The Stingiest Man in Town

The Stingiest Man in Town is an animated version of the 1956 Alcoa Hour special based on A Christmas Carol produced by Rankin/Bass and released in 1978. The musical special features the voices of Walter Matthau as Ebenezer Scrooge and Tom Bosley as the narrating insect, B. A. H. Humbug, Esq., a pun off Scrooge's most famous catchphrase "Bah, Humbug."

Synopsis

The 1978 version, based on the famous Dickens classic A Christmas Carol, is a tale of Ebenezer Scrooge told through the perspective of narrator B.A.H. Humbug (voiced by Tom Bosley) obviously a word play on Scrooge's catch phrase, "bah humbug". Scrooge (voiced 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. Within these pernicious shadows (which Scrooge created because of his avarice) and maliciousness toward his fellow men, Scrooge sees a younger caricature of himself, voiced by Robert Morse and realizes how cryptic he has become. The Ghost of Christmas Present (performed by Paul Frees) proceeds to take Scrooge to the home of his diligent employee Bob Cratchit and discovers just how much poverty Cratchit and his family wallow in. Cratchit's crippled son Tiny Tim (voiced by Bobby Rolofson) touches Scrooge's heart and instigates a transformation within his personality. The production concludes with Scrooge manifesting his enhancements as he assists those less fortunate than himself.

Songs

• Sing a Christmas Carol (Prologue {with Introductions})
• An Old-Fashioned Christmas
• Humbug!
• The Stingiest Man in Town
• Sing a Christmas Carol (Reprise)
• 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
• You Wear a Chain
• The Christmas Spirit (Reprise)
• Yes, There is a Santa Claus (Reprise)
• Mankind Should be My Business

Cast

External links

• The Stingiest Man in Town at the Internet Movie Database