Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol (1962 TV Movie) User Reviews

An Annual True Classic

[marway1954 · 9/10 · 2 December 2005]

This wonderful animated film is timeless. I had the special privilege of working with those talented individuals in this production. (I was the voice of young Ebenezer Scrooge.) Jim Backus, Royal Dano, Paul Frees, and all the rest were pure magic working together. You can imagine the antics that went on during rehearsals and taping. We were laughing almost as much of the time as we were performing our parts! The music (Walter Scharf, Bob Merrill, Jule Styne) had a style all its own which perfectly matched the characters and settings. It's no wonder this production has been so popular year after year. I'm sure it will continue to bring enjoyment to families for many years to come.

Fun and touching version of the classic story

[dewman10-1 · 9/10 · 25 December 2003]

I saw this last year for the first time in at least 30 years, and also still remember parts of it from when I was a child (razzleberry dressing, the "Despicable" song in the junkshop, and the achingly poignant "All Alone in the World"). My 8 year old really enjoyed it, a great intro to the classic story. He commented on how sad he felt for the young Scrooge in the schoolhouse scene. To see a modern kid as moved by that song as I remember being, is a real credit to the songwriter. And, the song in the Crachit house, where despite not being able to afford a tree or a holiday meal, they "prize what we have now" by having a loving family together for the holiday. What wonderful concepts presented in a simple yet effective holiday cartoon for kids and adults.

What isn't there to love

[yolandabean · 9/10 · 20 December 2020]

First you get Mr. Magoo Then you get the music Plus its A Christmas Carol And finally it's nostalgic

Alone in the World

[-611 · 16 December 2001]

Right now I am trying to figure out what to do this Christmas, since the family tradition is a-tremor. The thought of being alone on Christmas deeply saddens me, and I think it goes back to seeing little Ebenezar Scrooge left behind in boarding school while all the other kids had families to go home to for Christmas.

I cried just like Mr. Magoo's older Scrooge did when he saw himself as a kid singing:

When you're alone, alone in the world When you're alone in the world Blown-away leaves get blown in the world Swirled-away leaves get swirled

A hand for each hand was planned for the world Why don't my fingers reach? Millions of grains of sand in the world Why's mine a lonely beach?

Where are the heels to click to my clack? Where is the voice to answer mine back? I'm all alone in the WOOOOORLD!!!

None of the other versions caught this scene the way this one does. Not Bugs Bunny, Bill Murray, Albert Finney, Mickey Mouse. Maybe Alistair Sim, sort of.

Simplistic, yes, but it's the scene that still sticks in my throat as I choke back an adult tear. It's the scene that makes this version, truly unique, all alone in the world.

DVD restores footage cut from recent broadcast versions

[walap · 10/10 · 24 December 2002]

Like others, I too had vivid memories of watching this as a child in the 60's. I could still remember the "razzleberry dressing" lines and the disembodied mouths singing the "Despicable" song some 30 years later when I finally saw it being broadcast again, and was able to record it off the air. Over the past ten years I've watched that tape repeatedly, and never cease to be amazed at the portrayal and the remarkable music and lyrics.

But it wasn't until I got the DVD version as a Christmas gift that I realized nearly ten minutes had been cut from that broadcast version. Imagine my delight to watch the DVD and "discover" three whole scenes (including two complete songs) that I'm sure I hadn't seen since the original prime time airings in the 60's. The DVD quality is excellent as well (in contrast to the annoying "speed change" glitches in the broadcast soundtrack).

If, as I do, you consider this a Christmas "classic", don't rely on broadcast showings -- get the DVD, and enjoy it in its entirety.

A wonderful, heart-warming holiday classic

[Marta · 10/10 · 22 November 2001]

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."

A Great Movie

[jonathan_k80 · 10/10 · 11 December 2003]

Cartoon Network just showed this film yesterday, and I must agree with the previous reviewer.

This is a great movie. What really works is the use of the Broadway show format and its clever music. I love the song about being "despicable" sung by the Undertaker, Charwoman and Laundry Lady. There's a definite early-1960s-Broadway feeling to this that could have quickly become outdated had it not been a Christmas program. It has a certain nostalgic flavor that its creators could not have forseen.

Like "Frosty the Snowman" and "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer", "Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol" should become part of the annual Christmas TV programming tradition.

I grew

[amexspam · 10/10 · 24 November 2010]

I'm afraid my memories are biased by being age 8 when it premiered in 1962. This show was magical! To my eyes it felt like going to the theater instead of a TV production with the use of curtains and distinct acts. The cartoons were not cartoonish, but made me feel more like I was watching a grown up show. The spirits, and tiny Tim, may have been the first show that made me less egocentric. And in addition, it is a good story well told.

