MovieChat Forums > A Christmas Carol (1984) Discussion > Bob Cratchit miscast

Bob Cratchit miscast

posted 11 years ago by jmarkoff2
20 replies | jump to latest

Perhaps the only flaw in this version is David Warner as Cratchit. He is much too tall, strong, and majestic to play this meek, downtrodden character, plus his face looks like a psychopath. Every time Cratchit was on screen I saw Jack the Ripper, Master Control Program, Chancellor Gorkon, or Gul Madred.

I suppose it could be worse--imagine Arnold Schwarzenegger as Cratchit. "Come on, Scrooge! You got what you want. Give those people Christmas!" "I'll be back on December 26." "Get your ass to Camden Town." "Come with me if you want Tiny Tim to live." "Money pleases you, Scrooge, so grant me one request. Grant me Christmas day off! And if you do not listen, then to HELL with you!" "I'm not a pervert! I just was looking for a Christmas turkey!" And without any changes: "Doesn't anybody die any more?"

Or the following dialogue:

Scrooge: What's the difference between you and I? [sic]
Cratchit: The difference is: I'm just going to celebrate Christmas.

[–] IceboxMovies 11 years ago

Warner may be a bit tall but I still believe him as Cratchit. He certainly seems smaller than he is in his first scene -- when Scrooge barks at him about the fire. No wonder, considering that EVERYONE appears small when barked at by Patton himself.

[–] EmperorGalvatron 11 years ago

Now I kinda want to see Arnold Schwarzenegger as Cratchit.

[–] strntz 11 years ago

-imagine Arnold Schwarzenegger as Cratchit. "Come on, Scrooge! You got what you want. Give those people Christmas!" "I'll be back on December 26." "Get your ass to Camden Town."

LOL! I'd pay real money to see a skit (SNL maybe?) with Arnold doing just as you suggest. Perhaps way too funny for SNL..

But I disagree with you about Warner. I liked his version; certainly different than previous versions.

It is bad to drink Jobu's rum. Very bad.

[–] StrongRex 11 years ago

David Warner is my favorite Bob Cratchit.

[–] Taylorfirst1 11 years ago

David Warner is a magnificehnt actor and he does a fantastic job plying Cratchit IMO.

With great power comes great responsibility.

[–] HauntedHouse 11 years ago

David Warner is awesome as Bob. The entire cast is great. I can't watch any other version.

[–] OmegaWolf747 11 years ago

Strange you should say that, because that's the reaction I had to the actor who played Cratchet in the Patrick Stewart CC movie. The guy looked more like a psychopath than an impoverished clark.

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House. My room. Can't walk. My medal. My father. Father, don't!

[–] hachmom-1 11 years ago

David Warner is excellent, in the part. He's rhe only actor I haveever truly believed in the Tiny Tim death scene. He's definitely my favorite Cratchit.

It is not our abilities that show who we truly are...it is our choices

[–] IsoldeJaneHolland 9 years ago

image for user hachmom-1
by hachmom-1
» Wed Dec 25 2013 17:52:57

David Warner is excellent, in the part. He's rhe only actor I haveever truly believed in the Tiny Tim death scene. He's definitely my favorite Cratchit.

He was fantastic in that scene, true. Although there was also a moment when he seemed unCratchitlike. Like when he rapped the dining table with the spoon to quiet his clamouring children and all I could thing of was a stern British schoolmaster rapping the desk with a ruler.

We lost Roger Rees (Fred Hollilwell) earlier this year, and his narration of the introduction and conclusion were beautiful.

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[–] hachmom-1 9 years ago

I felt so bad about Roger Rees. If there can be Shakespearean actors and Shavian actors, then Roger Reese was a Dickensian actor. It's a shame the no one cast him in a Dickens bio, as Fred he looks very much like Dickens as a young man.

[–] zoltan42 11 years ago

Nah, I loved his portrayal.

I still remember an article on this that was published before it premiered. He actively campaigned for the role. He had played so many villains and bad guys (such as Jack the Ripper in "Time After Time") that he wanted to play a good guy.

As that great philosopher Bugs Bunny said, "Something tells me I shoulda stood in bed."

[–] goodthingsjohn 11 years ago

I thought this was the best Cratchit of all the films. He is an employee worthy of a raise and a partnership. This is what he deserves, thus he is finally given it.

Liberalism is a mental illness, and it's the only one that's contagious.

[–] Balberith 11 years ago

Warner was great as Cratchit! I also loved him in Titanic. God, you can love him in one role yet hate him in another.

"A real man would rather bow down to a strong woman than dominate a weak one"