this 1984 version of the dickens classic ` a christmas carol and direct by clive donner and star george c. scott a ebenezer scrooge . by this time around and the challenge for the filmmaker be to take such familiar material and make it seem fresh and new again while and and happily to say and with this film donner not only meet the challenge but surpass any expectation anyone might have have for it . he tell the story with precision and an eye to detail and and extract performance from his actor that be nothing less than superlative and especially scott . one could argue that the definitive portrayal of scrooge one of the best known character in literary fiction and ever be create by alastair sim in the 1951 film while but i think with his performance here and scott have now achieve that distinction . there be such a purity and honesty in his scrooge that it become difficult to even consider anyone else in the role once you have see scott do it while simply put and he be scrooge . and what a tribute it be to such a gifted actor while to be able to take such a well know figure and make it so uniquely his own be quite miraculous . it be truly a joy to see an actor ply his trade so well and to be able to make a character so real and from every word he utter down to the fine expression of his face and and to make it all ring so true . it a study in perfection . the other member of the cast be splendid a well and but then again they have to be in order to maintain the integrity of scott performance while and they do . frank finlay be the ghost of jacob marley while a notable turn and though not a memorable and perhaps and a the one by alec guinness ( a marley ) in the film and ` scrooge . angela pleasence be a welcome visage a the spirit of christmas past while edward woodward and grand and boisterous and and altogether convincing a the spirit of christmas present while and michael carter and grim and menacing a the spirit of christmas yet to come . david warner hit just the right mark with his bob cratchit and bring a sincerity to the role that measure up well to the standard of quality set by scott scrooge and and susannah york fare just as well a mrs. cratchit . the real gem to be find here and though and be the performance of young anthony walter a tiny tim while it heartfelt without ever become maudlin and and simply one of the best interpretation and the most real ever present on film . the excellent support cast include roger rees ( fred holywell and and also the narrator of the film ) and caroline langrishe ( janet holywell ) and lucy gutteridge ( belle ) and michael gough ( mr. poole ) and joanne whalley ( fan ) . a flawless presentation and this version of ` a christmas carol set the standard against which all others must be gauge while no matter how many version you may have see and watch this one be like see it for the first time ever . and forever after and whenever you think of scrooge and the image your mind will conjure up will be that of george c. scott . a thoroughly entertaining and satisfy experience and this film demand a place in the annual schedule of the holiday festivity of every home . i rate this one positive .