''Scrooge'' a lavish musical version of Charles Dickens ''A Christmas Carol'' is also one of the best yuletide films ever made. The story, which recounts the strange and wonderful events which cause a miserable miser to reform, lends itself beautifully to a musical format. Though this was not the first ''Carol'' to be set to music, it is easily the best. The acting, by a seasoned British cast, is wonderful.Albert Finney does not ''act'' the part of Ebenezer Scrooge, he IS Scrooge. Ably supported by Dame Edith Evans, Alec Guinnes and Kenneth More, he brings both humanity and pathos to his portrayal. The songs, by Leslie Bricusse (''Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory'') are both haunting and moving, and, when the occasion calls for it, upbeat and jolly as well. The production itself, well directed by Ronald Neame (''Great Expectations'') is handsomely filmed and suitable for all ages. Among the supporting cast, both Laurence Naismith and Kay Walsh (also in Neame's classic ''Oliver Twist') stand out as Mr. and Mrs. Fezziwigg. Making a very auspicious film debut is Suzanne Neve, who makes a lovely Isabel, Scrooge's lost love. The orchestrations present the score to great advantage, and the excellent widescreen photography brings a fairy tale London to life. There are other fine adaptations out there, most notably ''Magoo's Christmas Carol'' (with it's terrific score), and Alastair Sim's ''Scrooge'', a somewhat darker version, but this one can stand with the best of them. Incidentally,the film was a box office failure back when it premiered in 1970, (though it broke records at the Radio City Music Hall) but subsequent television airings have alerted audiences to it's many virtues-and made it a Classic for all time.
Review of Scrooge
