Every year around this time, there are articles about which recorded version of A Christmas Carol is "the best." Usually it comes down to the films that starred either Alistair Sim or Reginald Owen. But for me, it's this one. It's not a movie, though, or a TV production. It's, of all things, an audio version that was done in 1960 for, I believe, the BBC. It's quite wonderful and as good an adaptation of the story as I've come across. It stars Sir Ralph Richardson as Scrooge, and Paul Scofield as Dickens, the narrator. Casts don't get much better than that. I first heard this on radio station WFMT in Chicago which has been playing this every Christmas Eve for many decades. (And still does.) Eventually, I found it on audio tape. I've listened to it annually since I was a kidling. Some years I think I won't listen to it this year, but put it on for a few minutes for tradition's sake -- but after the first sentence it sucks me in. There are four reasons why, for me, this is far and away the best version. But one reason leaps out. First, the acting is as good as it gets. Scofield is crisp and emphatic as the narrator,and almost every creak of his voice draws you in to the world, and Richardson as Scrooge is a Christmas pudding joy. Second, being radio, you aren't limited by budgets to create the Dickensian world. Your imagination fills in every lush and poverty-stricken, nook and cranny -- and ghostly spirit, aided by moody sound effects and violins. Third, the adaptation sticks closely to the Dickens tale, and Scrooge comes across more a realistic, rounded-person than as a Mythic Icon. And fourth, and most of all by far, unlike any of the other version, this includes...Dickens. While the story of A Christmas Carol is beloved, it's Dickens' writing that makes it even more vibrant than the story alone is. And that's all lost in the movie versions, even down even to the legendary opening line, "Marley was dead, to begin with." Or any of the other classic narrative lines. Or the richness of Dickens setting the mood and tone and description of the gritty and ephemeral and emotional world. All that's gone in movies, good as the productions may be. But all of that is here in this radio adaptation, and Scofield's reading of it is joyously wonderful and memorable. For many, this will be A Christmas Carol unlike any other you're aware of, giving it a meaning and richness you didn't realize was there. The ending of the tale is so much more moving and joyful here, as we listen to Dickens' own words, that begin with "Scrooge was better than his word. He did it all, and infinitely more," and it soars from there, to perhaps my favorite passage about the new Scrooge and how good he is in the "good old world. Or any other good old world." If you have the time or inclination, do give it a listen. If only for five minutes to at least get the flavor. You might find yourself sticking around. Let it play in the background, if you have other things to do. It runs about 55 minutes. (Side note: speaking of Dickens, if you know the original cast album of Oliver!, the actor here who plays the Ghost of Christmas Present, Willoughby Goddard, was Mr. Bumble on Broadway and in the original London production.) This might not play immediately, since it's a large file and may have to buffer first. But be patient, it's worth it. (That's Sir Ralph Richardson on the left, who plays Scrooge. And Paul Scofield must be the other one, as the narrator.)
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A few years ago, in order to "compete" with the recording of the Singing Dogs barking "Jingle Bells," someone put out a piece with singing cats. Sorry, that doesn't cut it. Talk about "copy cats." The Singing Dogs were not only the original, but the record was made over half a century ago, in 1955. It was done by a fellow named Don Charles, who had an act with his pooches. I first heard this many decades ago on the Midnight Special radio program on an otherwise classical music station, WFMT, in Chicago. Then, after a long time passed, Dr. Demento in Los Angeles popularlized it with his nationally syndicated show. This is the original. I recently posted a piece from the wonderful Kukla, Fran and Ollie show, and had an Emmy-winning video of the show's creator Burr Tillstrom alone. But what about Fran Allison? Most people have only ever seen her standing in front of a puppet stage, brilliantly conversing with puppets as if they were the most real beings in the world. She did do a few other things -- I posted clips from one here a couple of years ago, when she co-starred in a TV adaptation of the Broadway musical Damn Yankees -- but they were rare. And more rare still is video of Fran Allison interviewed alone. Without a puppet in sight. But here she is in 1980 being interviewed by Gary Collins. Fran Allison was an absolute gem on Kukla, Fran and Ollie. And for all the absolutely fully-deserved legendary praise that Burr Tillstrom received for this artistry, so much of the heart of the show, and its long success was, if not "due to," then at least deeply and inextricably supported by Fran Allison. Burr Tillstrom created the remarkable universe of the Kuklapolitans. And Fran Allison made us believe that they were real. Also nice here is that there's a surprise guest. Not a big name -- or a name at all, someone no one will likely have ever heard of. But the bit of coincidental kismet (you'll see...) is a nice moment for TV history, and lovely to have it included This is "All I Want for Christmas is You." But no, not that version, not the one by Mariah Carey. This is a totally different song that I might like even more. It's performed by Vince Vance and the Valiants, and was a big hit in its own right, though mostly on country music radio, so not as many people likely know it. (How big a country hit was it? The recording had been sitting around for a few years before it was finally discovered and began to be played on country music radio. And it exploded SO much that I recall listening to the local station and they would literally announce when they would next be playing it! And it was usually some time during the next hour.) What I particularly like about the recording, done in 1989, is not just that it's such a terrific song, but that the vocals performed by Lisa Layne are just so powerful and guttural. Just to be clear, that's not her seeming to sing on the video, but a model they got in to lip-sync. Still, the song remains wonderful. But yes, the goofy guy with the hair is Vince Vance. And hang around because there's a bonus. Okay, that was the official video. But just because you're so special, and since it's the holiday season of good cheer, here's the bonus I mentioned. This is the original singer, Lisa Layne -- just because she's so wonderful and deserves her place n the spotlight -- performing the song on stage in Texas in 2010. It's missing the wailing saxophone in the arrangement, but most importantly it has her. As one here might expect, I watch the Chicago Bulls basketball games quite a bit. And for the past two years, ever since the team signed guard Aaron Brooks, I keep waiting for a play-by-play announcer, or the in-game analyst, or perhaps one of the multitude of studio hosts reporting before a game or at half-time, or a sports reporter or newspaper columnist, or...most anyone to comment about what, to me, is one of the most obvious "separated at birth" connections with a celebrity that I've seen in recent years.
It's how incredibly similar I think that Aaron Brooks and Chris Rock look alike. Seriously, tell me that I'm wrong. Ad I've yet to hear anyone, amid the countless hours I've watched Bulls games and the ensuing broadcasts that go around it, mention it. By the way, that's Chris Rock on the left. Aaron Brooks is a giveaway with all the Bulls logos around... Yes, it's for for another The Writers Workbench tech review column. This month, we look at a bunch of reasonably-low-priced headphones -- meaning not in the pro-range of the equation). A couple of these also fall more in the earphone end of the category.
I also have a bit of a general discussion on sound quality and its randomness to personal taste. As always, I like to the column here, rather than offer it on this site, since it's convoluted to reformat the the thing with all the hyperlinks and photos. And since the work has already been done, then all the better. |
AuthorRobert J. Elisberg is a political commentator, screenwriter, novelist, tech writer and also some other things that I just tend to keep forgetting. Feedspot Badge of Honor
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