The Stingiest Man in Town (1978 TV Movie) User Reviews

This story seems awfully familiar.

[CuriosityKilledShawn · 6/10 · 13 December 2011]

I am sure I have seen this tale in some other incarnation somewhere before, I swear.

In a bizarre, alternate history London, where everyone apparently speaks with an American accent, Ebeneezer Scrooge (Walter Matthau) is about to be visited by ghosts...sound familiar yet? As Bart Simpson once said, TV writers have been milking that goat for years. The Stingiest Man in Town is not the best version of Scrooged...I mean A Christmas Carol, but it's a nice intro to the story for kids. Back in the days when lots of obscure children's animation were released on VHS by flash-in-the-pan distributors I rented this 50-minute cartoon and it kinda stayed with me.

Still, Mickey's Christmas Carol is the best animated version.

Why Didn't They Just Call It "A Christmas Carol"?

[D_Burke · 5/10 · 14 January 2010]

"The Stingiest Man In Town" was a lost Christmas special churned out by Rankin-Bass, the company behind many of the most celebrated TV specials of all time. Those specials most notably include "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer", "Frosty The Snowman", and "The Little Drummer Boy". It doesn't matter that the animation style of these specials, whether regular, 2D animation or stop-motion, are archaic in comparison to the dominant, but not necessarily superior, 3D animation popular today. These specials stand the test of time for their colorful characters and great storytelling skills.

This special, originally broadcast on network TV in 1978, just recently found its way onto DVD by way of the "Classic Christmas Favorites" box set. Although it is good to see such TV specials get the recognition they deserve after being put on the back-burner for 30+ years, "The Stingiest Man In Town" lacks the charm, purpose, and uniqueness of its TV predecessors. It's good, but not great.

My major problem with this special is in the title. I will admit that one of my biggest pet peeves is when a movie that is clearly based on Charles Dickens' immortal "A Christmas Carol" is instead titled "Scrooge". Sure, the main character is Ebenezer Scrooge, but that's NOT the title of the story to which it is based. That said, the reason the title "The Stingiest Man In Town" does not sit well with me is because I was expecting a different story. Other men besides Scrooge can be stingy, can't they? Is Ebenezer Scrooge the only person in the history of literature and storytelling who initially hated Christmas? Of course not. So instead of getting a fresher story about a different man, Rankin-Bass here adds yet another version of "A Christmas Carol" to a never-ending list of movie versions.

I will give this special credit for staying truer to the Dickens story than other versions. However, there's nothing unique or fresh about this retelling. Adding the character of B.A.H. Humbug the bug, a blatant and unnecessary ripoff of Jiminy Cricket, wasn't enough to make this retelling memorable. In fact, the bug doesn't interact much, if at all, with any of the main characters. Plus, he seems way too cheerful to be named after a word defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as "the quality of falseness or deception". Does that mean the bug is deceiving someone? It doesn't make sense.

This TV special was not bad, mind you, but certainly is not as memorable as animation specials that Rankin-Bass had released before. There were musical numbers, but none of great significance. I can't fault the animation style, but the problem lay in it feeling as though the special was put together at the last minute. The Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come makes one brief appearance as he points to a grave, and that fleeting moment, alas, is the extent of the dark, climactic turning point of the original story.

Seeing as this T.V. special's original air date (according to this website) was two days before Christmas, there is no doubt in my mind that the special had added pressure to air before families supposedly turned off their TVs to cook Christmas dinner, do last minute shopping, or attend church services. If the special was, in fact, rushed, it really does show. It is true to the Dickens story, but it could have been so much more. As it is, it was just okay to me.

Above average telling of the often told story

[Christmas-Reviewer · 7/10 · 5 August 2019]

Review Date 8/5/2019

I have Reviewed OVER 600 "Christmas Films, & Christmas Television Movies , & Television Specials". Please BEWARE Of films and specials with just one review! For instance When "It's a POSITIVE" chances are that the reviewer was involved with the production. "If its Negative" then they may have a grudge against the film for whatever reason. I am fare. I am on a mission to watch every Christmas Movie ever produced. Since 2014 I average 100 per year.

The Stingiest Man in Town is the tale of Ebenezer Scrooge, told in the 1978 version through the perspective of the insect B.A.H. Humbug (voiced by Tom Bosley), obviously a word play on Scrooge's catch phrase, "bah humbug". Scrooge (performed by Walter Matthau) is portrayed as the tightwad Charles Dickens intended him to be with his consistent resistance to assist the poor or even have Christmas dinner with his nephew Fred (performed by Dennis Day) and his family. In hopes of resuscitating the goodness of his one-time friend, the ghost of Jacob Marley (voiced by Theodore Bikel), Scrooge's former business partner, visits Scrooge in his mansion, exhorting him to change his ways. Scrooge deems this to be madness and soon prepares for bed.

