Saturday, December 25, 2010

Jim Backus in Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol 1962

When it comes to holiday tradition nothing fills the bill like A Christmas Carol. Most people think of Reginald Owen or Basil Rathbone, or even Michael Caine if you're fond of the Muppets (and who isn't?). We mustn't forget Mr. Magoo, however. For some, this is the definitive Scrooge, simply because it was their first exposure to the character. It's a very cute adaptation, even if it doesn't have the weight of some other versions. This one, like Scrooge with Albert Finny which premiered 8 years after this, is a musical with some delightful original songs. Though it has it's champions, this version has largely been forgotten by the culture as a whole, which is a shame because it has some charming moments.


If you find yourself with a little time on your hands today, spend some time with Mr. Magoo. The full version is above, thanks to Hulu. You have to endure commercials, but there's a bonus at the end - a feature with Mr. Magoo as Rip Van Winkle. You can also find this on DVD.

Obscurity factor: 3 (available on DVD, available on Hulu, largely forgotten except by hard core fans)

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