God bless us every one.

Subject: God bless us every one.
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 10 Dec 01 - 11:51 AM

Since I was in my teens, I've read "A Christmas Carol" most years. This year's reading, finished last night, was a little more emotional.

I've heard "God Bless America" hundreds of times in the past few months. But I wonder, if for this time of year at least, Mr Dicken's phrase might be more appropriate?

I respect those of you who do not believe in God. I understand your concerns. This post is not aimed toward you or meant to offend in any way.

Subject: RE: God bless us every one.
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 10 Dec 01 - 12:31 PM

I second that emotion. God bless us all. Not all believe in God, but God believes in all.

And have a Merry Christmas while you're at it, Jack!

Jerry

Subject: RE: God bless us every one.
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 10 Dec 01 - 12:43 PM

Darn that Dickens! I can speak the dialogue, right along with Alistair Sim, George Cole (who actually WAS Sim's son!) and the restm right through that film. When Tiny Tim does his famous blessing, my healthy skepticism disappears...poof!

Cheers

Rick

Subject: RE: God bless us every one.
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 10 Dec 01 - 01:00 PM

It does try to play the heart strings.

Merry Christmas Rick.

Merry Christmas Jerry

Subject: RE: God bless us every one.
From: Kim C
Date: 10 Dec 01 - 01:45 PM

Merry Christmas everyone.

I, too, read A Christmas Carol every year, and watch It's a Wonderful Life (my favorite movie of all time), and A Christmas Story (running a close second.)

I also read The Velveteen Rabbit. At 34 years old I still love all my stuffed animals, and they have always been Real to me. I have a few of the fuzzy critters from Christmases past, now dingy and dirty with the dust of the ages.

I just got a copy of Tasha Tudor's The Dolls Christmas, and found it quite charming. In the introduction, she says that magic doesn't have to stay behind with childhood - properly nurtured, it can last a lifetime.

Toys are people too. :-)

Subject: RE: God bless us every one.
From: Fortunato
Date: 10 Dec 01 - 01:54 PM

The Christmas Carol, bah! This sentimental claptrap makes me cry 3 or 4 times a year. Every year. Over and over. I don't know about Santa and I'm not sure about God. But I believe in Charles Dickens.

Subject: RE: God bless us every one.
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 10 Dec 01 - 03:00 PM

For pre-Christmas reading, try The Dean's Watch by Elizabeth Goudge.

Out of print in England, which is par for the course, and Amazon UK haven't got it - but it seem to be in print in The States. And it's worth looking for in the secondhand shops. Really.

Subject: RE: God bless us every one.
From: GUEST,colwyn dane
Date: 10 Dec 01 - 07:40 PM

George Cole's debut film, 'Cottage to Let', made when he was 15, first brought him to the attention of
Alastair Sim, who guided him in his early career. The two men made 11 films together and became lifelong friends.
Cole played Scrooge as a young man in the 1951 movie.
This movie has been colourised by computer and that version has been transmitted on the Sky channels.
What a great story it is of human regeneration/transformation.

Merry Xmas fellow Earthlings.
CD.

Subject: RE: God bless us every one.
From: Amos
Date: 10 Dec 01 - 08:01 PM

Whatever poet you listen for,
Whatever God he shows you,
Whatever trails your heart's desire chooses,

Fountains of finest sunlight light your way,
And all the blessings you can have appear before you.

Mery, Merry Christmas all across this wild Mudcat world, to the lurkers, singers, wags and BSers, songwriters, taletellers, old heros and future heros alike.

I feel extraordinarily fortunate to be connected with you all.

And an extra dose of the same to Max, Joe, Dick, Jeff, Jeri, ALL the elves and all those who make the 'Cat the living, breathing, communicating marvel that it is.

Warmest regards,

A

Subject: RE: God bless us every one.
From: GUEST,Wyrdsister
Date: 10 Dec 01 - 08:09 PM

Oh, God---ain't it the truth?! I read "A Christmas Carol" every year, and I must confess my favourite film version is the George C. Scott one---it just "looks right", to say nothing of the excellent choice of music....the Sussex Carol---'nuff said!

