Christmas: Ebeneezer Scrooge (Scrooge McDuck) Vs. Ebeneezer Scrooge (Michael Caine)

Hello & welcome back to Vs. Haven't done one of these in a while and this one has two firsts.  It's our first Christmas Vs. and also for the first time, we are looking at two different portrayals of the same character.  A Christmas Carol is my all time favorite Christmas story and three of my favorite versions of this tale have come from Disney.  I already mentioned that I really like the Jim Carrey movie, I think it's his  best role but I'm not here to focus on that one as there two that  are  more beloved..  From Mickey's Christmas Carol, Scrooge McDuck as Ebeneezer Scrooge and from The Muppet Christmas Carol,  Michael Caine as Mr. Scrooge.  Actually, we have a third first as this is also the first time we have an animated character going up against a real actor.  Should be fun.  Anyways, the categories will include Personality,  even though  we are looking at two versions of the same character,   let's see who brought more to it.  Interaction with,  ghosts, who had a better chemistry with the ghosts and quite frankly who I found engaging with these characters.   Defining Moment,  one of our usual moments here but which moment do I believe defines who the character is or was in this case  and also in a way, their wake up call.  Outcome, who  I think became a better person through his time with the ghosts and finally, The Film Factor. Who stood out more.   Now as to not cause any confusion,  I'll be referring to our Scrooge's by Scrooge McDuck and Michael Caine.  With that out of the way, let's begin.



Personality (Round 1)


Now this is the hardest area to judge because as I said I'm looking at two different versions of the same character.  Also I'm only looking at their personalities at the beginning.


Scrooge McDuck


With McDuck's Scrooge, Alan Young brings a lot to this character  and I think there is still a sense of likability to him and for some people that may work.  (See Sibling Rivalry review of A Christmas Carol (1984)) but I'm not sure that it works for me.  Don't get me wrong, it's good but I feel that Scrooge in the beginning truly needs to feel cold hearted and I don't get that with this Scrooge.





Michael Caine


Now this Scrooge,  this is how you do Scrooge.  He is just a cold hearted ruthless monster.   He doesn't care about anyone and you get the feeling that something tragic happened in his life that made  him so cold and cut off from the rest of the world and unlike my issue with Mickey's Christmas Carol, we  do learn how the town feels about Scrooge and it's clear they hate him.  In a way, it makes him more tragic because everyone hates him but of course, this is not without reason as he's done that to himself.   At the beginning of the film with Caine's Scrooge, he's easy to hate whereas with McDuck's,  I still find a few things to like about him.   For this reason,  I gotta give it to Caine....

Interaction With Ghosts (Round 2)




Scrooge McDuck


Both of these Scrooge's had great interaction with the ghosts.  They  were both very sincere in nature.   The thing I think I would've worried about with Mickey's Christmas Carol is that with them using Disney characters as the ghosts, I was afraid that it would take away from the story but here's the thing, I actually think it enhances the story and sure, some people have said that using Goofy as Marley was a mistake. Perhaps but I'm willing to overlook that hiccup because all of the other ghosts bring so much to the role,   Jiminy as Past with Scrooge uses hard love on him and it works well. Willie The Giant as Present is just so sincere and kind with Scrooge and Pete as Yet To Come, you can see scares Scrooge to death.  I love it.


Michael Caine


Now this is a tough area to judge because Caine's interaction with the Ghosts is pretty well and unlike Mickey's Christmas Carol, where I found it okay that they used classic Disney characters as the Ghosts, I think that would've distracted from the story in this one so using original characters was smart and they were all fun characters and I do think this Scrooge truly learned his lesson but I think Mickey's Christmas Carol did it better and the casting for the ghosts was ingenius.


McDuck

Defining Moment (Round 3)



Scrooge McDuck

Now for McDuck,  I feel that his Defining Moment/wake up call comes when he see the Crachit family and how they are just skating by on the meager meal they have and how much they care for each other without money and you can see how much Tiny Tim gets to Ebeneezer.  It breaks his heart and  you can see that he wants to change.    It's a touching moment and one of the highlights of the short.


Michael Caine

Just like McDuck, I think this Scrooge's true Defining Moment comes from his time with The Ghost of Christmas Present as it opens him up and it is one of the first steps we see in him becoming a better man.   Originally, I was going to go with When Love Is Gone as his Defining Moment but when rewatching this Christmas classic,   I observed that it is truly with Christmas Present that both Scrooges take steps into becoming better people and I think this one is more impactful as you can see how hurt Scrooge his by this point and for that reason, I have to give this round to...

Caine

Outcome  (Round 4)



Scrooge McDuck


Like I said earlier,   I felt there was still something to like about McDuck's Scrooge even before he learned his lesson.  I'm not saying the lesson doesn't have a huge impact but well, with McDuck's Scrooge, I almost feel that even without the ghosts, he could've changed his ways. I know, it's a stretch to say that but I honestly believe that. Perhaps that comes from the fact that they used McDuck who outside of this while still being stingy is a likable character.   As I stated, even before the arrival of the ghosts, I do see some kindness in McDuck's Scrooge. Yes, it's hidden but I see it.




Michael Caine


Now unlike McDuck's Scrooge, who I felt could've changed without the visits, that is not the case with Caine's Scrooge as I feel had he not been visited by the ghosts, he would still be a monster and I truly think that the visits had a greater impact on Caine's Scrooge as he became a nicer person and I really feel that the ice around his heart melted through the lessons he learned and it really shows.  In that instance,  this round goes to..


Caine

The Film Factor (The Final Round)


Okay,  so the score right now is Caine - 3, McDuck - 1.   Now Caine has pretty much wrapped up the win but let's see who's going to win The Final Round.



Scrooge McDuck

Again, using McDuck as Scrooge was the logical choice to use and I really like and I think he was a great character but I do feel that some of the other characters outshined him. He wasn't bad but some of the other characters are much more memorable then McDuck's Scrooge.


Michael Caine


Caine really threw himself into the role of Scrooge and even with him being surrounded by great Muppet characters, he is the best character as he is the standout character and really  throws himself into the role. When watching The Muppet Christmas Carol,  I forget that Caine is an actor and actually feel that he is Scrooge. For that reason alone, I have to give it to...

Caine

The End Result!


As much as I like both of these Scrooge's,   in the end,   Michael Caine takes home the win by 4 - 1.  What are your thoughts and who do you think is the best Scrooge.   These are two of my favorites.   Join me next time when I take a look at...


A Very Possible Christmas