POP CULTURE
Scrooge on screen
From the time of its publication in 1843, Charles Dickens’ novella A Christmas Carol, about “covetous old sinner” Ebenezer Scrooge, was an instant hit. Dickens contemporary William Makepeace Thackeray called it “a national benefit.” Scrooge’s tale has never lost its appeal, as the many versions highlighted here prove. And why not? Who doesn’t want to believe that a glowing holiday spirit can melt the coldest heart? 1 The 1951 English version (shown at top), considered the most faithful to Dickens’ story, is often praised for its acting and set design. Who plays Scrooge?
a. Alastair Sim b. Richard Burton c. Rex Harrison d. Robert Morley 2 Which comedian known for his rubbery facial contortions voices Scrooge in a motion-capture version of
A Christmas Carol from 2009?
a. Jerry Lewis b. Drew Carey c. Jim Carrey d. Jerry Seinfeld 3 This 1988 retelling of
A Christmas Carol features comedian Bill Murray as a cynical and ruthless TV executive. a. Scoundrel b. Scrounged c. Scrooged d. Scoured
4 The great English character actor Michael Caine stars as Scrooge in which version?
a. The Simpsons’ Christmas Carol (1990)
b. A Very Brady Christmas Carol (1981)
c. The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
d. Stop the Christmas Carol, I Want to Get Off (1973) 5 Reginald Owen took the role of Scrooge in the 1938 Hollywood version after another actor backed out due to illness. That actor later played a mean miser in another Christmas movie, It’s a Wonderful Life.
Who was it?
a. James Stewart b. Lionel Barrymore c. Ward Bond d. Thomas Mitchell This nearsighted character
6 stars in a 1962 animated version of the Dickens tale.
a. Foghorn Leghorn b. Mr. Magoo
c. Porky Pig
d. Bluto 7 Disney’s Scrooge McDuck, right, a Scottish miser, appears in which 1983 movie? a. Mickey’s Christmas Carol b. Pluto’s Holiday Adventure c. Goofy Bless Us, Everyone d. Jiminy Cricket Carol 8 Which actor known for playing a tough-as-nails war general stars in a 1984 version of A Christmas Carol?
a. George Kennedy b. George Hamilton c. George Clooney d. George C. Sco Before starring in a 1999
9 version of the Dickens story, this actor made his name playing the captain of the Enterprise.
a. Patrick Stewart b. Patrick Macnee c. Patrick Swayze d. Patrick Duffy Albert Finney stars in
10 the 1970 version that turns the Scrooge story into what?
a. A stage play b. A TV miniseries c. A cartoon d. A musical