Starring Basil Rathbone, Robert Weede, Johnny Desmond, and Martyn Green
Directed by Daniel Petrie
Music by Fred Spielman; Lyrics by Janice Torre
Here's a true "lost Dickens treasure." This broadcast from the live show The Alcoa Hour vanished after its initial showing despite being a huge hit. It existed only in a 1978 animated remake (which we'll get to on Saturday) and a rare soundtrack album. The kinetoscope was recovered about a decade ago from the home of a retired executive for Alcoa Aluminum, and it was released on DVD in 2011. How does this version compare to other TV Christmas Carols, including the one from two years earlier with Fredrick March? Let's start, not with Scrooge, but on the street as the Four Lads tell us "A Christmas Carol" and find out...
The Story: Scrooge (Rathbone) is a nasty old miser who refuses to give one cent to the poor, chases children who sing at his door away, and barely pays his clerk Bob Cratchit (Green) enough for him and his family to survive. After the ghost of his former partner Jacob Marley (Weede) turns up, showing other spirits who never did any good, he claims Scrooge will be visited by three more spirits. The ghosts of Christmas Past (Ian Martin), Present (Robert Wright), and Yet-to-Come (Keith Harrington) shows Scrooge how he lost the love of his life (Patrice Munsel) to his gradual stinginess...and what will happen in the future if he doesn't change his ways.
The Song and Dance: I've done very well with vintage TV musicals this year, and Stingiest Man In Town is no exception. Rathbone is an excellent Scrooge, especially when he's grumbling and ranting about how Christmas is a "humbug" in the first half. Johnny Desmond has a lot of fun as Nephew Fred, and Green makes such a lovely Cratchit, you wish he had more to do. The special effects are surprisingly well-done for early television, especially when Marley shows Scrooge the wandering spirits. Even The Four Lads and their narration are well-integrated into the story.
Favorite Number: The Four Lads open the show with "A Christmas Carol," which they reprise several times throughout the story as Scrooge heads out with the ghosts. The waltz "An Old-Fashioned Christmas" is also performed several times, notably by Desmond and the chorus after he talks to Scrooge and as an instrumental chorus number at the Fezziwigs' party. The Four Lads return as beggars who complain about how Scrooge is "The Stingiest Man In Town." Bob Cratchit's daughter Martha assures her brother Tim that "Yes, There Is a Santa Claus," and there is generosity in this world.
We even get two ballets. The first appears as part of Scrooge and Belle's ballad medley, "Golden Dreams" and "It Might Have Been." Men dance as they help build up Scrooge's business...and build a wall between Belle and Scrooge that can never be torn down. "The Devil Ballet" comes in the future segment, as wraiths glide around Scrooge, bringing him to his doom.
Trivia: This was broadcast in color, but the kinetoscope survives in black and white.
What I Don't Like: Damone and Munsel sing "Golden Dreams" and "It Might Have Been" beautifully, but they're otherwise a bit wooden as the lovers torn apart by his greed. There's times when this being a live broadcast comes to the fore, especially with the occasionally stagey and cramped production.
The Big Finale: I'm so glad they finally found this one. Fine music and a mostly wonderful cast really bring this Charles Dickens classic to life.
Home Media: Only on DVD from VCI Entertainment.
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