ABOVE AVERAGE

A NEW POWERFUL PRESENTATION OF THE MOST LOVED GHOST STORY OF ALL TIME!

Charles Dickens’s ghost story would probably survive even the most slapdash filmization, but this TV movie is not one of those. It is a distinguished version where the filmmakers succeed in creating an atmosphere soaked in the emotions of Christmases past.

The darkness interrupting the carols is provided by the greedy businessman Scrooge who loathes Christmas (as well as himself, obviously) but is visited at night by three spirits who try to change him.

George C. Scott is so convincing as the sulking, penny-pinching miser that it becomes almost hard to believe in the ghosts’ “salvation” of his soul. He is nicely supported by a fine cast of British actors. 

1984-U.K.-U.S. 100 min. Color. Directed by Clive Donner. Teleplay: Roger O. Hirson. Novella: Charles Dickens. Cast: George C. Scott (Ebeneezer Scrooge), Nigel Davenport (Silas Scrooge), Frank Finlay (Jacob Marley), Edward Woodward, Lucy Gutteridge, Angela Pleasence, David Warner, Susannah York, Joanne Whalley, Michael Gough.