The Scrooge character was believable as were the others. The musical numbers held my attention at age 8 and age 50. The themes were scary but not frightening. This set the bar for the holiday cartoons that followed.

Great Framing Device

[Christmas-Reviewer · 7/10 · 16 October 2017]

BEWARE OF BOGUS REVIEWS & REVIEWERS. SOME REVIEWERS HAVE ONLY ONE REVIEW. WHEN ITS A POSITIVE REVIEW THAT TELLS ME THEY WERE INVOLVED WITH THE PRODUCTION & THAT IS WHAT IS GOING ON HERE FOR THIS FILM! NOW I HAVE REVIEWED OVER 300 Christmas MOVIES. I HAVE NO AGENDA. I AM FARE

This up-tenth version of the "Charles Dickens" famous book has an excellent framing device. There is a musical score that has some very memorable tunes. I also love the fact the rearrange the appearance in which the 3 G Host appear.

Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol was produced by Henry G. Saperstein and the UPA animation studio in its declining days. Commissioned and sponsored by Timex, it first aired on NBC on December 18, 1962.[4] Although the special led to The Famous Adventures of Mr. Magoo television series, the studio ultimately found it could not adapt to the rigors of mass-producing cartoons for television.

The program was broadcast as a TV special many times during the Christmas season from the 1960s through the 1980s—though not always on NBC—before being released on VHS in 1982 and on DVD in 2001. The original 53-minute running time is often cut to make room for additional commercials, primarily by removing the framing device about Magoo himself. For the 2012 holiday season, NBC, which last telecast it in 1969, announced it would return the special to the air for the first time since the 1980s; it aired on NBC on December 22, 2012 even though it was heavily edited for the addition of more commercials including opening and closing wraparounds scenes, the finale scene of the musical as well as the end credits and other crucial scenes being cut from broadcast. The CW acquired the broadcast rights to the special for the 2014 season which was originally broadcast in its entirety but for the 2015 season, the broadcast was the heavily edited NBC version instead

Newcomer

[richard.fuller1 · 10/10 · 21 November 2005]

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.

Mr. Magoo is in his element as that mean old miser...

[Doylenf · 7/10 · 10 December 2007]

Another delightful animated rendering of the famous Ghost story with a Christmas message for everyone, especially the young in heart. It's JIM BACKUS behind the voice of Scrooge, having fun with his Mr. Magoo characterization despite the lack of "blind as a bat" jokes. He plays the role fairly straight and is still amusing as that old skinflint who develops a love for mankind after visited by three spirits.

JACK CASSIDY makes a fine Bob Cratchet, especially since he's gets to lift his splendid voice in song in tunes that have a definite Broadway sound to them. Surprisingly, no one has thought of turning this into a stage show for Christmas presentations. The material and the songs are there for the asking. There's a wistful sound to some of the ballads.

Worth watching for the good blend of story, animation and music, although the George C. Scott version of '84 cannot be topped for bringing the Dickens story to the screen in the most faithful fashion.

Mr. Magoo as Ebeneezer Scrooge

[TheLittleSongbird · 10/10 · 27 December 2017]

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

one of the first

[SnoopyStyle · 7/10 · 21 December 2014]

Ebenezer Scrooge (Mr. Magoo) is a miserly greedy business man. Bob Cratchit is his underpaid and overworked clerk. Scrooge's dead business partner Jacob Marley visits. He is then visited by three spirits of Christmas.

This is a straight forward version of the classic Dickens. There are a few changes but the tone remains serious. I'm surprised that there is little humor in this. Mr. Magoo's poor sight usually leads to some fun catastrophes. This doesn't happen. All the harshness of the Victorian world and the religious aspects of the story are kept in. The songs are generally well made and a bit old fashion. Credit must be given for being one of the first animated Christmas TV special. It's still a very watchable show today.

Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol (1962)

[SnakesOnAnAfricanPlain · 5/10 · 26 December 2011]

I didn't find this to be that engaging. First of all, Mr Magoo is one of those flat comedy characters such as Mr Bean. Even so, since this is Mr Magoo playing Scrooge in a Broadway production, he doesn't have any of his eye problems. This means it's just another adaptation of the story. Slotted into such a short time the story feels rushed. He is also shown Christmas present before the past. The songs are so dull I can't remember a single one, and I pick up songs fairly quickly. The animation is also very aged, this leads to characters that jolt around the screen. Unfortunately, the emotion and pacing is too poor to make up for its failings.

a treasure of Christmas to be remembered and shared

[rszudy · 26 December 2002]

I join the many other writers who remember and treasure "Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol" with great fondness. Like others, I remember seeing it on its first night 40 years ago. Indeed, a time that seems simpler and nostalgic now. This week,I viewed a VHS tape copy I received and was really charmed and impressed by its quality. The animation is sweet, gentle and from an earlier time. The story adaptation from Dickens is excellent. The concept of Magoo on Broadway performing the "Carol" is really inventive and works well. What I strongly recommend to all is the outstanding and, at times, poignant music There is music and lyric here to equal and surpass much more famous shows. I hope that this wonderful treasure can be re-discovered and enjoyed by a new generation in the years to come. It deserves to be remembered and appreciated.