Nevertheless, Scrooge's attitude soon changes after a fateful night wherein three ghosts also visit him and take him through his past and present, and show him what his future would be like if he does not change.

Not that many twist and turns in this version but it is a great introduction to small children who are too young for the "Darker Versions" of the story!

pretty delightful just hard to see

[dtucker86 · 29 September 2003]

I remember watching this special as a little kid in 1978. I still believed in Santa then. Walter Matthau, Tom Bosley, Theodore Bikel and Dennis Day make up for a delightful animated cast with their distinctive voices. Walter should have played Scrooge in a live action movie, he would have been delightful like he was with Oscar in The Odd Couple. The songs aren't exactly Oscar quality, but what the hell. Its a nice cartoon the kids will enjoy and even though we only hear his voice, Matthau does a splendid acting job, he just cannot sing very well. He makes Scrooge's transformation from miser to nicer very convincing. I remember one song that warmed my heart in particular was Yes there is a Santa Claus.

Okay ... but not very satisfying given really brief running time

[rdoyle29 · 6/10 · 27 August 2017]

Rankin/Bass do a highly abbreviated, musical version of "A Christmas Carol". It's fine, but it's a tough story to do justice to in under an hour, and inserting songs certainly doesn't help. What you essentially get is the high points and little else. Walter Matthau is a fine actor, but he's not quite what you want for Scrooge. The story is narrated by B.A.H. Humbug, an insect voiced by Tom Bosley. The less said about that the better.

Underrated Classic

[lizzyn2002 · 10/10 · 31 July 2006]

This movie is one of the best renditions of "a Christmas carol" that i have ever seen, and yet most people have never heard of it! it doesn't get to all aspects of Dickens' original work, but it hits all the major points, and is coupled with great creative and original songs that get stuck in your head for days. The third person narration by B.A.H. Humbug it a very cute extra touch. In my opinion, the movie is neck-in-neck with Mickey Mouse for the best take on "Carol." It doesn't always get a yearly playing, but it is definitely worth keeping your eye out when scanning your TV guide around Christmas. It is really a fantastic retelling of a classic!!

Saw the original on TV in 1956

[carboner · 2/10 · 30 June 2005]

When I saw the advertisement in TVGuide for this animation it was touted as an original work by Randkin and Bass. It so happened that the original TV airing in '56 with Basil Rathbone in the lead was a fond memory, especially the music. The original show featured Rathbone as Scrooge and a great cast of 50's names including Vic Damone, Patrice Munsel, Johnny Desmond and many other talents. The re-make in the seventies featured some great personalities as well but did not have the charm of the original broadcast live on the Alcoa Theater. Hearing Rathbone sing was unique. The other talents speak for themselves. I guess I really objected to the claim that the '70s production was an original work. I guess they thought that the original was a faded memory. Perhaps, since it was live and there is no video or film of the original to keep. The songs are exactly the same as they were in the '56 production but without the same charm.

Rankin/Bass Version of the Christmas Carol

[dwindler-652-298703 · 10/10 · 9 January 2011]

Once again, Rankin/Bass did a another great Holiday special, This time a Charles Dickens Best Work, A Christmas Carol, this time they renamed The Stingiest Man in Town, Cast did a good job, Walter Matthau did a great job as the voice of Ebenezer Scrooge who learn a lesson about Christmas when 3 Ghosts came to visit them, Paul Frees who is the voice of both Ghost of Christmas Past and Ghost of Christmas Present, but Ghost of Christmas Yet of Come is quiet but no Voice Actor, Tom Bosley is a voice of the B.A.H. Humbug the Storyteller of this special, This animated special got good music, good storyline and good acting, It's a heartwarming story and A Good Holiday Special.

There just are so many better versions out there.

[planktonrules · 3/10 · 25 December 2022]

"The Stingiest Man in Town" is a musical version of Dickens' "A Christmas Carol"....a story that has been made into a bazillion different film and TV incarnations. This actually is much of why I only gave this Rankin-Bass a 3...there are so many others...and most of them are clearly better. For a family musical version, I'd stick with "A Muppet Christmas Carol".

