Favorite moments?
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grendelkhan — 16 years ago(December 18, 2009 08:47 AM)
The reaction of Scrooge when he first sees Fan
Scrooge's joy upon seeing Mr. Fezziwig
Bob Cratchit's plea to his wife to honor Scrooge on Christmas
The Ghost of Christmas Present's line, "Mortal! We spirits of Christmas do not live but one day. We live the whole three hundred and sixty-five." The actor delivers it wonderfully.
The revelation of Want and Ignorance.
Scrooge's wail upon seeing his grave.
Scrooge's attempt to stand on his head.
The exchange with the boy, through the window.
The look on Fred's wife's face when Scrooge makes his apologies to her.
The joy of Scrooge as he picks up the Polka beat.
The look on Bob Cratchit's face when Scrooge tells him he is raising his salary.
Scrooge saying he doesn't deserve to be so happy, making you believe he is slipping, then falling into laughter that he can't help himself.
There are so many more. The rag-picker's parlor scene is always a favorite. Tniy Tim looking through the shop window in the beginning. Scrooge and Marley, Marley's face in the door knocker, the dog pulling the blind boy away from Scrooge, the final scene of Scrooge walking down the street, a friend to all. -
RigsbysCat — 11 years ago(December 09, 2014 06:57 AM)
Either he wasn't blind or Ebenezer mean spirit was felt in the air. LOL!
It's actually a reference to the book.
Even the blind mens dogs appeared to know him; and when they saw him coming on, would tug their owners into doorways and up courts; and then would wag their tails as though they said, No eye at all is better than an evil eye, dark master! -
IceSziber — 16 years ago(December 23, 2009 05:29 PM)
The scene near the end where Scrooge summons Cratchit into his office for being late. Scrooge feigns anger and soon reveals his transformed self by "no choice but to raise your salary!!!" A stunned Cratchit is speechless. It is clear to me that Scrooge is now rediscovering how it feels to give. But this scene offers more. Scrooge shows compassion and most importantly, respect for Bob as a person.
I watch this film every yearabout 40 times so far! This scene still brings a tear to my eye. Sim was truly an extraordinary actor. -
Sunflower64 — 16 years ago(December 23, 2009 10:37 PM)
I find every scene with Fan very touching. The scene where she comes to get young Scrooge at school and he breaks down in her arms is probably my favorite in the movie. It shows that Fan was really the only source of love Scrooge had growing up, how close they were, and why her death was so devastating and changed him so much.
In that same vein, I also like Fan's death scene. Young Scrooge leaves the room in anger and despair after giving baby Fred a horrible, blameful look. And then present Scrooge hears her asking him to look after her baby with her dying breath. It's horrible and Scrooge recognizes that he treated Fred the same way his father treated him. How poignant that the film associates the folksong Barbara Allen with Fan and then at the end, when Scrooge goes to Fred's house the song returns, as if her spirit is with him and urging him along.
A young girl passes / in a hurry. Hair uncombed. / Full of black devils. Kelly Link -
jibberish66 — 16 years ago(December 24, 2009 11:40 AM)
I like the look on Scrooge's face when he apologizes to Fred's wife. That sheepish smile is priceless. I also like the part where Tiny Tim looks in the window and is laughing until someone buys the toy ship, and then he saddens. Strong Stuff.
Rik-You know "Summer Holiday" by Cliff Richard?
Suggs-If you hum a few bars, I'll smash your face. -
novastar_6 — 16 years ago(December 24, 2009 03:59 PM)
"I don't know anythingbut now I KNOW that I don't know anything, singing I don't know anything, I never did know anything, but now I know that I don't know, all on a Christmas mornI must stand on my head, I must stand on my head!"
"I don't deserve to be so merry! .but I just can't help it laughs I just can't help it!" -
lroy77 — 15 years ago(December 25, 2010 09:17 AM)
Try You Tube.
I like it when old Marley and Scrooge are in the board meeting and offer to buy 51% of the company from their own private funds.
I also like the festivities the Crachetts have during the Ghost of Christmas Present part.
Brits-ARE there people today with the surname of Crachett? -
Profondorosso75 — 15 years ago(December 06, 2010 08:14 AM)
scrooge telling marley's ghost that he is likely "a bit of undigested beef"
when scrooge wakes from his ordeal his transformation is the best he seems so genuinely happy it makes you laugh along with him.
"everybody wants to go to heaven but nobody wants to die" -
nitacul — 15 years ago(December 10, 2010 11:07 AM)
Favorite moment? When an embarassed, wisened Scrooge laments so sincerly to Fred's wife "Can you forgive a pig-headed old fool with no eyes to see with and no ears to hear with all these years?" - all with the poignant strains of Barbara Allen playng as background.
Next favorite? When Scrooge first hears his dying sister imploring him to care for her infant son - the words he missed when he angrily stormed from her bedside moments before she spoke them. Scrooge's realization of his dishonor to his sister and his disservice to his innocent nephew was very moving. -
anasella — 15 years ago(December 07, 2010 10:18 PM)
One would definitely have to be Scrooge's giddy transformation acted out spectacularly by Alistair Sim on Christmas morning. It warms my heart and produces the same hearty laughter every time I watch it.
