Thank you for your review and for introducing or reminding us of this classic. It ushered in about a decade of really wonderful TV Christmas specials (Charlie Brown, Grinch, Rudolph, etc.).
As you say, it is great fun for the kids, and I do also recall as a child that it had just enough atmospheric chills to be taken seriously. And while I tend to prefer the lush graphics that the classical Disney fairy tales employed - based on 19th century book illustrations - I have come to appreciate the artistry of the semi-modern styled backgrounds as utilized in this film.
As an aside to your mention of Mel Blanc, a fabulous example of his talent can be sampled in the brilliant 1946 cartoon "Book Revue." At one point, Blanc voices Daffy Duck impersonating a scat singing Danny Kaye!
I watched it with some of the kids this morning. I enjoyed the cartoon style, the mid century modern colors and art work, the playful unpretentious songs.
The opening song had me smirking, because it seemed like a bit of a joke about that Singing in the Rain scene. And I also thought it was pretty funny to place a song in the middle of the graveyard scene.
It was hard for me to engage with the character, because I am not familiar with Mr. Magoo. Although, I do remember watching plenty of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck specials at Grandma’s house during the summer, and being impressed when I noticed all of the voices were done by the same guy. As a vocalist today, I’m still impressed! I like people who have the ability to not take themselves too seriously. There’s something so goofy to be able to imitate different people and characters. Why is that?
I’m glad we watched it, but I’m still not persuaded from Team Muppets. It will take a lot to beat “One More Sleep Til Christmas”. Thank you for all your recommendations! I enjoy them all.
I remember this version as a kid-it was probably my first introduction to the Christmas Carol (that being said I really didn’t read the whole thing till it recently became a yearly family read aloud — at the insistence of my kids who are Dickens fans!). We can’t wait to add it to our list of Christmas movies! Thank you again for enriching our family culture!
I've never been a fan of "musicals" (defined in the broadest sense), with only a few exceptions [I love Bollywood films with the singing & dancing; having grown up with them, I love most of the animated Christmas cartoons; I love Jacques Brel Is Alive And Well And Living In Paris; and the musical episode of Buffy, The Vampire Slayer, 'Once More With Feeling...' is one of the most brilliant pieces of TV ever made (funny, too--"Where are the police?"......."They're taking witness ARIA's.")]
.........which is all just a self-indulgent way of saying, I've never watched the Mr. Magoo version of 'A Christmas Carol'...
For my money, the 1984 version with George C. Scott is the best version--for me, it really captures Dickens wonderfully and faithfully.
For all its flaws, the modernized version with Bill Murray, 'Scrooged' is very good as well.
I think that all of the Scrooge films have virtues, but not all of them can be watched with the kids, or at least enjoyed by the kids. "Mr. Magoo" has a lot going for it, and does it without falling into too-easy preachiness or too-easy cliche. Musicals need to be evaluated on different terms than films in general, I think. But here we have something both goofy and sublime -- with good music. I know of no animated song that's anything like "We're Reprehensible." Watch and tell us what you think!
Thank you for your review and for introducing or reminding us of this classic. It ushered in about a decade of really wonderful TV Christmas specials (Charlie Brown, Grinch, Rudolph, etc.).
As you say, it is great fun for the kids, and I do also recall as a child that it had just enough atmospheric chills to be taken seriously. And while I tend to prefer the lush graphics that the classical Disney fairy tales employed - based on 19th century book illustrations - I have come to appreciate the artistry of the semi-modern styled backgrounds as utilized in this film.
As an aside to your mention of Mel Blanc, a fabulous example of his talent can be sampled in the brilliant 1946 cartoon "Book Revue." At one point, Blanc voices Daffy Duck impersonating a scat singing Danny Kaye!
A blessed Christmas-tide to you.
I’ve loved this version since I was a child. It touches me still. Thank you so much for this.
Kathleen, this has been on our family Christmas viewing list for decades! We love it THAT much!
Team Muppets here to say I’ll give Mr Magoo a try! Merry Christmas!
Give it a try and report back! I'll be interested to hear what you think, particularly of the songs!
I watched it with some of the kids this morning. I enjoyed the cartoon style, the mid century modern colors and art work, the playful unpretentious songs.
The opening song had me smirking, because it seemed like a bit of a joke about that Singing in the Rain scene. And I also thought it was pretty funny to place a song in the middle of the graveyard scene.
It was hard for me to engage with the character, because I am not familiar with Mr. Magoo. Although, I do remember watching plenty of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck specials at Grandma’s house during the summer, and being impressed when I noticed all of the voices were done by the same guy. As a vocalist today, I’m still impressed! I like people who have the ability to not take themselves too seriously. There’s something so goofy to be able to imitate different people and characters. Why is that?
I’m glad we watched it, but I’m still not persuaded from Team Muppets. It will take a lot to beat “One More Sleep Til Christmas”. Thank you for all your recommendations! I enjoy them all.
I remember this version as a kid-it was probably my first introduction to the Christmas Carol (that being said I really didn’t read the whole thing till it recently became a yearly family read aloud — at the insistence of my kids who are Dickens fans!). We can’t wait to add it to our list of Christmas movies! Thank you again for enriching our family culture!
Louise, it's really done very well. If you haven't seen it in awhile, by all means don't miss it. Good for the whole family!
Interesting.
I've never been a fan of "musicals" (defined in the broadest sense), with only a few exceptions [I love Bollywood films with the singing & dancing; having grown up with them, I love most of the animated Christmas cartoons; I love Jacques Brel Is Alive And Well And Living In Paris; and the musical episode of Buffy, The Vampire Slayer, 'Once More With Feeling...' is one of the most brilliant pieces of TV ever made (funny, too--"Where are the police?"......."They're taking witness ARIA's.")]
.........which is all just a self-indulgent way of saying, I've never watched the Mr. Magoo version of 'A Christmas Carol'...
For my money, the 1984 version with George C. Scott is the best version--for me, it really captures Dickens wonderfully and faithfully.
For all its flaws, the modernized version with Bill Murray, 'Scrooged' is very good as well.
I think that all of the Scrooge films have virtues, but not all of them can be watched with the kids, or at least enjoyed by the kids. "Mr. Magoo" has a lot going for it, and does it without falling into too-easy preachiness or too-easy cliche. Musicals need to be evaluated on different terms than films in general, I think. But here we have something both goofy and sublime -- with good music. I know of no animated song that's anything like "We're Reprehensible." Watch and tell us what you think!