The Stingiest Man in Town is a 1978 animated Christmas musical television special based on Charles Dickens’ 1843 novella A Christmas Carol and created by Rankin/Bass Productions. It is an animated remake of a long-unseen, but quite well received, live-action musical special (also called The Stingiest Man in Town), which had starred Basil Rathbone, Martyn Green, and Vic Damone. The special features the voices of Walther Matthau as Ebenezer Scrooge and Tom Bosley as the insect narrator, B. A. H. Humbug, Esq.
Plot[]
The tale of Ebenezer Scrooge is told through the perspective of narrator B. A. H. Humbug, Esq., whose name is a pun off Scrooge’s most famous catchphrase “Bah, Humbug.” Scrooge is a cold-hearted tightwad, with his consistent resistance to assist the poor. His cheerful nephew Fred invites him to share Christmas dinner with his family, but his cantankerous uncle stubbornly and angrily refuses. That night, in hopes of resuscitating the goodness of his partner, the ghost of Jacob Marley, Scrooge’s former business partner, pays Scrooge a nighttime visit in his mansion. Marley tells Scrooge that his soul is condemned to wander the Earth for all eternity, and that as punishment for his greed and heartlessness, he must wear heavy chains he forged by his own acts of avarice. He also warns Scrooge if he doesn’t change his ways, the same terrible fate will befall him too. Scrooge deems this to be madness and soon prepares for bed.
Nevertheless, Scrooge’s attitude soon changes after a fateful night, wherein three ghosts visit him and take him through his past and present, and show him what his future will be like if he does not change. Scrooge is first visited by the Ghost of Christmas Past. Within these pernicious shadows (which Scrooge created because of his avarice) Scrooge sees a younger version of himself with his ex-fiancée Belle. When marriage is discussed, Scrooge says he wants to be more financially secure. Belle would’ve been happy with living in a small cottage with Ebenezer, but he is too set in his ways. As a result, he ultimately drives love from his heart and replaces it with the worship of money. Realizing how greedy and miserly he has become, Scrooge soon finds himself back in his gloomy house.
Next, the Ghost of Christmas Past pays a visit to the old miser, having used his magic to transform Scrooge’s parlor and make it more festive upon arrival. He then takes Scrooge to the home of his diligent employee Bob Cratchit, where he discovers how much poverty Cratchit and his family, including his crippled son Tiny Tim, wallow in. The Ghost also takes Scrooge to see Fred at his dinner party, wherein he hears his nephew say, “May Uncle Scrooge someday know I love him.” Afterwards, Scrooge soon learns that Tiny Tim is no more, which touches his tony heart and begins to instigate a transformation within his personality.
Finally, the Ghost of Christmas Future shows Scrooge that all his worldly possessions are stolen after he dies, and brings him to a cemetery to show him his final resting place and the result of his once greedy behavior, where he will die all alone. A remorseful Scrooge has seen enough to turn his ugly, miserly life around, and begs the Ghost for forgiveness. However, he soon awakens to discover that Christmas morning has arrived.
Now realizing that there’s still hope for him to set things right, Scrooge sends a boy to buy the biggest turkey for Cratchit and his family. He then goes on a shopping spree and buys toys for Bob’s children, and attends Fred’s dinner party after all, handing out presents to everyone. The next day, despite Bob arriving late for work, Scrooge tells him that he’ll raise his salary. The special concludes with Scrooge assisting those less fortunate than himself by making amends with those he mistreated and cheated earlier on in the special.
Songs[]
The special contains the following songs, all from the original special:
- “Sing a Christmas Carol”
- “An Old-Fashioned Christmas”
- “Humbug!”
- “The Stingiest Man in Town”
- “I Wear a Chain”
- “Golden Dreams”
- “It Might Have Been”
- “The Christmas Spirit”
- “Yes, There is a Santa Claus”
- “Birthday Party of the King”
- “One Little Boy”
- “Mankind Should Be My Business”
Voice cast[]
- Walter Matthau–Ebenezer Scrooge (adult)
- Robert Morse–Ebenezer Scrooge (young)
- Tom Bosley–B. A. H. Humbug, Esq.
- Theodore Bikel–Jacob Marley
- Dennis Day–Nephew Fred
- Paul Frees–The Ghost of Christmas Past, the Ghost of Christmas Present, Old Joe
- Sonny Melendrez–Bob Cratchit
- Debra Clinger–Martha Cratchit
- Robert Rolofson–Tiny Tim
- Steffani Calli–Belinda Cratchit
- Eric Hines–Peter Cratchit
- Darlene Conley–Mrs. Cratchit
- Shelby Flint–Belle
- Charles Matthau–The Boy
- Dee Stratton–Fred’s Wife
External links[]
The Stingiest Man in Town on Bing Videos