser	....	music supervisor
Robert Hathaway	....	assistant music editor (as Bob Hathaway)
Robert Hathaway	....	associate music editor (as Bob Hathaway)
Gordon Langford	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
David Lindup	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Ken Runyon	....	music editor
Herbert W. Spencer	....	associate music supervisor
Herbert W. Spencer	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Ray Holder	....	music arranger (uncredited)

Other crew
Elaine Schreyeck	....	continuity
Ronald Searle	....	title designer
Paddy Stone	....	musical secuences staged by
Geoff Freeman	....	unit publicist (uncredited)
Elaine Schreyeck	....	script supervisor (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Waterbury Films
• Cinema Center Films

Distributors

• National General Pictures (1970) (USA) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1974) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Twentieth Century Fox Film Company (1970) (UK) (theatrical)
• CBS/Fox Video (1989) (UK) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2004) (UK) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Trickfilm Studios  titles (as Trickfilm)
• C.T.S. Studios  music recorded at (as C.T.S. London)

Runtime:

113 min | UK:120 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Mono (35 mm prints)

Certification:

Canada:G (Manitoba) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Iceland:L | Finland:K-8 | Sweden:Btl | UK:U | USA:G | Singapore:PG

Company:

Waterbury Films

Trivia:

Alec Guinness did not enjoy doing this movie. It required much more time than he expected, with the need of wires and a harness for his floating character. He suffered a double-hernia that required surgery to repair.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Just before The Ghost of Christmas Present and Scrooge fly through the window, you can see the wires that are connected to Albert Finney.

Quotes:

Ebenezer Scrooge: What reason have you got to be merry? You're poor enough.
Fred: What reason have you got to be miserable? You're rich enough.
Ebenezer Scrooge: There is no such thing as rich enough; only poor enough.

Movie Connections:

Featured in A Hollywood Christmas (1996) (V)

Soundtrack:

Happiness

The classic Christmas film

Scrooge is one of those films where you can sit down and let it wash all over you. Finney is the perfect Scrooge: despicable, mean, sarcastic and a lot better than others who have portrayed the miserly character. Scrooge's love and loss of Isabelle is touching as is Tiny Tim's song about his dream of Christmas. The depth of feeling, character and love combines into this absolutely wonderful musical which, while showing the horrific differences between the two classes of society, shows how they can be combined with a little Christmas cheer. By the end of the film, you might just find that there is a little more to Christmas than you thought. I dare you to watch it and sing along to all those catchy numbers!