The British governments answer to this escalating crisis was the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834.
Prince Albert introduced the Christmas tree in 1841, and the first Christmas cards were sent in 1843.
It turns out that this last category was easily the most competitive.
The actor regularly played Scrooge onstage and would go on to reprise the role in the 1935 sound version.
One can only assume, therefore, that it is a foolhardy artistic decision.
Maybe that says more about me than him, though.
Needless to say, this isnt the best adaptation ofA Christmas Carolyou may come across.
Its hammy to the extreme, and one might generously say it skims through Dickens story.
Tellingly, my notes for this version ended with the phrase a really piss poor go.
This echoed Scrooges fathers anger at him over his own mothers similar death.
Dickens was surprisingly vague about both of these facts, and it seems to vary from film to film.
I dont buy that myself, however.
Fully deserving of its place as a Christmas classic.
Its toward the top end of the animated spectrum, but its still a little bland and un-engaging.
Scrooge (1970)
An all-singing, all-dancing film starring Albert Finney in the titular role.
Seems obvious now that you think about it.
Im pretty sure they are the only ones to do so, thinking about it.
Meanwhile, Finney himself actually won a Golden Globe for The Best Motion Picture Actor in a Musical/Comedy.
Its a surreal animation that has a unique visual style, with some imaginative camera tricks and haunting visuals.
The first ghost is particularly trippy, as it swiftly zooms Scrooge from past memory to past memory.
A Christmas Carol (1982)
Truth be told, I actually watched this version by accident.
Not to worry, I thought.
Lets give this one a go instead.
Its a made-for-TV Australian offering, and it is easily the worst animated version ofA Christmas CarolIve watched.
Clearly this Scrooge isnt just an old miser; hes an unscrupulous bastard too.
At one stage, I thought it might actually be Toyah.
It makes him look like a bit like a child zombie more than anything.
Cue a Christmas morning revelation and Blackadder becoming the biggest swine ever.
From the opening Humbug!
Humbug, Mister Baldrick?
Until the age of about 10, I didnt realise Bob Cratchit wasnt actually meant to be a frog.
Michael Caine is superb as a mean and moody Scrooge with a heart of stone.
That really was the benchmark for bad animation.
Also, for no particular reason, Scrooge now has a dog.
The dog performs no function.
If anything it shows that Scrooge must care for something after all, its clearly not undernourished.
Its another boring animation that youd do well to avoid.
It feels like were being lectured about Dickens story rather than being given an entertaining film.
as Marley, and Michael Gambon as Ghost of Christmas Present.
I have no idea why they felt adding all this in was worthwhile.
Seriously though, why the mice?
Id always been put off by the customary terrible review it always received in theChristmas Radio Times.
However, I nonetheless went in with an open mind and full of hope.
Unfortunately, it really is quite terrible.
He just looks like a slightly scragglier version of himself and never really immerses himself into the role.
Horrible cheesy and unaware quite how ridiculous it is, this is most definitely one to avoid.