Also, talking of video matter that inspires maudlin sentimentality, what about the BBC's "Child's Christmas in Wales" with Denholm Elliot as the grandfather? *SOB*!

God bless us, every one.

Subject: RE: God bless us every one.
From: katlaughing
Date: 11 Dec 01 - 12:09 AM

Who remembers listening to it on the radio? I think it was with Lionel Barrymore. We didn't have a tv and only received one or two radio stations before I was eight, when we moved to Colorado. Every Christmas eve my brother would get out a reel to reel copy he'd made of it, off the radio, and we would listen to it. Sometimes, I wish all of the children could just sit back and listen rather than watch something as special as A Christmas Carol and paint the pictures in their minds, the way we did.

I am not a Christian, but I love the season and love to celebrate and Dickens' story is tops with me.

Amosdarlin'...beautiful, just beautiful.

To any and all, may your god(s)/goddess(es) bless you,

kat

Subject: RE: God bless us every one.
From: simon-pierre
Date: 11 Dec 01 - 01:35 AM

Glad to see taht I am not the only one to read it every year. It marked my childhood. It's a good tale in this world with no god...

Subject: RE: God bless us every one.
From: Spud Murphy
Date: 11 Dec 01 - 01:47 AM

Yes, Kat, it was indeed Lionel Barrymore. and no movie or video or even the book itself will ever measure up to that great man's delivery coupled with the majic projection screen of a small child's mind.

Merry Christmas, All.

Geeorge & Mary MacClanahan

Subject: RE: God bless us every one.
From: sian, west wales
Date: 11 Dec 01 - 04:27 AM

I won't be on-line for Christmas as I'm off to Canada soon. Dog sorted, house-sitters being instructed in central heating systems, presents being packed - almost ready. But if I get all rushed at the last minute ... Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Nadolig Llawen a Blwyddyn Newydd Dda to all 'Catters!

sian

Subject: RE: God bless us every one.
From: Kim C
Date: 11 Dec 01 - 01:44 PM

Oh yes! The George C. Scott Christmas Carol. I love it! I taped it off TV years ago. I reckon I'll have to get that out of the vault too! George, being the great actor he was, made such an excellent Scrooge. His absolute unbridled joy at the end of the movie is a pleasure to behold indeed. :-)

Getting back to It's a Wonderful Life, though, the line that never, ever fails to get me is: "A toast, to my big brother George - the richest man in town!" I mean, every freaking time. I guess because it reminds me what being rich really means.

Subject: RE: God bless us every one.
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 11 Dec 01 - 01:47 PM

Glad you're coming over here, Sian! Or at least, to this continent. Give Blewyn a hug for me. Can you send bones by e-mail?

Jerry

Subject: RE: God bless us every one.
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 11 Dec 01 - 02:47 PM

Which Part of Canada Sian? Unless it is B.C. I envy you that you'll have a White Christmas.

I've seen "It's a Wonderful Life" and "A Charlie Brown Christmas" already this Year.

I prefer Alistar Sims' Scrooge, but I can't imagine him as Patton.

Does anyone know if one of the Non cable networks is playing "A Miracle on 34th Street"?

Merry Christmas to the 'Cat

Subject: RE: God bless us every one.
From: SINSULL
Date: 11 Dec 01 - 10:02 PM

Alistair Sims' Scrooge - I love it so much, I have two copies of it. Favorite scene: "I must stand on my head!"..."Merry Christmas Mr. Scrooge, in keeping with the situation."..."Bright boy! Intelligent boy!"

God bless us, everyone. Somehow this year it seems more right than ever.

Subject: RE: God bless us every one.
From: GUEST,Wyrdsister
Date: 11 Dec 01 - 10:34 PM

Alistair Sims as Patton....I think this idea has merit: "I'm gonna go through those Cratchits like crap through a goose!"

As to Mr. Dickens' tale, Simon-Pierre's comment above put me in mind of the words of ANOTHER favourite writer: "How far that little candle throws its beams! So shines a good deed in a naughty world!"

Merry, happy, etc.

