MovieChat Forums > Scrooge (1971) Discussion > Still Not The Full Version Shown In Thea...

Still Not The Full Version Shown In Theaters

posted 9 years ago by falkeep-56380
10 replies | jump to latest

I was 10 when this was first released and I saw it in the theater in 1970 in first release. There is one part that I vividly remember which I have never seen restored, even in the TCM version. For the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come, when Scrooge is taken away, the very first part of that segment begins with the two ladies who owe Scrooge the debt are in a store selling the clothes and bed curtains that took from Scrooge's dead body, without them telling us, of course, whose clothing they are selling.

I have spoken to a couple of other people who, when I describe the scene to them, they also remember it. That and Scrooge's trip to Hell were the two parts of the movie which made the greatest impression on me and every time I see it someplace new (mainly on the DVD and on TCM), I am glad to see the trip to Hell included but always hope that I will eventually find it shown with that very first part of the visit to the future.

[–] heathertoni 9 years ago

The version I have on DVD has the scene with them selling the sheets, but I've seen it a million times without it. They never should have cut that and the hell scene.

[–] rocklyn80 9 years ago

Im quite certain you are confusing these with all the other versions, as since it was part of Dickens original story,
It was never in this version, and you can see how seamless it sequeues from the spirits visit to the scene outside the counting house.

"Lead on spirit!, Lead on!" - (crack of lighting) - Tom Perkins shining the name plate - you can see there is no room for an omitted scene

[–] jschillig 8 years ago

Yeah, I find it a little odd that this is one of the only versions I can think of that omits the paupers selling off Scrooge's belongings.

[–] culturedeluxe 8 years ago

It would spoil Scrooge's confusion when everyone is singing "Thank you very much". If he already knew he had died then he wouldn't have joined in and celebrated the fact they were cheering him. Which, of course, he does for real later on.

It's a good scene in the original text, but not essential.

I think the extra hell scene was probably only to give Alec Guinness more screen time.

[–] flanagan-eng 8 years ago

The 1951 version, starring Alistair Sim as Scrooge, does include a scene of his housekeeper selling some of his clothes and belongings to a 'rag and bone' man, in the future Christmas sequence.

[–] mojo2004 8 years ago

The 1951 version, starring Alistair Sim as Scrooge, does include a scene of his housekeeper selling some of his clothes and belongings to a 'rag and bone' man, in the future Christmas sequence.

I have to mention 'Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol'(1962). It includes the scene with the laundress, charwoman, and the undertaker who go to Old Joe's rag & bone shop to sell the items that they have taken from the newly deceased miser "with him lyin' there". They sing the song "We're Despicable (Plunderer's March)".

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ஜ۩۞۩ஜ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
The truth of life has been revealed.
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[–] clairus99-1 8 years ago

funny, i'm watching it on network tv in the uk right now, and they're showing it.

I guess british audiences can handle the hell scenes better ;) lol

[–] clairus99-1 8 years ago

I misread your post before writing what I put before, but anyway....!

no they didn't show any bits with the women selling sheets and clothes that were scrooge's. they went from xmas present to scrooge 'welcoming' yet-to-come, and then to the street and anton rogers polishing the plaque and going straight into 'thank you very much', then looking through the cratchett's window, and then the cemetery (and, hell).

:)

ps I think i'd actually read on the trivia section that they usually omit the hell scene on American network tv

[–] phillindholm 8 years ago

Those scenes were NEVER in this version, (For the thousandth time.) The running time (including Overature and exit music) listed in my original pressbook and the film's running time, matches almost to the second.

[–] CoriSCapnSkip (2360) 3 years ago

Strange, the version now on YouTube has the Hell scene (most of it) but completely skips the selling the clothing and curtains scene. It was either cut so completely you'd never have known it was included, or it was actually not included.