A Christmas Carol (1977)

This is a BBC adaptation of the classic tale A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. It stars Sir Michael Hordern, who is Marley's Ghost in two other versions, as Scrooge. Anything he is in is worth watching, and he's well cast here. Zoë Wanamaker is Belle, Paul Copley is Fred, Clive Merrison is Bob Cratchit, and Carol MacReady is Mrs. Cratchit. I find Marley the weak link in this one -a bit lifeless even for a ghost.

BFI Screen Online has some praise for the Marley actor, and says of this version of the story, "This compact adaptation stays very close to the original, reproducing much of the dialogue verbatim" and highlights Hordern's performance:

What anchors this adaptation, however, is Michael Hordern's Scrooge. He completely dominates the production, equally convincing as a cynical curmudgeon in the opening scenes and, later, as a panic-stricken old man terrified by the vision of his own dismal death. His final redemption and re-birth as a kinder and more generous human being is appropriately joyous and heart-warming.