Another was when Scrooge and the Spirit of Christmas past were outside of Scrooge's boyhood residence. The Spirit declares that the solitary boy deserted by his friends is inside still, and scrooge responds, "I know." It wasn't just the look on Sim's face that made the scene, but it was how he convincingly expressed it. It really makes us realize how Scrooge still, in his older age, feels the emotion of the state he was in. Very powerful!
A third would be the way Sim marvelously keeps us on the edge of our seat in how he will break the news of coming to his senses to Bob Marley! And the look on Marley's face, done magnificently by Mervyn John's, is priceless!
And finally, no doubt, my most favorite scene was Scrooge at his nephew's house. Other film versions have Scrooge too giddy in the wrong places. Here, Sim sensitively plays out the role of a man who has found redemption but is still in need of acceptance. As he looks into the eyes of his Fred's wife, Sim hesitates for just a second and asks for forgiveness. It brings tears to my eyes even as I write it. A marvelous scene, capped off by an brilliant shift to the two of them dancing and the rest joining in! Wow! -
rdawsoniii — 15 years ago(December 08, 2010 09:02 AM)
So many to choose!
The opening scene on the steps of the Exchange, particularly the line: "Did I ask you for more time to lend you the money? Then why should you ask me for more time to pay it back?"
Marley's Ghost. Hordern's performance is still the Gold Standard.
Scrooge and the Ghost of Christmas Past, when talking about the cost of Fezziwig's parties.
Scrooge waking up Christmas morning.
Scrooge and Mrs. Dilber on the staircase.
Scrooge and Mrs. Fred
Scrooge and Cratchit on the day after Christmas.
Aw heck..just the WHOLE MOVIE. -
vmacek@mindspring.com — 14 years ago(December 12, 2011 04:06 PM)
anasella said:
"how he will break the news of coming to his senses to Bob Marley!"
Hee hee, I like that! "Well, we'll talk it over later, Bob - over a hot bowl of ganja, hmm?"
It is a great sceneI like how, when he declares his intent of helping his family, adds "if you'll let me." Lovely bit of humility there. -
moira99 — 14 years ago(December 12, 2011 08:28 PM)
Love all the scenes mentioned above!
There's a wonderful bit in the scene where Scrooge finally goes to visit the dying Marley, asking "have they seen to you?" When Scrooge asks if there's anything else he can do for Marley, Marley nods and Scrooge assumes an "oh sh!" expression, then asks, "What is it particularly?" I love that "particularly'" as in "get to the point and let me out of here." Scrooge is actually trying to be decent, but can't pull it off, especially when Marley want's to get personal with "we were wrong."
Another quote: Ghost of Christmas Present says, "You've never seen the like of me," to which Scrooge responds, "No, and I wish the pleasure had been indefinitely postponed.
I love the way that, after he's terrified her by dancing around and trying to stand on his head, Scrooge has to chase Mrs. Dilber downstairs, and try to calm her so she doesn't really scream for the beadle.
What's the coin in her hand for? "To keep me mouth shut."
Scrooge already actually has the beginnings of a good relationship with Bob Cratchit, but his approach to his nephew shows he's finally able to risk being hurt again. Love the silent exchange with the maid at the door of course, and how he asks his nephew and the nephew's wife for forgiveness, and how they're thrilled by this. Also love how Fred's friend calls for the pianist to play a polka right now, so they won't have everyone burst into tears. -
marty099 — 15 years ago(December 10, 2010 07:11 AM)
I agree and love all of these, but "Forgive me Fan", The nod from the unknown maid is great, she is so memorable! and of course when he shamefully addresses Fred's wife apologizing and asking forgiveness for being a pig headed old fool without the eyes to see etc"
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kartoon-1 — 15 years ago(December 11, 2010 11:01 PM)
1st. When he wakes up Christmas morning and realises he's been given a second chanceand scares his poor housekeeper into thinking he's flipped his wig.
2nd. He cracks up again in front of Bob Cratchit and while Bob takes it a little more calmly, like the housekeeper, he accepts the transformation!
All the other scenes mentioned are also scenes worth mentioning as they are all priceless moments in a priceless movie. -
Ambrosia-I — 15 years ago(December 14, 2010 12:43 PM)
Other than all of it? Today I've seen the film for the first time at the cinema. I've watched it on TV and on DVD many times, but to see it at the GFT was an absolute birthday treat for me! My favourite line was to Bob Cratchit near the end:
"No, Bob, I haven't taken leave of my senses, I've come to them."
The way he giggles and says:
"I don't deserve to be so happy!"
The funniest moment for me was when he does a headstand on the chair and Kathleen Harrison shrieks and runs out of the room with her pinny over her head.
Alastair Sim must be the most accomplished comic actor of all time. In this film, he always gives me the wonderful experience of laughing and crying at the same time. Needless to say, it took me a while to pull myself together today!