Scrooged, 1988

Scrooged. You like it or you don’t. This 1988 film inspired by A Christmas Carol is the best of any non-traditional rendering. When this originally came out, I was still a bit of an elitist when it came to ACC adaptations and I tried not to like it. It won me over quickly.

There are now many offerings that present A Christmas Carol in:

1. a more contemporary setting (ACC made for TV in 2000 with Ross Kemp),
2. a non-English setting (An American Christmas Carol),
3. with gender changed roles (Ms. Scrooge),
4. or in any combo of the three above.

There have also been many adaptations, usually a TV show or story, where Dickens’ story is referenced and then the Scrooge-like behavior of a character during Christmas in the show or story has an ACC experience with ghosts to learn a lesson. Often the experience is a dream, such as done in episodes of American shows The Odd Couple, Sanford and Son, and Family Ties.

Scrooged gives a combination of all of the above without resorting to a dream: a contemporary setting (at the time), set in the U.S., some gender changed roles, and the characters’ knowledge and reference to Dickens’ classic tale. In actuality, this adaptation uses its reference to the original in advancing the plot.

Yes, this is big Hollywood at its most commercial and, if one dwells on it, it may seem shameful how the film embodies what its story eschews. (In the long run, aren’t all adaptations a commercial attempt?) The dark humor of Michael O’Donoghue, whom I’ve liked since the original Saturday Night Live, was a perfect match to make a modern comedy from an already dark tale. O’Donoghue co-wrote the screenplay with Mitch Glazer and they both appear in bit parts in the movie. This matched well with Richard Donner (Superman) as director. Although Danny Elfman did a good music score, it doesn’t stand out as much other works by him (to me, at least).

Bill Murray headlines in a star-heavy cast; some maybe not as known as they were in 1988, while a few actors in bit roles have since become better known. It always seemed to me that this presented a “smattering” of different representative entertainers, whether in large, small, or cameo roles: Murray, of course, was the contemporary comedic actor formally of SNL. Robert Mitchum is classic Hollywood. John Forsyth was best known for early television. Bobcat Goldthwaite gave us a stand-up comedian while Carol Kane is the modern comedic actress. Robert Goulet gives us the Las Vegas / adult vocal representation while David Johansen offered up the rock star in an acting role. Mary Lou Retton does a turn as the celebrity athlete. John Houseman is high-toned theatre and Alfre Woodard is miss versatility from stage, film and TV. There’s even Jazz great Miles Davis as a street musician. The list goes on of the notables in all different sized role appearances. I was always disappointed Mabel King didn’t have a larger part. All three of Bill Murray’s brothers, Brian Doyle-Murray, John, and Joel appear respectively as Cross’ father, Cross’ brother, and his brother’s houseguest.

One other note about the cast, I was always impressed with the celebrities of the time that made appearances with the tongue-in-cheek self-parodies of themselves: Buddy Hackett, Jamie Farr, Robert Goulet, Lee Majors, John Houseman, and Mary Lou Retton.

Most people know the basic plot (inspired by A Christmas Carol) by now. Murray plays Frank Cross, an high ranking, network television executive who puts his career first, even if that means disregarding all other people around him. This comes to a head when he makes his employees at the network work all night on Christmas Eve for a live broadcast of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Through this is his Bob Cratchit equivalent, long suffering assistant, Grace (Woodard), single mother of traumatized son, Calvin, as this version’s Tiny Tim. With Calvin we get the sympathetic adorable child without the overbearing, saccharine sentimentality. Fred is realized through Frank Cross’ brother, James. Thus begins the visits by the ghosts, starting with his old boss and mentor played by Forsythe. He is then taken on the familiar journey to past, present, and future resulting in the expected reformation at the conclusion.

What is a nice touch is the interweaving of the events of Cross’ visitations with those of the rehearsal and performance of A Christmas Carol taking place in his network’s television studio. This results in a funny scene when he runs into the actor performing his broadcast’s Ghost of Christmas Yet-to-Come and mistakes it for his own visitation. As expected, when the true spirit appears, he then mistakes it for the actor…and with some funny lines (“We’re going to get phone calls.”).

Another aspect of this adaptation that very different from the source material is the larger role of the Belle equivalent, Claire, refreshingly played by Karen Allen. Not relegated to the past, she becomes an important character in his present and is instrumental in the inspiration of Cross to reform along with the ghosts’ visits.

Finally, the visits do not happen as seemingly close together as usually presented or perceived. Here, they take place at various times of the day during waking hours and give Cross time to interact with his surroundings after his ghostly experiences. To me, it’s all a much different take than most of the various spin-offs or non-traditional adaptations done before or after this film. And it’s still funny, which is truly its intention before its inspired message. I don’t expect to be moved watching this the same way I would anticipate while viewing any decent traditional contribution.

A little bonus in the movie is you see a clip of Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol playing on a TV screen.  Right after this movie was released, Bill Murray was asked what was his favorite version of ACC; it was Mr. Magoo’s.

When choosing any of the many non-traditional adaptations or spoofs, this is top of my list and always an annual “must see.”

Unique

If you pay close attention, you can hear a big deviation in their fictional network’s presentation of A Christmas Carol.  They make Fred (played by Jamie Farr) the nephew-in-law of Scrooge! It’s noted in an exchange between Buddy Hackett as Scrooge and Scrooge’s nephew, Fred, when Fred gives him dormice as a present:

Scrooge: “Dormice? Dormice, indeed. What can they do?”

Fred: “They bring you luck.”

Scrooge: “Are you lucky?”

Fred: “Sir, I believe I am. I’ve got your niece for my wife.”