I loved introducing it to my own children

[overseer-3 · 10/10 · 17 May 2006]

I was four years old when this cartoon film premiered on television, but even though I am now 48, I still recall being transfixed by Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol. A large part of my enjoyment comes from the beautiful musical soundtrack (and yes, it is beautiful - think of these songs, and compare them to the trash that passes for "music" today!), with poignant, and sometimes funny, music and lyrics by Bob Merrill and Jule Styne. These songs linger in your memory long after the film is over.

You can always tell a good song because you hum the melody to yourself after the show is over, and want to hear it again. This score delivers in spades. It doesn't talk down to children, and it tells them of the pain of being alone at Christmastime, the sadness of relationships that end, or might end, by death, as well as the Christian cheer of Christmas, which is all too often forgotten in the pursuit of material wealth and gifts for under the tree.

I was glad the DVD finally came out so I could share this memorable Christmas film with my own children and watch the same emotions fill their faces as must have filled mine back in 1962.

A Christmas special with heart.

[toddholmes-88883 · 10/10 · 2 December 2019]

Unlike most Christmas specials, animated or not, Very few Have heart and meaning. One of my fondest memories of Christmas growing up was watching Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol. Like the memory of Christmas trees, snow, the smell of candle wax, the nervous expectation of Santa Clause. The sheer joy of the songs, and the pathos are rare in a live-action film. But a cartoon? Amazing. From the songs "It's great to back on Broadway" to "A Lord's bright Christmas" This cartoon shows what an obvious love of labor this was. A Christmas more glorious than grand! Indeed.

A true classic

[stormfront-97408 · 10/10 · 20 December 2019]

In the 60's and 70's there were a burst of holiday specials, Rankin Bass, Warner Bros, Mr. Magoo stands the test of time as one of the beloved Christmas cartoons the Christmas Carol is by far a staple to watch every season no matter what the age group, it is that nostalgic cartoons watched during the holidays with Toy's R Us commercials and Mc Donald's Christmas gift certificates in between The music is catchy and the story in its simpler form sweet making this one of the holidays favorites.

10 out of 10

[lardassdjm · 10/10 · 13 December 2010]

I remember watching this when it first came out at Christmas time in 1962. It is the best animated Christmas show ever. Watching Scrooge alone in the classroom singing "a hand for each hand..." still brings a tear to my eye and I'm 57 now. My kids all grew up watching this show and I will soon be watching it with my new grandson. This is a classic and should be a part of everybody's Christmas viewing. Watch it with your kids and grand kids. You won't be sorry. Don't be "all alone in the world" and not watch this show. I usually watch this 4 or 5 times during the Christmas season. It's part of the staple of Christmas shows I watch every Christmas...Home for the Holidays, Christmas Story, Christmas Vacation, It's a Wonderful Life, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Miracle on 34th St and Mr Magoo's Christmas Carol. I don't really get into the Christmas spirit until I see Mr Magoo's Christmas Carol. It's my very favorite of them all!

Mostly charming, if a little odd

[smerph · 6/10 · 23 December 2013]

Not being au fait with Mister Magoo before, I found the experience of watching his Christmas Carol to be a curiosity - although not a resounding success.

The framing device of this being a "play within a play" seems a little redundant - especially when one considers "Mickey's Christmas Carol". In that animated short, the audience was simply expected audiences to believe in the "Dickens' reality" without the need to be reminded of the legacy of the Disney characters. When the camera pulls back in Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol to reveal the "audience", it does distance us from the source material.

And the source material, for what it's worth, is surprisingly faithful to Dickens. Whole chunks of dialogue are lifted from the novella and it's here where the film starts to shine.

I'm less keen on the songs which aren't nearly as toe-tapping as they need to be, especially when the addition of these is at the expense of, amongst other elements, Scrooge's nephew Fred - a fairly key part of the story.

One further oddity; the ghosts appear in a different order. We get the present, the past and the yet-to-come. I can think of no logical reason to switch the present and the past and presume it may have come down to the timing of these sequences. It doesn't really effect things too negatively, but it does feel like a rather obtuse decision.

There are better animated offerings of A Christmas Carol (seek out the Oscar winnings 1971 version with Alastair Sim for one) but this is a nice, gentle, introduction to the story for youngsters.

