This is why doing this kind of project is beneficial. It forces me to watch things I would not normally watch and every once in a while I’m pleasantly surprised. So is the case with Mr Magoo’s Christmas Carol. I’m not saying it’s a masterpiece but it was way better than I thought it would be.
I will say this was my first introduction to Mr Magoo. I have not seen the tv show or read any of the comics but as its own feature you didn’t really need to be familiar with any of the backstory so that didn’t matter.
I guess Mr Magoo is a controversial figure for how he portrays the visually impaired and I can see that but in this feature there aren’t many pratfalls aside from a crashed car at the beginning. At first I was wondering how Magoo would see the ghosts and all of the things they were showing him but they kind of forget about the blindness for most of the movie.
The animation was much better than I was expecting. It was done by UPA animation who were behind the Dick Tracy cartoons and it has an Al Hirschfeld look to it. It reminded me of the Gershwin segment of Fantasia 2000.
The songs are also pretty good by Julie Styne and Bob Merrill who wrote Funny Girl that launched Barbara Streisand’s career.
I found out in my research that Mr Magoo’s Christmas Carol was the first holiday program produced especially for television. Interesting right?
Trailer: (It must have aired the same time as Snow White given this trailer)
Cast-
Jim Backus- Ebenezer Scrooge/Mr. Magoo
Morey Amsterdam- James Brady
Jack Cassidy- Bob Cratchit
Royal Dano- Marley’s Ghost
Paul Frees- Stage Director/Charity Man//Fezziwig/Old Joe/Undertaker
Joan Gardner -Tiny Tim/Ghost of Christmas Past
Jane Kean- Belle
Marie Matthews- Young Scrooge
Laura Olsher- Mrs. Cratchit
Les Tremayne- Ghost of Christmas Present
Scrooge- Mr Magoo is Scrooge. The whole program keeps remarkably true to the story and that is true with Scrooge. It’s a little confusing what Magoo can and cannot see. Sometimes it seems he can’t see a person standing in front of him and others he can read his initials on a pair of cufflinks.
It is also a little hard to understand Magoo sometimes. But other than that he is a pretty good Scrooge.
Differences- Like I said, it actually stays pretty close to the source material.
Like the Flintstones Christmas Carol it is part of a play but that is more of a framing device where in Flintstones we go in and out of the play more often. This Mr Magoo goes to the play and then we are pretty much watching the play the whole way through.
They also make the choice to have Present go first which is strange and I’m not sure why they did that as it doesn’t really do anything to the story?
Strengths- There were actually quite a few. As I said the animation was pretty good. The backgrounds, colors and style of it I really liked.
The music was also good. We get Ringle Ringle, The Lord’s Bright Blessing, We’re Despicable, Winter Was Warm and Alone in the World sung by the young Scrooge.
The singing on all the songs is very good (it is supposed to be on Broadway after all). I particularly liked Jane Kean as Belle singing Winter Was Warm.
Also, the script is pretty straight from the book. I was impressed they kept the decrease the surplus population and Tim talking about being a cripple and Jesus. Often those sections are softened for kids.
The Pawn Shop scene is also fully included with Old Joe, the Char Woman, Undertaker and Laundress selling Scrooge’s things. That was very well done with the song ‘We’re Despicable’.
Weaknesses-
Like I said, it can be tough to understand what Magoo is saying. Also, the blindness is inconsistent and I guess it offends some people. I didn’t think it was mocking in this version. In fact, most of the time I forgot he was blind.
The Ringle Ringle song isn’t my favorite abour Razzleberry dressing and the introduction as a play isn’t really necessary. Why not just start it with the Scrooge story?
Also the moving around of the spirits seemed to serve no purpose and if people are expecting a comedy they might be disappointed. There aren’t really any laughs. It is played like a straight forward telling of Christmas Carol.
Other than that. I really liked it. I am surprised how much I enjoyed it. The animation is pretty good, with good music and it stays pretty close to the feel of the book. Aside from the Disney, this is probably my favorite animated feature length version I’ve seen.
It just goes to show with good writing any concept can be entertaining.
Razzleberry dressing…
That’s what the song is about! I promise!
Yeah, I saw it.
I don’t get your comment then? Whatd you think of the movie? I was entertained by it
No, I always thought the line, “Razzleberry dressing” was amusing, so I just had to comment with it, lol!
I can’t quite remember what I thought of it; I think it wasn’t my favorite, but it did entertain me.
Good. I’m glad it entertained you.
Thank you for reviewing this one. The trailer is strange, to me. I don’t remember ever having seen that other feature, but if I did, it must not have been anywhere near as good as Magoo’s Christmas Carol.
Today’s computer animation may make the cells look downright primitive, to some new viewers, but the artwork is charming in its simplicity, and often beautifully sublime. Every time I see it, I notice another tiny detail that amuses or impresses me.
It does have a couple of slow moments, but that’s also a characteristic of the pacing of the story, as Dickens wrote it. Animated feature presentations and prime-time animated programs are really written for adults, because most of the script goes over most kids’ heads. Children can usually only notice bright colors, recognize pratfall jokes, and remember occasional musical pieces (mainly repetitive jingles). If you look at animated shows that are actually written “for children,” you’ll see the contrast.
I never fail to tear-up when I hear “Alone in the World” and “Winter Was Warm.” I think it’s strange that they never became hit songs.
Depending on the TV channel that would show it, sometimes they’d cut the introduction (“Back on Broadway”), but that may have had to do with how many commercial breaks the station had to sell. At that time, they were still making feature films for the cinema with the full credits up front, accompanied by a grand overture, to induce suspension of disbelief (the current practice is to launch immediately into the film). In this television presentation, I think the introduction serves well in easing the viewer into suspension of disbelief, and its connection to the collapse of the set when the play is finished brings the viewer back, full circle, to reality. (As a former actress, I also enjoy the joke about bringing down the house.) “Oh, Magoo, you’ve done it again!”
And so have you, Rachel! 😉
Thanks for the great comment. I agree with you. I read they had to cut parts on later airings because we have more ads than they used too. I guess Mr Magoo is an actor on the series so it makes sense there.
I really do like the music especially the 2 you mentioned.