Regular Price $14.98

Starring: Jason Alexander,  Brian Bedford,  Geraldine Chaplin,  Kelsey Grammer,  Jane Krakowski, 
Directed By:
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Release Date: 2004
Studio: Lions Gate
Format: Closed-captioned,  Color,  Dolby,  DVD-Video,  NTSC, 

Editorial Reviews and DVD Information about A Christmas Carol: The Musical

Amazon.com
A musical setting for Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol is a natural, and this holiday TV-movie (based on the Broadway version) generously crams music into its quick spin through the venerable story. Kelsey Grammer uses his musical pipes (and some of his "master thespian" style of acting) as Ebenezer Scrooge, the man whose miserliness needs no introduction here. There's some experienced musical-comedy talent in the cast, from small roles to large, with expert stuff from Jesse L. Martin (who was in Rent, the Broadway musical, before he joined the Law & Order team) as the ghost of Christmas Present and Jane Krakowski as the ghost of Christmas Past. Jason Alexander, another TV person with a background in stage musicals, does deftly as the chain-rattling Jacob Marley's ghost (and his number is one of the most tuneful of the mixed bag of songs). Alan Menken, the veteran tunesmith of Beauty and the Beast fame, contributes the music, with lyrics by Lynn Ahrens (Ragtime); the bigger numbers are spirited but a little rote. (The Styne-Merrill songs from a wackier version of the story, Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol, are a more memorable bunch.) This version moves so quickly across the main points of the story that Scrooge's redemption feels a tad rushed, but maybe the songs are supposed to be the point. Still, the razzle-berry dressing is missed. --Robert Horton

Customer Reviews for A Christmas Carol: The Musical

Great New Version!!!
I couldn't believe my eyes, that anyone would knock this excellent version of the famous old tale, but to each their own I suppose. but to the one star rating which only slanders this marvelous production I can only say take it as a Bah Humbug and didmiss it. I am a collector of antique Christmas of many diverse avenues so of course I had to have every issue of this ever filmed, mainly because I love the old Carol, not just because I collect Christmas mind you, it's just a lovely story that I really love because what's better than seeing someone go from a hard hearted grump to a tender hearted Christmas lover!! God Bless old Scrooge, and I'm sure He did, in every person who ever was born anew in Him from any wretched past. You know, I even have this old classic on a series of 78 records I play on my wind up record player, the one with Basil Rathbone as Scrooge. I even have the 1910 version from Thomas Edison's Studios. Well, when I found this one I'd overlooked it for a couple years and then didnt get to watch it at Christmas the year I bought it due to watching so many other Christmas Movies I have, 86 total. So during the Christmas season of 2007 I made a point to watch it. Glad I did too! It's wonderful, the scene where Marley's Ghost comes to Scrooge,, well, I dont like to blow anything so I'll just say it was very imaginative the way they added a new flair to that sequence, very good indeed!!! So glad I bought a new plasma 50 inch HDTV last summer, movies like this are so perfect on the new HDTV's. In my humble opinion, you cannot compare this musical to the 1970 musical with Albert Finney, Apples and Oranges, my God we're talking about 34 years difference for Pete sake. Because I love them all for their own merits I don't compare them anyway. but I can assure you this is a great DVD to own, not at all a flop as another viewer claims. He/she probably doesnt believe in Santa Claus either, lol, enough said. the bottom line is simply this; If you love watching different versions of "A Christmas Carol" then by all means add this great one to your collection and I promise you you'll be glad you did. I'm a 53 year old Christmas lover who knows a good thing when I see it, I even gave copies of this on DVD to friends last Christmas if that says anything. If you are considerng buying this on DVD, rest easy knowing its a good buy.A Christmas Carol: The Musical

Great Version of a Classic Christmas Story
This is a relatively recent version of Charles Dicken's A Christmas Carol. It is well made and Kelsey Grammer does a great job as Scrooge. One way that it differs from the novel, besides the fact that it is a musical, it goes into a little more background into how Scrooge became so miserly. SPOILER....In this version Scrooge's father is sent to Debtor's Prision when Scrooge was just a child. I would highly recommend this DVD to anyone who appreciates a good Christmas tale.A Christmas Carol: The Musical

Fantastic!
A Christmas Carol musical was a complete hit with me & my kids. It is now weeks, almost a month after Christmas, and my kids are still singing the songs from this movie. I saw the live version of this musical years ago (under another production, of course) and fell in love with the music & production. I highly recommend this musical version with Kelsey Grammer. I didn't think Grammer would be able to pull it off but his love for the character & musical abilities prove to be pretty decent and maybe even worthy of Broadway some day.A Christmas Carol: The Musical

Absolutely Awful!
I tried several times to watch this movie all the way through, and it was just impossible. The movie, and all the actors in it, totally miss the gloominess of Charles Dickens' writing style. It doesn't FEEL like the story should.

I think that the transformation that comes over you as you watch this movie should be such that your grouchiness melts away as you see that the world does not revolve around just you, but involves the lives of others. And, you have the unique ability to change people's lives for the better with every interaction you have with them. Unfortunately, no transformative feeling can come of this movie because the characters are unconvincing at best (all of them), and my opinion is that there is something really wrong with the director.

In this version, Scrooge usually has a smirk about him, it seems like he's already found the Christmas spirit--even in the beginning. The Ghost of Jacob Marley is just a joke. It's like he's trying to make light of his situation... I just could not watch that part. It made me want to puke. Who came up with that GOD AWFUL song?! The Ghost of Christmas Past is wearing a stripper outfit and seducing Scrooge in bed! I'm sure there's more, but I don't want to remember it.

If you want to see something that TOTALLY misses the mark, and is practically impossible to sit through unless you're chained to your chair, this is it!A Christmas Carol: The Musical

Great movie, but small problem with DVD
This "A Christmas Carol" movie was only shown on TV once, and our family really enjoyed it. I was excited to find it on Amazon, so I ordered it. When watching the movie, however, at times the top 1/8" of the screen would get wavy. I'm not sure if that was because we were watching the movie in on a HD TV without an upconverter DVD player or what.

As for the actual movie itself, it's once of the best versions of "A Christmas Carol I've ever seen. Kelsey Grammer made a great Scrooge and he can really sing. Marley is played by Jason Alexander and his song with Scrooge is scary and funny at the same time! Jesse L. Martin of "Law & Order" played the ghost of Christmas present - he has a beautiful voice. I even cried when I saw Tiny Tim's grave.

I would recommend this version of "A Christmas Carol" highly.A Christmas Carol: The Musical