Other reasons I disliked the TV special is that although I love Walter Matthau and have reviewed nearly every film he's made, I must concede that here he is totally miscast. He just cannot sing and would have been better starring in a non-musical version. Additionally, the animation is not especially good. Overall, you just don't have to look far to find a better version of the story.

Lovely

[TheLittleSongbird · 9/10 · 9 February 2013]

There were three main reasons why I wanted to see The Stingiest Man in Town. One was that I simply adore the story A Christmas Carol, for me the quintessential Christmas story and easily the most accessible of Charles Dickens' work. Two was that I have loved a lot of what Rankin/Bass have done, Rudolph The Red Nosed, The Little Drummer Boy, Santa Claus is Comin' To Town, Frosty the Snowman and The Year Without a Santa Claus are classics. And three, anything with Walter Matthau, Tom Bosley or both are well worth watching. I found myself loving The Stingiest Man in Town, it doesn't quite surpass the 1969, 1971 and Disney animated versions of the story, but it is miles ahead of the 2001 one. The animation is similar to the style of Twas the Night Before Christmas, which is a good thing as that special was beautiful to look at as well with character designs that are distinctive traditional-animated Rankin/Bass and simple but atmospheric colours and backgrounds. The music is also great, with whimsical scoring and songs that are guaranteed to tug at your heartstrings in some way or another, Yes There is a Santa Claus is very touching. The dialogue is sweet and well-meaning while never falling into the over-sentimentality trap, while the story is charming, heart-warming and moving as well as true in spirit to the Christmas Carol story. If there was any complaint I had of the special actually, it was that I did find the Ghost of Christmas Future, admittedly though that part is not as lengthy as the past and present parts in the first place, part too brief and rushed. The characters all engage, Scrooge's change from miser to humble is very convincing as it ought to be, B.A.H.Humbug was a good narrator-character, the spirits are imposing and the Cratchit family you can always relate to. The voices are spot on, Walter Matthau isn't the best singer in the world but he still makes for a brilliant Scrooge, and Tom Bosley's voice work as Humbug is done with a lot of warmth. All in all, a lovely special and a more than worthy animated adaptation of the timeless story. 9/10 Bethany Cox

children's classic

[jester10684 · 16 February 2004]

I am thrilled to find out that a record of this movie actually does exist. I remember seeing this as a kid, even though I'm only 19, and loving it. I remember that we had it recorded on a tape and my siblings and I would watch it every year. Walter Matthau does a great job as Scrooge, as he contributes his unique voice and vocal characteristics to the role. Be sure not to overlook the presence of Tom Bosley as the Humbug. Recognizing his voice from the voice of "Mr. C." from Happy Days shouldn't be a stretch for anyone. This is a great animation of Dickens' tale, and should definitely be experienced by families to come.

Great movie

[tedmania · 10/10 · 30 June 2006]

I LOVE this movie. This movie is a great Christmas movie and is amazing. I like how they can do a musical retelling of this story. This was actually based on a old play written by two unknown playwrights Fred Speilman and Janice Toore, however they closed the play after one night. After a lot of the legal dust was settled and the slander was lifted they reissued the play at my old acting school. I was one person to play Marley's Ghost and Christmas Future. I also noticed that Fezziwig was seen in a once shot but didn't get any speaking words. The past scene mostly focused on Scrooge's romance with Belle, and the present scene had Tiny Tim and family, and a scene with Fred. I would have liked it if they had a longer future scene, and more scenes. I would also like to say THank you, Charles Dickens, he's long dead, but he's with us in spirit, for this great story.

Great movie, but a better play.

[sons-4 · 9/10 · 27 January 2008]

This is the only animated version of "Stingy" I've seen,and it's great, but for years at the Cabaret Supper Theater in Fort Sill, OK, we did this show every year on the stage. The music is superb; the songs wonderful, and the opportunity for children to 'be in a show" are boundless. Our director, the late Ray Shermeyer (who played Scrooge, naturally) held open auditions and cast just about every kid who showed up. He started this around 1967 and when the Cabaret finally was forced to close its doors (as many "supper theaters" did) in 1989, many of those children, then in their late teens or early twenties, came to the mike and said it had given them the confidence to get into shows. Several went on to showbiz careers.

It's a wonderful show for the Christmas season, and it's even a more wonderful play for amateurs (and especially children) to feel the thrill of being on the stage for the first time. HOLLY-HO!

I've only seen it once only as a child

[sadie_m_lady · 10/10 · 14 December 2020]

Now only on YouTube these are just good lessons and fun to watch for children of all ages