This version, although rarely shown on television any more, has stood for twenty five years as a favourite of the genre with many rating it as their favourite. While many bemoaned the casting of the American Scott in the title role, few can argue with his performance. Rather than labour the tired caricature and the overstated "Bah! Humbug!" lines, Scott plays Scrooge as crotchety, hard, serious and lonely but not necessarily "evil". As the character demands, he excels in business but not the business of mankind. Moreover, the tone of his "Mr Cratchit!" has yet to be beaten!
The supporting cast are equally impressive with dear, departed Edward Woodward playing the Ghost of Christmas Present perfectly - distributing the milk of human kindness to those deserving and mocking Scrooge with harsh but fair glee. Special mentions must also go out to Roger Rees, hitherto only seen by me as the Sheriff of Rottingham in Mel Brooks' ridiculous 'Robin Hood : Men in Tights' and Brian Pettifer, better known to Scottish audiences as Andra in Rab C Nesbitt.
You can pick this up for a fiver at Play.com - a shrewd bargain that Scrooge himself would approve of.
Here's a sneak preview where Scott's Scrooge teaches David Warner's Bob Cratchit a lesson in duds.
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