As all who have followed my website know I’m a connoisseur of the various film versions of Dicken’s “A Christmas Carol.” And I’ve opined before that the premiere version of the Ghost of Jacob Marley is Frank Finlay’s portrayal in the 1984 version with George C Scott as Scrooge.
Here is the whole scene:
Now, why do I say it’s best? Technical presentation? Acting ability? Faithfulness to the book? Emotional impact? Actually, all of the above. In all aspects of the scene this version is head and shoulders above all the rest.
The makeup on the ghost is wonderful as are his costume and the pattern and details of his fetters. Even his eyes appear to be those of a dead man. Finlay’s reading of the lines is masterful and the emotions he provides are wonderfully potent. And the lines selected are the best selection from any of the versions out there. And the climax of his performance is his outrage when Scrooge tells him, “But you were always a good man of business, Jacob.”
Marley howls, “Business!” Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, were, all, my business. The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!”
This one speech is easily seen as the reason for the whole story. We see the partners face to face and we see what Scrooge cannot. Marley was what Scrooge is; a terrible human being who cared not at all for his fellow creatures, their pain and suffering. But death and judgement have taught him the error of his ways and in his shame and penitence he wants to save his old partner from himself.
And because he was as Scrooge is, he selects the instruments that have the best chance of reaching into Scrooge’s heart and mind and shaking him out of his evil habits and awaken in him the knowledge that the most precious treasure on this Earth is the chance to use our time to comfort those around us and recognize the kinship we all should have.
So those are the main points. But even small bits contribute to this “Marley.” When the ghost appears Scrooge demands to know what it wants of him. Untying the funeral kerchief from around his head, his bottom jaw drops wide open with a loud clicking noise to indicate that he is a corpse. Only once his mouth is unbound can he answer. “Much!”
So, yes. This is the best Marley. And George C Scott provides a fitting foil for Marley’s mission. He is suitably impenitent and uninterested in Marley’s gift of potential reclamation. When told of the three separate spiritual visits he asks Marley if they could all come at once and save time. All in all, he is completely undeserving of Marley’s gift. But as we shall see the scope of the gift that Marley procured manages to finally break through Scrooge’s shell of callousness.
Well done Jacob Marley.