Made on the normal BBC tight budget this 1977 A Christmas Carol find on YouTube was well worth the hour I spent watching and below there is a link to this Christmas classic.
Sir Michael Hordern certainly looks the part, as Scrooge my problem with this adaptation is length, it being impossible to do the story justice in one hour. The production values may not be quite of the highest quality but are at least acceptable and hardly ugly looking they also at least give some atmosphere.
The adaptation is directed assuredly, and is well performed too. Michael Hordern is a most credible Scrooge, Alastair Sim is still the definitive Scrooge, but Hordern does a fine job as well. There's also John Le Meseurier's spooky Jacob Marley, Clive Merrison's humble Bob Cratchit, Paul Copley's jovial Fred and Timothy Chasin's heartfelt Tiny Tim all in all an excellent supporting cast.
The Three Christmas Ghosts are very well characterised as well, especially Bernard Lee as Ghost of Christmas Present, funny and imposing. What makes this adaptation as worthwhile as it is how it tells the story? The dialogue, being amusing, dark and with pathos, is very Dickensian and adapted intelligently. And the story, for one told in such a short running time, maintains the spirit of the story, and is every bit as magical, charming and enthralling as it should, the message is one to warm the cockles of your heart.
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