Product Description

Bah Humbug, Mr. Magoo! In this first-ever animated holiday TV special, the bumbling and loveable Mr. Magoo is Ebeneezer Scrooge in a hilarious and heartwarming musical retelling of Charles Dickens’ classic, "A Christmas Carol".

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #640 in DVD
• Brand: UNI DIST CORP (MUSIC)
• Released on: 2007-09-04
• Rating: G (General Audience)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Animated, Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: 1.00 pounds
• Running time: 52 minutes

Amazon.com
This 1962 special marked the last hurrah of Mr. Magoo, who starred in 43 cartoon shorts, including two Oscar® winners, from the UPA Studio between 1949 and 1959. Magoo appears as Scrooge in a Broadway production of "A Christmas Carol" in this minimally animated hour. The play-within-the-show features forgettable songs by Jules Styne and Bob Merrill: Tiny Tim ("played" by the animated character Gerald McBoing-Boing) sings, oddly, of "razzle berry dressing" and "woofle jelly cake." This retelling of Dickens's holiday standard is much tamer than Richard Williams's Oscar-winning adaptation: the ghosts aren't scary, nor does Magoo confront the specters of Ignorance and Want. Small children who might be frightened by more dramatic versions of the story will enjoy this mild program. And the self-satisfied chuckles and bromides Jim Backus gives Magoo in his lighter moments remain as delightful as ever. This film is suitable for ages 6 and older. --Charles Solomon

Customer Reviews

Perfect For Kids
Like so many other reviewers here, I grew up with this annual treat, and the DVD renews fond memories. But this particular TV special did something much more important for me in the long run--it got me interested in reading. I read the Dickens story as a result of watching it, and that led to a lifelong love of the written word. I'm a novelist now, and I owe it all to Mr. Magoo!

PARENTS, TAKE NOTE: The story is terrific, the songs are delightful, and every kid loves Mr. Magoo. And it manages to get the positive love-thy-neighbor message across in 52 animated minutes, with every famous moment and famous line intact--a lot easier on smaller children than the many 2-hour movie versions with live actors. Try parking your kids in front of this. Maybe they will do what I did and reach for the book. And watch it with them--it really is beautiful, and you'll enjoy it, too.

A forgotten gem!
I can still remember sitting and watching "Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol" at my grandparent's house during the Christmas season when I was a kid. This DVD brings back so many fond memories. While the animation may seem simple by some of today's standards the entire production is first rate! From the adaptation of a classic story, to the songs written for the cartoon, to voice talents and performances it is all top quality and will be enjoyed by both children and adults! When I got this DVD, I introduced it to my kids and it has become a Christmas tradition (along with A Charlie Brown Christmas). Highly recommended!

Still endearing after all these years
I loved "Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol" as a kid and always tried to find it every year. This year, when my husband told me he'd never seen it, I had to buy the DVD.

I still love the story and it always makes me laugh to see the dickens of a time Mr. Magoo has to get to the theatre just to put on "The Christmas Carol" on Broadway. You see, this story is not just the old tale, but a stage adaptation with music and the occasional bit part from the very harried director.

Also included on this disk is a history of Mr. Magoo, which is unfortunately only written for you to scroll through and read and a wonderful Mr. Magoo original cartoon. It's all very well done, but I was very much hoping for more of a history than just something I could have read off a pamphlet and that's my reason for the one - star deduction.

If you loved this story as a kid, you will probably love it as an adult--and your children might, too!