Subject: RE: God bless us every one.
From: GUEST,Sheila
Date: 11 Dec 01 - 11:08 PM

Near the end, when Scrooge goes to his nephew's home, looks at the housemaid, questioningly and hopefully and she gives him an encouraging smile, my tears begin, after years of watching, each and every time. There's always hope for us all. Happy Holidays!

Subject: RE: God bless us every one.
From: sian, west wales
Date: 12 Dec 01 - 04:37 AM

I'm a "Miracle on 42nd Street" girl, m'self. The first one of course.

Jack, I'm off to the Niagara Penninsula - and at last report they sound like they're having a heat wave! If I'd wanted a GREEN Christmas, I coulda stayed here! Oh well, it was white enough last year, when I had God-daughter No.1 in tow ... and I really wanted her to see a Canadian White Christmas.

Jerry, I'll PM you!

sian

Subject: RE: God bless us every one.
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Dec 01 - 08:01 AM

Whaa??? No Muppet Family Christmas Carol? That's the one we watch every year, along with the Nightmare Before Christmas. Both are excellent cures to the sentimental brigades.

Subject: RE: God bless us every one.
From: catspaw49
Date: 12 Dec 01 - 08:15 AM

Well thank you Guest!

Spaw, the completely heartless bastard arrives and says......That Tiny Tim line is the hokiest and corniest thing I can imagine. I love the story and have seen them all I believe as well as reading Dickens and my personal preference has got to be the Muppets. Even Michael Caine does a good job and Kermit's nephew delivers the final line as well as it can be delivered. Unlike many of you, cold, cruel Spaw doesn't get teary over the line......My reaction is more like "Aw ferchrissakes..." There are so many wonderfully sweet parts in the story, who needs hocum at the end?

Spaw McScrooge

Subject: RE: God bless us every one.
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Dec 01 - 08:58 AM

Hey Spaw! I haven't been able to stand listening to Christmas Carol since childhood, when my father force fed it to us (while the 5 of us snickered, tattled, and battled silently with pokes, pinches, etc). But the Muppet version is glorious!

As to the read-aloud versions, my own family prefers A Child's Christmas in Wales, but our favorite is a gem of a Christmas story, complete with sentimental stuff, called The Creche of Krakow by Harvey and Audrey Hirsch. We being Polish American love it, but it will especially appeal to any Eur-Ams who had parents or grandparents emigrate to America after WWII. A very well told tale which captures the "miracle of hope" beautifully.

Subject: RE: God bless us every one.
From: MMario
Date: 12 Dec 01 - 09:04 AM

oh yeah 'spaw - no sentiment in you at all.

pull another one while you're at it!

Subject: RE: God bless us every one.
From: catspaw49
Date: 12 Dec 01 - 09:11 AM

Guest, I'll check that one out. Seems to me I've heard that title but I've never read it.

Okay Mario......But that "God Bless Us, every one" is really awful! I just can't stomach it.....It actually reads better to be truthful.....I can't think of any movie/TV version where I just didn't wanna' barf when it was delivered. Perhaps if Scrooge delivered it as a sort of benediction........but Tiny Tim? Just really the pits!

Spaw

Subject: RE: God bless us every one.
From: MMario
Date: 12 Dec 01 - 09:15 AM

hmmm- remind me to tell you about my nephew sometime...

But I gotta tell you, sentimental slop or not, there are a lot of tear-filled eyes at our Dickon's Christmas, when at the end of our Carol sing our little Tiny Tim (played by a five year old> says the line - and then it is echoed by the entire cast.

Subject: RE: God bless us every one.
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 12 Dec 01 - 09:16 AM

I too, have a W.C.Fields-like reaction to Tiny Tim, wanting to wrap the crutch round his little neck! We love the Dylan Thomas Child's Christmas in |Wales as well and often play the recording of him reading it himself at Xmas, magic!
RtS (Bah humbug!)

Subject: RE: God bless us every one.
From: catspaw49
Date: 12 Dec 01 - 09:20 AM

Gonna' miss ya' Skiff. You're my kinda' guy! You WILL of couse be dropping by occasionally.....

Spaw

Subject: RE: God bless us every one.
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 12 Dec 01 - 09:29 AM

I liken "A Christmas Carol" to a Christmas tree.

