No Christmas viewing is complete without watching at least one version of a Christmas Carol.
We’ll be watching at least two – the 1951 film with Alastair Sim as Scrooge and the 1971 made for TV animated adaptation featuring… Alastair Sim voicing Scrooge.
I’ve written this week about A Christmas Carol and its deep relevance today.
I have to confess, I wasn’t sure about this adaptation when I rediscovered it a few years ago. I was so used to the super and hyper realistic versions that the animation struck me as being odd, even uncomfortable.
But after a couple of more viewings, I’ve come to appreciate the power and complexity of the animation. That legendary animator Chuck Jones was executive producer should come as no surprise – here’s a great article on the background to this version of A Christmas Carol.
The adaptation was not without its controversy, however. A Christmas Carol was originally screened on TV before getting a cinema release, thereby rendering it eligible for an Academy Award which it deservedly won in 1972 for best short film. They changed the rules after that…