Sir Michael Hordern as Scrooge
Just a quick note to wish everyone who visits my blog a happy and peaceful Christmas break. Over the past few festive seasons I’ve usually watched the Patrick Stewart version of A Christmas Carol, which I have reviewed here in the past, but this year I had a change by watching a 1977 BBC version starring Sir Michael Hordern as Scrooge and John Le Mesurier, best-known as Sergeant Wilson in the much-loved comedy series Dad’s Army, as Marley. I think this is only available on a Dutch DVD or as part of the Charles Dickens BBC Collection, but you can also find it posted on Youtube at the moment.
This is a very small-scale version, packed into just an hour, but I liked it very much – I grew up in the 1970s, and often enjoy adaptations made then. Director Moira Armstrong has made a number of other costume dramas, including some episodes of Lark Rise to Candleford. This short film has a feel of the original illustrations, and also I think all the dialogue in Elaine Morgan’s script is taken from Dickens’ original words. Sir Michael had earlier played Marley in the famous Alastair Sim version (Scrooge, 1951), which is many people’s favourite – I will hope to watch that one soon and compare. Anyway, I get the feeling Sir Michael has great fun as Scrooge, speaking his most outrageous lines in the early scenes with a gleeful wit, and then also making his gradual transformation believable. Le Mesurier doesn’t have very much screen time but his vagueness works well for a ghost, and the special effects are good for the period, I’d say.
John Le Mesurier as Marley
There is a fine support cast – June Brown, famous as Dot in EastEnders, has a chilling cameo as Mrs Dilber, the horrible woman who steals the shirt from Scrooge’s corpse in his vision of the future, while others to watch out for include John Salthouse as the young Scrooge, Zoe Wanamaker as Scrooge’s sweetheart Belle, Bernard Lee as the Ghost of Christmas Present, Tracey Childs, who starred in a BBC version of Sense and Sensibility, as Scrooge’s sister, Fan, and Zelah Clarke, who later starred in a version of Jane Eyre, as Martha Cratchit. Anyway, no time to write a full-length review but I’d recommend this to anyone who gets a chance to watch it, and happy Christmas to all who are celebrating.
I’ve not seen this one — there are quite a number. In turn, recommending another costume drama: _The King’s Speech_, which I’m back from seeing (earlier this afternoon): which, with (with all its pieties, exemplary nature, support of monarchy &c&c), is deeply humane, beautifully well done. the 1930s recreated in the sets with exquisite care. Colin Firth is just superb as is Geoffrey Rush. The women, Helena Bonham Carter and Jennifer Ehle, just get to stand (or sit) around the look comforting, reassuring and pat the men, but all is treated with dignity and grace. And a great deal of Beethoven music. Ellen
Thank you, Ellen – ‘The King’s Speech’ is being released over here in January, and I’m very much looking forward to seeing it then, even more so after hearing your comments. Judy
I have just watched the Patrick Stewart version. I enjoyed it but thought it ‘corny” at times. I would love to see this version. Michael Hordern was such a wonderful actor.
Hope you had a very Happy Christmas and best wishes for the new year.
(I am hoping to see The King’s Speech soon.)
Cheers
Janette
I agree Hordern was a wonderful actor and think you would enjoy this version – I do like the Stewart one too, though, especially Richard E Grant as Bob Cratchit although that seems like unlikely casting in a way! We had a good Christmas, thanks, Janette, and hope you did too – wishing you all the best for the New Year, and I’m also hoping to see ‘The King’s Speech’ soon as it opens here in the next few days.
Hi Judy, what a wonderful blog you have. I too am a Period Drama fan and blogger. I am going to add a link to your blog on my homepage so that my readers can find you as well.
I love the sound of this version of A Christmas Carol. I love Zoe Wannamaker (especially in My Family) so I would love to see her in earlier days in this.
Cheers and hope your Christmas was wonderful (and that you enjoyed The King’s Speech as much as I did)
Thanks very much, Jenny – I’ve just had a peek at your blog, which looks great, and will also link to you. Zoe Wanamaker doesn’t have a very big part in this film, but it is still nice to see her in her earlier days. My Christmas was very good, thank you – I hope yours was too – and I did enjoy ‘The King’s Speech’.
I read today that the BBC is making an adaptation of Edwin Drood and there is another adaptation of Great Expectations in development. No mention of another David Copperfield so I suspect that has been scrapped.
Woo hoo, you’ve made my day – ‘Edwin Drood’ is possibly my favourite by Dickens, and the only adaptation I’ve seen so far is the dreadful one with Robert Powell – I recently got hold of the old Claude Rains movie, but haven’t watched it yet. I had heard about ‘Great Expectations’ and was already excited about that.
I will really look forward to seeing both of these, though I do hope Davies’ version of ‘Copperfield’ will still see the light of day too! It sounds as if both these adaptations are being shown this year, so there may be room for still more Dickens in the 200th birthday year itself…