A musical version of the Dickens classic.
This attempt to cash-in on the success of Oliver isn’t in the same league, largely
because Leslie Bricusse isn’t Lionel Bart and Ronald Neame isn’t Carol Reed.
However, the material is just about impossible to spoil and the film, while
wildly inconsistent and boasting a mediocre song score, has numerous virtues.
The chief one is Albert Finney whose performance as Scrooge is serious and
thoughtful, which is essential if the material is going to work and make his
eventual transformation dramatically satisfying. There’s a strong supporting
cast amongst which Edith Evans, Kenneth More and Alec Guinness stand out – the latter’s
camp take on the role is particularly good value in the added scenes in hell
towards the end – and the best musical number features Anton Rogers making the
most of “Thank You Very Much” as he dances on Scrooge’s coffin.
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