An incredible adaptation, really

[ndunsmo · 8/10 · 2 May 2011]

When I started watching this, I expected it to be more like how The Simpsons portrayed it, with Magoo missing up his parts due to his blindness. Surprisingly, that is not the case. This is a very heartfelt adaptation with Magoo himself making a great Scrooge. The songs are very touching, sweet and memorable and while the animations aren't that great, hey, it's old-school Hanna-Barbera. What can one expect, Disney quality? The only thing that's a little off-putting (This may be a spoiler) is that the Ghost of Christmas Present appears before Christmas Past, but that's a minor detail and they made it work.

Anyway, this is a very good adaptation of A Christmas Carol and I highly recommend it, especially now that it's finally on DVD.

My Favorite Christmas video

[dolaronron-1 · 10/10 · 31 August 2006]

I watched this movie on television as a child. I would wait for it every year, after that, and be thrilled when it would come on. I bought the VHS tape when I became an adult to show to my kids. They also quickly became fans.

I am hoping to someday get the DVD version to add to my collection. I think the songs in it are what so endears it to my heart. I find myself singing them for days after I watch it. I also loved the characters--all except the thieves--they still scare me as they did as a child!

I was never a fan of Mr. Magoo in his actual cartoons. As a kid I couldn't understand why he didn't just get a pair of glasses. He is perfect for the role of Ebenezer Scrooge, though. Just P-E-R-F-E-C-T!!

Get this for your children, get this for yourself, it is well worth it!

Ugh...

[mark-4600 · 1/10 · 9 December 2008]

Where's the fun?! Not once in the entire Christmas Carol portion is Magoo really Magoo. I mean he's counting stacks of coins for crying out loud! Somehow Magoo is able to give a brilliant performance on stage, but once he's off he's back to walking into the women's' dressing room?! What gives?! Honestly, what's the point of having a Magoo special if you're not going to take advantage of the comic possibilities? Why not just do a non-Magoo version and save me the disappointment? (Gerald McBoing-Boing as Tiny Tim is irritating too, but still not as bad as Magoo.)

And the "razzleberry dressing" and "wooflejelly" stuff simply made me want to beat little Gerald McBoing-Boing to a pulp. Seriously, I can see myself walloping Tiny Tim with his own cane as we speak.

A lot of people have told me they have fond memories of this special, including the librarian that recommended it to me (curse you librarian!), but for the life of me I can't fathom why - Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol is about the least special Christmas special I've ever seen.

Bah humbug!

New DVD is fine

[Bobs-9 · 3 December 2001]

I just watched the new DVD of `Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol,' and it seems as good a representation of the program as we're ever likely to see. I doubt it looked much better when it originally aired in 1962, but considering the video technology of that time, no home viewers would have seen it at its best then. There may have been some very infrequent white specs on the image, but if you're not consciously seeking them, you're not likely to see them. They are so few, they're barely noticeable. The colors may seem washed-out at first, but I simply turned the color intensity up on my TV, and the colors looked solid and well-balanced throughout the program. I directly compared this DVD to a copy of the laserdisc edition, which has been much sought-after by collectors since going out of print years ago. They are almost identical, except for a slightly sharper image on the DVD. An audio re-mix, maybe even in stereo, would have been great, but certainly costly. I wonder if the original studio tracks are even available for this anymore. In any case, the mono soundtrack works fine, and is practically distortion-free.

If you watched this as a kid, and haven't seen it since then (like me), I can only say: Wow, what a strong jolt of nostalgia it is! I find it hard to agree with the editorial reviewer at Amazon, who characterizes the songs in this production as `forgettable.' That may be because I first heard them in 1962 at around the age of nine, and haven't quite forgotten them since. I suspect I'm not alone in this, either. This program isn't high art, and an adult who doesn't have that nostalgic connection to it may not be able to embrace it, but for those who remember, it leaves you with that warm, fuzzy feeling. I'm very happy to have become re-acquainted with it.

A Great Version of the Classic Tale

[Sylviastel · 8/10 · 25 December 2007]

I loved Mr. Magoo growing up. We don't see him much anymore on television or this special around the holiday times. We see less and less television programming devoted to the Christmas holidays. Jim Backus uses his voice as Mr. Magoo, the four eyed actor, in this special where he plays Ebenezer Scrooge, the Charles Dickens character, forever immortalized in all sorts of holiday tales. Just like the story of a Christmas Carol, there are three ghosts and Marley, the predecessor who warns Scrooge to change his ways. Okay, this version is not the best out there but it's timely and good for kids and adults and fans of classic animation. I bought the tape years ago and just played it around the holidays. It's a treat to watch every year.