Mister Magoo’s Christmas Carol (1962)

• Year: 1962
• Released: 18 Dec 1962
• Country: United States
• Adwords: N/A
• IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0123179/
• Rotten Tomatoes: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mister_magoos_christmas_carol
• Metacritics:
• Available in: 720p, 1080p,
• Language: English
• MPA Rating: Approved
• Genre: Animation, Comedy, Drama
• Runtime: 53 min
• Writer: Charles Dickens, Barbara Chain, Stephen Bosustow
• Director: Abe Levitow
• Cast: Jim Backus, Morey Amsterdam, Jack Cassidy
• Keywords: gold, musical, miser, doom, christmas spirit, christmas,

7.6/10

Mister Magoo’s Christmas Carol Storyline

Bah, Humbug, Mr. Magoo. Watch Charles Dickens classic tale of regret, redemption, and the power of the Christmas spirit like never before with Mister Magoo’s Christmas Carol. Starring the beloved, bumbling Mr. Magoo as Ebenezer Scrooge, a miserly businessman who learns the error of his greedy ways on a magical and musical journey through the past, present, and future Christmases of his life. Jim Backus, Morey Amsterdam, Jack Cassidy and Royal Dano lend their voice talents to the first animated holiday special in television history.

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Mister Magoo’s Christmas Carol Movie Reviews

A wonderful, heart-warming holiday classic

Those of us fortunate enough to grow up in the late 50’s remember Mr. Magoo with a special warmth, and this version of “A Christmas Carol” is the main reason. This remains a superior re-telling of the story and holds it’s own against the George C. Scott and Alaister Sim versions, despite being only 50 minutes long and animated. The ghost of Marley is as scary as they come, and the villains are convincingly menacing. Mr. Magoo, thanks to the avant-garde UPA animation and the unparalleled voice talents of Jim Backus, emotes as effectively as a real person. The songs could not be better; they are Broadway quality and are sung with a heart-felt enthusiasm that adds as much to the film as the actor’s voices. Jack Cassidy is perfect as Bob Cratchit, and Royal Dano as Marley holds the viewer spellbound with his sepulchral intonations.

This adaptation holds a special place in my memory, thanks to the excellence of the production and the great voices. Each year my husband and I (and our grown children) watch it several times, marveling at how it can still entertain and enthrall after so many years. Do not pass this up, if you can find it; it’s a truly timeless classic. The film has been released on DVD, and this offers an extremely good-looking presentation of “Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol.”

Mr. Magoo as Ebeneezer Scrooge

Love Charles Dickens’s work, and respect him highly as an author. As said in my recent review for 2017’s ‘The Man Who Invented Christmas’, ‘A Christmas Carol’ has always been my personal favourite of his, it was my first exposure to him and the one that is the most frequently re-visited. It is similarly the quintessential Christmas story and this is evident by how much it’s been adapted and how well served on the most part it is (with a few exceptions), the Alastair Sim and George C. Scott versions in particular.

There are many great, even classic, animated Christmas specials, like the best of Rankin/Bass and ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’. ‘Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol’ is, as well as one of the first (the first?), among the best ones for me and one that has always held dear to my heart. This is not nostalgia talking that it clouds my judgement, have seen childhood favourites that have not held up well, ‘Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol’ does and splendidly.

All the important details are here and it captures the spirit of the story perfectly, so it doesn’t disappoint as an adaptation even with its own spin (very like the Muppet and Mickey Mouse versions of ‘A Christmas Carol’, also have a fondness for them).

‘Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol’ fares quite well in the animation. It’s not amazing and it’s more simple than lavish, but it’s at least appealingly drawn and has a lot of atmosphere and colour. Even better is the music, the score is whimsical but also atmospheric and the various songs are very well done. Although a singer and consider music an essential in my life, part of me also can be picky and expects a lot. “We’re Despicable” and “All Alone in the World” are particularly good, while carol favourites “Joy to the World” and “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”, Christmas is not the same without them, are always welcome.

Furthermore, the writing is very funny, as well as heart-warming and very touching, like ‘A Christmas Carol’ should be. ‘Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol’ adapts the story incredibly well, despite having Mr. Magoo in it the spirit of the story is intact as well as its heart and the impact of the best scenes.

Parts are amusing, others are scary (Jacob Marley and especially the Ghost of Christmas Future) and others truly wrench the heart (always tear up during “Alone in the World” and at the end). The portrayal of the Cratchits avoids being too cloying.

Every one of the characters are very strongly portrayed, Scrooge’s development and change of heart are incredibly believable and not rushed in any way when it is so easy for Scrooge to show signs of changing too early. The voice acting is top notch, with Jim Backus achieving a perfect balance of crusty and emotive. Royal Dano is an eerily effective Jacob Marley and Jack Cassidy endearingly humble. Veteran Paul Frees similarly shines and doesn’t sound over-parted in multiple roles.

In conclusion, a classic animated festive favourite. 10/10 Bethany Cox

Newcomer

I caught this version of Christmas Carol just last year, at the age of 38.

Normally I like the first versions I will see of a story. Now I do like the Albert Finney musical from 1970.

there are also two animated versions; one I believe is from 1972 (both Past and Present are represented by Father Time characters), the other is an utterly creepy version with the scariest jacob marley I have ever seen.

I am also completely unfamiliar with the original Magoo cartoons. The only ones I saw were late 1970s remakes that I thought were awful. Jim Backus will always be Thurston Howell III to me.

But this cartoon was very unique. I kind of feel cheated to have not grown up watching this one as I did Frosty, Rudolph, Charlie Brown and Santa. It never aired for some odd reason.

The song that caught me; the finale, what did they sing about, The Brightest Blessing? Very rich tune that should have become a Christmas classic sung by others.

Why didn’t it? I’ve seen many of those other versions as well; George C. Scott, Henry Winkler, Kelsey Grammar, Patrick Stewart. I would kind of like to see Henry Winkler’s again.

And all those others; Flintstones, Mickey, bugs Bunny, the Muppets. No, this one really does outdo them, especially the songs.