There are at least 135 film adaptations of Charles Dickens’ classic “A Christmas Carol.” The “Bah! Humbug!” of Ebenezer Scrooge is transformed to a hearty “Merry Christmas” thanks to visits from the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future. With 12 shopping days left until Christmas, a lot of us may lean closer to “Bah! Humbug!” than to “God bless us, everyone!” Who wants to hear Paul tell the Philippian Christians to “Rejoice! And again I say unto you, rejoice!”? 

            This is a tough Christmas. A lot of us are trying twice as hard to do three times as much in half the time to make up for everything we missed out on last year because of the pandemic.

            Even so, may I suggest you make time to watch the 1962 animated version, Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol. It’s only 53 minutes long, features an all-star cast of classic actors, with songs composed by Broadway stalwarts Jule Styne and Bob Merrill.  

            In one particularly poignant — and joyful — number we hear the children of the wretchedly poor Cratchit Family, including Tiny Tim, gathered around the table asking in song whether there will be meat for dinner, stockings, presents and a tree decorated with a star. Bob Cratchit, their father, admits they can’t afford any of those things for now, but it will still be a magnificent Christmas because: 

We’ll have the Lord’s Bright Blessing in knowing we’re together, 

knowing we’re together heart and hand.

We’ll make the whitest Christmas, the very brightest Christmas, 

a Christmas far more glorio

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