It turns out that there are a lot of decent quality Christmas films available online to watch on Youtube completely for free. Bonus! So, I figure I'll watch a whole month's worth of 'em.
My first gratis Youtube yuletide film is yet another Dickens adaptation, the 1984 version of A Christmas Carol starring George C Scott as Scrooge. You’d have thought that I’d be completely fed up with this story by now, but I still end up really enjoying this one. I go into it really not expecting such a cracking, well-made, absorbing film, especially considering it is totally free to view (albeit with slightly distracting Greek subtitles). Directed by British New Wave director Clive Donner, it’s a beautiful film packed with pleasant period detail and gorgeous wintery cityscapes which, even after nine months of this stuff, I am still a total sucker for.
It’s one of those films where so many of the shots remind you of picture perfect old-timey Christmas cards, all perfect snow-kissed meadows and gaslight-illuminated, frosty cobbled streets. The cinematography is excellent and before anyone even speaks a word the whole thing feels beautifully, nostalgically Christmassy. It all makes me go a bit gooey - again, it’s likely I am a lot more susceptible due to my fragile emotional state. The lawyers hint we might just be moving next week after all, if all goes well. It’s a well-worn cliche but the whole house sale thing has been an ‘emotional rollercoaster’.
Speaking of rollercoasters, that is one way that Donner’s film really differs from Robert Zemeckis' movie from 2009. The Jim Carrey film was engineered to feel like some zany theme park thrill ride, whereas this one is much more grounded and far less show-offy. This one definitely allows the fabulous cast to bask in the glory of Dickens’ wonderful writing, while also deliberately including some darker bits from the book that so many adaptations leave out, such as the part where the Ghost of Christmas Present (Edward Woodward) reveals the creepy spirits of ‘Want’ and ‘Ignorance’ as two spooky, malnourished children that live under his cloak. It’s bleak and very freaky.
The best thing about this one is definitely the casting of Scott as Ebeneezer. I’m not sure about his take on the character at first, as so many versions of this tale have portrayed Scrooge as a spindly, lanky fellow than stocky Scott. And yet, he gives a classic performance, very physical, expertly portraying the wrenching gamut of emotions that Scrooge must go through, without ever going pantomime-y. He subtly draws humanity and warmth out of the old git, as each step of his paranormal festive journey reveals more to him about the ghastly consequences of his miserly bah-humbug existence.
Donner’s picture feels wonderfully authentic with faultless period costumes, set design, architecture and hair styles. In the same year that Ghostbusters thrilled audiences, the spooky effects here are similarly impressive but subtly understated.
I'm impressed that this story can stand up to being adapted so many times, with filmmakers finding new ways to reel us in and entertain us. It's been done to death and yet, when Scott joyously rolls up his window to shout "You boy, what day is this?", I can't stop grinning. I'm realising that, in the right hands, this tale will always be a treat.
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