Too gaudy! Too bright! Too red! Too green! Too shiny!

Any other time of year, a perfect example of bad taste. But for a few days in December, few things are more beatiful.

If "A Christmas Carol" is the tree than Tiny Tim's line is the star on top.

Merry Christmas! Mudcats!!

Subject: RE: God bless us every one.
From: catspaw49
Date: 12 Dec 01 - 10:22 AM

.....or the ridiculous, gawdy, piece of crap ornament a friend gave you that you hang at the bottom and in the back because you know they meant well but it looks like hell.

Spaw

Subject: RE: God bless us every one.
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 12 Dec 01 - 10:25 AM

Read the story again. From Dicken's perspective it is the Star (or Angel) on the top of the tree.

Subject: RE: God bless us every one.
From: catspaw49
Date: 12 Dec 01 - 10:54 AM

It was just a joke Jack......and though you are correct re: Dickens perspective, we read from our own perspective....and I'm hangin' that sucker at the back on the bottom.

Spaw

Subject: RE: God bless us every one.
From: Mickey191
Date: 12 Dec 01 - 12:04 PM

It's not Christmas without a visit from Alistair Sim, He was terrific. Sinsull, you beat me to it-the joy he feels as he says, "I must stand on my head." Great! Merry Christmas to all.

Subject: RE: God bless us every one.
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 12 Dec 01 - 01:40 PM

Excellent point Spaw, we do read from our own perspective. I guess I'm just a little to in love with my metaphor.

Actually now I am imagining Charles Dickens sweating over the ending wondering if indeed that line is too corny. Then saying "Why the H*** not? Its Christmas!"

I don't think Frank Capra had that problem, "It's a Wonderful Life" is a complete cornfest!!

Subject: RE: God bless us every one.
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Dec 01 - 02:16 PM

Please notice I didn't nominate "It's a Wonderful Life"! If I had to nominate a film from that era, it would be little Natalie's "Miracle on Whatever the Hell Street that is" one.

Christmas Story is absolutely brilliant though--I'm with whoever nominated that--great combo of corn and sarcasm.

Jack--not your or anyone elses metaphor can get me to read that damn book again. It is Muppets or nothing for me when it comes to the Christmas Carol. I'm sure Dickens meant for Animal to have the last word!

Subject: RE: God bless us every one.
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 12 Dec 01 - 02:22 PM

Dear GUEST

???????

Subject: RE: God bless us every one.
From: Lady P. At Work
Date: 12 Dec 01 - 02:30 PM

I'm with Guest and Sian on this one. Actually all three are guarenteed to get me with a kleenex 'tude. The bit where they bring all the letters in addressed to santa claus, I'm filling up right now. I'm sooo happyyyy! Sniff!

TTFN M'Lady P.

Subject: RE: God bless us every one.
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 12 Dec 01 - 03:45 PM

I like the Alistair Simms version. Marley's Ghost is particularly spooky in that version. My daughter first saw it when she was about 4, and was vexed by nightmares about Marley for months. She told me one morning "I had a bad dream about Marley. He was pulling a little girl's hair." I asked her if she was the little girl, and she said "uhh-huh." It's still a joke in the family.

And I blubber my way through the entire movie, corny as it is. Especially the Christmas morning, stand-on-my-head scene with the maid, the scene at his nephew's with Barbara Allen playing in the background, and the scene where Cratchit comes in late..."and because you are late, sir, you leave me with no alternative but to raise your pay!" I love all of the little touches that Simms puts on the character, touches that were apparently improvised during the filming...."why am I so happy?...I don't deserve to be so happy...(laughs) I just can't help it! (tosses pen over shoulder)"

Subject: RE: God bless us every one.
From: SINSULL
Date: 12 Dec 01 - 03:54 PM

Finally - the perfect gift for Spaw. Now at least I can begin to search...something with a pull string of course that coos when pulled "God bless us, everyone." Oh joy! I must stand on my head...

Subject: RE: God bless us every one.
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 12 Dec 01 - 04:52 PM

Plus a videotape of the independant movie, "Fartcatcher"