Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol
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Movie Reviews of Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol
Movie Review: Still my favorite musical version of Dicken's classic story
Summary: 5 Stars
"Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol" has always been my favorite musical version of Dicken's classic tale for the simple reason that the songs have been better than all those other versions, including the most recent attempt with Kelsey Grammar. Since the music and lyrics are by Jule Styne and Bob Merrill, the same team that did "Funny Girl," this is not surprising. I have just finished watching the show again and I finally noticed that there are only four songs. They just happen to be four really good songs and even when there is not singing three of them are used to great effect as background music. No wonder that as soon as you hear the opening theme on the DVD the feelings and memories coming rushing back.
Once you get past the framing device of Magoo showing up for the performance and taking a curtain call as he brings down the house at the start and the end of the show there are only a few moments where you are dealing with Mr. Magoo's nearsightedness. For the most part Barbara Chain's script does "A Christmas Carol" straight up and it works, mainly because when Mr. Magoo scowls and does his whole "Bah, humbug" bit you buy it. As we all know Jim Backus does the voice of Mr. Magoo/Scrooge, while Jack Cassidy does Bob Cratchit, Royal Dano is Marley's Ghost, Les Tremayne voices the Ghost of Christmas Present, the great June Foray (a.k.a. Rocky the Flying Squirrel) does the Ghost of Christmas Past, Joan Garnder is Tiny Tim (who is "played" by another cartoon character from the 1950s, Gerald McBoing-Boing), and Paul Frees' recognizable voice does several characters. Frees and Foray sing together on "The Bandit Song" and Jane Kean sings "Winter Was Warm" as Belle, the woman beloved by the young Scrooge.
All things considered, "Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol" is my favorite animated holiday show and it is not Christmas unless I see it, "A Charlie Brown Christmas," and "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." I love the finale when they all sing "The Cratchit Family Dinner Song" (a.k.a. "We'll Have the Lord's Bright Blessing). It does not matter that the animation is bare-boned (the audience never moves) or that there are some completely comic supporting characters, because the songs are so wonderful and the emotion of the story comes through. Watching your favorite holiday specials brings back memories of Christmas as a child, and there is not much in this world sweeter than that. I do not know if this show can win over a new generation of fans, but if you have ever seen this one you know you have to see it again.
Movie Review: Moving...Memorable...and Music that will haunt you...
Summary: 5 Stars
Dicken's story has been retold dozens (if not hundreds) of times, and it's always interesting to see what is emphasized and what is left out. This version is one of the shorter (and therefore more suitable for small children). But the bare bones of the story have been fleshed out by a score that is so memorable and moving that I'm amazed Broadway hasn't taken notice.
It's also a seminal version of the story--many current animators have referenced this production. (I would be very much surprised if Genndy Tartakovsky has never seen it, for instance.) This influence is a tribute to the power the film has over anyone who saw it in childhood.
An added treat is the gorgeous singing voice of Jack Cassidy (known to fans of "Columbo" as one of the two "three-time" villains, and to fans of "The Partridge Family" as the father of David), and the presence of famed Disney (and Boris Badenov!) voice-actor Paul Frees, who contributes the voices of several characters.
I originally wrote about this film on Amazon when only the VHS version was available. What a thrill it is to now own this excellent DVD, which will be subjected to many, many viewings in the years to come.
Movie Review: Simply the most enjoyable adaptation of Dickens
Summary: 5 Stars
There are so many reasons why MR.MAGOO'SCHRISTMAS CAROL has remained my favorite version,not only musical,of Charles Dickens' classic; the free adaptation by Barbara Chain eliminates many extraneous characters from the Dickens story, and focuses us squarely on Scrooge's transformation as it particularly relates to Tiny Tim and his family.The musical score of Jules Styne is still simply the best and most memorable of any of the musical versions.The vocal talents of such past greats as Jim Backus, Jane Kean,Jack Cassidy,Morey Amsterdam and Les Tremayne and songs such as "Winter is Warm","Ringle Jingle","La-La-La", "Alone in the World" and "We'll have the brightest Christmas" make this the most infectious and accessible of adaptations.This version first appeared on television in 1962 and it ran every Christmas into the '70's.The DVD is crystal clear and the sound is magnificent.Perfect for all ages and highly recommended for pure enjoyment.It helps to understand the character of Magoo as a near-sighted bumbler before watching this so that the inner jokes about him being "too cheap to by a pair of spectacles" is not lost.Movie Review: An Overlooked Gem
Summary: 5 Stars
I too bring this VHS (now a DVD) out every December and view it. And for me also, it simply is not Christmas if I haven't had a chance to revisit Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol. I remember as a kid loving this TV special and now I know why. The stylized animation coupled with the Jule Styne score and the high art of Jim Backus' voiceover simply cannot be improved upon. The songs are show-stopping and the rousing chorus rendition of "We'll Have the Brightest Christmas" at the end of the show is downright infectious. I just had Christmas dinner with a group of fellow working professionals and during the meal we talked about this animated classic and how we all have a special place in our hearts for it. I got to wondering, that since this piece was crafted as a musical theater production, why on earth has no one (with the financing capabilities) actually mounted this production for the live theater during the holiday season. I should think it would be a sellout.Movie Review: The Finest Christmas Carol of Them All
Summary: 5 Stars
"Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol" is simply the finest film realization ever, animated or live, of Charles Dickens' wonderful and wondrous tale. Sheer magic, astonishing beauty of song and story, deeply loving, profoundly moving. If you have a heart that has been broken but still capable of hearing the most exquisite whisperings of that which makes life not just good but even mystical, not just sweet but even sacred, then this film is your film, this story is your story, and its songs sing beauty and comfort to you even in your night of most inward darkness. And the song at the film's center and heart, "Winter Was Warm," sung by a woman with the voice of an angel, is perhaps the greatest song of lost and yearning love ever recorded. A thousand "Bravos" and profoundest gratitude to all who worked to create this magnificent masterpiece of the storyteller's art--this journey from bitter tragedy to utter exaltation.