Scrooge U : Part VII — Finney is fine, but …

Jim Hill

18 years ago

Picking up where we left off yesterday … You know that somewhat queasy, bloated feeling that you sometimes feel on Christmas Day? After you've made a little too merry, maybe had one too many glasses of eggnog? Well, 1970's "Scrooge" is the cinematic equivalent of that feeling.

Don't get me wrong. There's a lot to like about this Ronald Neame film. It's got a terrific cast, top-notch production values as well as some very hummable tunes. And yet — in spite of everything that "Scrooge" seems to have going for it — this ultimately isn't a very satisfying version of "A Christmas Carol."

"And why is that exactly?," you ask. Well, for starters, this is a musical. And Albert Finney — while he is undeniably a fine actor — just can't sing.

Mind you, this isn't Finney's fault. Truth be told, he was the producers' third choice to play the film's title role. Leslie Bricusse had originally written "Scrooge" to be a vehicle for Richard Harris. But when Harris passed on the project, Bricusse then offered the part to Rex Harrison. Who initially agreed to appear in this big-budget movie musical, then backed out of the project at virtually the last minute. Which is why (almost by default) Albert wound up portraying Ebenezer.

So how did the film-makers try & mask Finney's obvious lack of musical ability? By constantly surrounding Albert with actors who really could sing & dance. Like the street urchins that follow Scrooge through the streets and continually bedevil him during the movie's "Father Christmas" number.

It's important to stress here that — in the scenes where Ebenezer doesn't have to sing or dance — that Finney is fine. I mean, Albert more than holds his own with Alec Guinness. Who puts a very droll spin on Scrooge's old partner, Jacob Marley.

But — of course — because "Scrooge" is supposed to be a musical extraganza, Jacob just can't tell Ebenezer that he's about to be visited by three ghosts. First Marley has to take Scrooge by the hand, then fly him through a sky full of restless spirits while singing this mournful tune …

… Only after that musical interlude is over can Jacob then tell Ebenezer about the spirits that will be arriving at 1, 2 & 3 o'clock.

That — to be honest — is the other real problem with "Scrooge." While many of the songs that Bricusse wrote for this movie (EX: "I Like Life," "Thank You Very Much" & "December the 25th") are memorable, the staging of this film's production numbers is consistently over the top. I mean, was it really necessary to have what appears to be the entire population of London dancing in the street to celebrate Ebenezer's death?

Or — for that matter — when Scrooge finally decides to mend his ways and wants to pay a call on the Crachit family on Christmas Day … Was it really necessary to first have this character dress in a Father Christmas costume, then have him pulled through the streets by the cast of "Oliver!" ?

It's this last image that (I think) best sums up what's really wrong with "Scrooge." In this movie, it wasn't enough that the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Be show Ebenezer his headstone. No, Scrooge first has to fall into an open grave and then tumble all the way down into Hell. Then Jacob Marley has to escort this now-repentant miser to his new living quarters. Where Satan then sends in his minions to weigh Scrooge down with this oversized chain.

You see what I'm saying? That's overkill, plain & simple. More to the point, it also unnecessarily extends & protracts Charles Dickens' beautiful little holiday story. Almost warping the poor thing beyond all possible recognition.

You want to know the really ironic part of this story? In 1992, Bricusse adapted "Scrooge" for the stage. And with a much smaller cast (More importantly, with a lead who can actually sing) and a book that stuck much closer to Dickens' original story, the stage musical version of "Scrooge" was far more emotionally effecting & entertaining than the film version ever was.

You see, when it comes to "A Christmas Carol," less really is more. As you'll discover tomorrow when I tell you about Richard Williams' brilliant half-hour-long animated version of this classic holiday tale.