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Scrooge's laugh, and the 'Silent Night' journey

posted 16 years ago by andrew-bullock
15 replies | jump to latest

I actually really like this version, and place it second in my list of adaptations, with the Alastair Sim version being my favourite. My only gripe is that it does have a 'made for TV' movie feel to it, and a bit more money spent on special effects etc would have made this amazing. I do believe however that the performances, especially from Stewart, make these niggles easy to overlook.

Stewart's transformation is fantastic...in particular, his laughter upon waking. A gutteral choking sound wells up from deep within him..a loud gasping, gulping, coughing sound ensues until he manages to force out a laugh, followed by more laughter, verging on hysteria! He puts across very well the fact that he has not laughed for such a very long time, his body has virtually forgotten how to do it..he is utilizing muscles that have not seen action for a very long time, and the laughter forces itself out like a blockage being forced through rusty pipes...he literally has to choke, cough and splutter to get it out. This differs to Sim's performance of this scene in my opinion, because with Sim, from the moment he realises he is awake, and alive on Christmas day, he falls into delightfully delirious insanity, very easily..in fact, it is an effort for him to reign it in so as not to appear totally insane to those around him. For Stewart, it is as if the transformation is more of an effort...something I feel is also put across by the 'blocked laughter', and in the scene where he is almost seen to think twice about how much money he pays the boy to fetch the turkey (a topic discussed on this board, with differing views on whether this is good or not).

My other favourite scene is where the Ghost of Christmas Present takes Scrooge to different locations, showing people singing 'Silent Night', sometimes in English, German and French...a lighthouse, a boat, a coal mine. A truly touching scene for me, which I have not seen in other adaptations...i'm not sure why it touches me so, I think perhaps it shows that for at least one time in the year, millions of people across the world are united in some small way by Christmas. Even those of us that are not particularly religious often feel at Christmas just a little more love, kindness and consideration for our fellow human beings, and just wish for peace on earth for all.

I have just seem the Sim and Stewart versions virtually back to back this evening. I love both adaptations for different reasons, and I love both Stewart and Sim's portrayals of Scrooge for different reasons. Anybody else got any thoughts on the two scenes i've mentioned here? Good or bad, i'm still interested in hearing opinions :)

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] Galactus03 16 years ago

This version was ok. I like the 1970 Albert Finney version better. The laugh that Stewart does at the end is kinda silly. It seemed a little out of place. It bordered on high camp. One has to wonder if he took that laugh from Brent Spiner in an episode of TNG where Q gave Data the gift of a laugh. Data spit out a laugh very similar to Scrooges in this film.

[–] flowwalker 16 years ago

How strongly I agree with the first two posters! And, in addition, I liked the feeling of the narrow streets as Scrooge walked through them -- the feeling of being there in a past time. Same with the opening shots, where Scrooge follows Marley's horse-drawn hearse, on foot, through the cold snow. And I don't recall other versions showing Scrooge going to church, before going on to Fred's house. I may not be a church-goer, but thought that was a nice touch.

I love the 1938 and '51 versions, but this one is growing on me -- very much!

[–] LuckyBeerCamper 15 years ago

George C. Scott is the best Scrooge to date. Period. That is also the best adaptation of A Christmas Carol to date. Period.

The laugh is silly, though I agree, I do like this adaptation.

***************
Duo I want to see in a movie together... Toni Collette and Jim Carrey

[–] shadow_priest_x 15 years ago

Everyone's entitled to their opinion, of course, but I'd have to say that I think Alistair Sim is the quintessential Scrooge. With that said, I really did enjoy the '84, as 80s-ish as it may be, and I also really enjoyed this version with Patrick Stewart.

They all have their positive points.

[–] Big_AL-96 15 years ago

The visit to the coalmining village and the lighthouse etc are in the book. I have only seen this in this version and i think it is also captured in the Kelsey Grammer version (not one of my favourites).

[–] Marmadukebagelhole 14 years ago

I relly like the laugh. Especially as it looks like Scrooge is choking/expiring directly before it.(have the spirits change him or is he to die that christmas morning as he feared?). One final reminder of his mortality before he can start a new life.

[–] TheMagiciansWorkshop 14 years ago

Ah Stewart's laugh. I still can't watch it with a straight face. Maybe I'm not supposed to. It was intended to be the way it comes across.

[–] Marmadukebagelhole 14 years ago

An important thing to remember about Dickens and especially A Christmas Carol is that the characters were usually more caricature than realistic portrayals while the situations were drawn more closely to real life. I think Stewart's choke which transforms into a laugh is a good example of this. One of my favourite bits of this movie and also in Stewart's one man audio-play.

[–] TheMagiciansWorkshop 14 years ago

From an amusement perspective, it never fails to deliver. I can picture the director and crew stifling the giggles while filming that scene. If the movie had a gag reel of outtakes, I imagine that would feature heavily on it.

[–] rnorthro14 14 years ago

I too am moved by the traveling "Silent Night" scene. It is also not lost on me that Patrick Stewart is a fantastic Shakespearean trained actor. I now watch this version on a yearly basis.

[–] carlgt1 13 years ago

...is directly from the book by Dickens -- I don't think any other film adaptation has shown that -- and to such great effect, ie the French ship, the prison, and culminating with the brilliant shot & sound of the Welsh coalminers singing as they go home for Christmas. I was also very moved when I first saw that.

I have to admit though the choking/laughing scene sort of spoils this emotion (by the time you get to the end) and seems very out of place and forced....

[–] andrewbrighty-528-14885 12 years ago

The 1935 adaptation starring Sir Seymour Hicks shows the ship and the lighthouse keepers to 'Hark the herald angels'

[–] Two-HeadedBoy 11 years ago

The animated Richard Williams version from 1971 has the ship/lighthouse keepers/miners/prisoners singing as well.

[–] fiore2 11 years ago

I recently watched both the George C Scott version and the Patrick Stewart versions. I own most versions of A Christmas Carol. the 1951 alistair version is THE definitive version, but the Patrick Stewart version is my favorite.

I don't get why people hate Stewart's laugh outburt when he wakes up. It makes perfect sense. Scrooge was a horrible man, who hadn't laughed and loved in decades. He FORGOT how to laugh. The outburt was a sign his laughter and love returned.

I thought Stewart portrayed Scrooge better because he came off more wretched and mean. Scott smiled a few times, and even if they were sarcastic smiles they didn't give off that mean vibe that Stewart's Scrooge gave off, which was the real way Scrooge would have been.

Regardless, these are fabulous movies and I hope you've all watched them this holiday season :)