Scrooge [Blu-ray]

This is the eighth film version of Charles Dickens' most widely read story that was first published in 1843. This engaging musical by Leslie Bricusse finds Scrooge (Albert Finney) as the parsimonious miser with a heart of stone who hates the revelry of the Christmas holiday. He is visited by the ghost of his former business partner Jacob Marley (Alec Guinness) who warns Scrooge he will walk the Earth forever tormented if he fails to change his ways. He is visited by three spirits, the ghosts of Christmas Past (Edith Evans), Present (Kenneth More), and Future (Paddy Stone). Scrooge feels compassion for Tiny Tim (Richard Beaumont), the crippled but hopeful son of his underpaid and overworked bookkeeper Bob Crachit (David Collings). Laurence Naismith plays Fezziwig, Scrooge's first boss who showed great kindness and generosity to his employees. Susan Neve makes her film debut as Isabel, the fiance Scrooge jilted to focus on his love for money. Thirteen songs are performed in what has endured to be an annual holiday musical classic.