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The Stingiest Man in Town is an animated version of the 1956 Alcoa Hour special based on Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, produced by Rankin/Bass and originally broadcast on NBC on December 23, 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., whose name is a pun off Scrooge's most famous catchphrase "Bah, Humbug."

Synopsis[]

Stingiestman1

Scrooge with the Ghost of Christmas Present.

The tale of Ebenezer Scrooge is told through the perspective of narrator B.A.H. Humbug, whose name is of course a word play on Scrooge's catchphrase, "bah humbug". Scrooge is a tightwad, with his consistent resistance to assist the poor or even have Christmas dinner with his nephew Fred and his family. In hopes of resuscitating the goodness of his one-time friend, the ghost of Jacob Marley, 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.

Stingiest14

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 and realizes how cryptic he has become. The Ghost of Christmas Present proceeds to take Scrooge to the home of his diligent employee Bob Cratchit and discovers just how much poverty the family, including crippled son Tiny Tim, wallow in. Finally, he is visited by The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, who shows Scrooge that he will die all alone, which leads Scrooge to beg for forgiveness. 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[]

The special contains the following songs, all from the original special:

Broadcast history[]

Sometime after its initial airing on NBC, Telepictures Corporation (later Lorimar-Telepictures) syndicated the special to local television stations in the 1980s during the Christmas season. On cable, the special aired on the Disney Channel in the 1980s and on Fox Family (now Freeform) as part of the 25 Days of Christmas block in the 1990s.

Availability[]

After acquiring the distribution rights to the post-1973 Rankin/Bass specials, Warner Home Video released The Stingiest Man in Town on VHS in 1993. Currently, the special has never had its own individual DVD release; it was instead made available on Warner's Classic Christmas Favorites box set in 2008. It was later included in the Rankin/Bass TV Holiday Favorites Collection manufacture-on-demand DVD, originally released by Warner Archive on July 30, 2012. The latter DVD was re-released (as a pressed disc) as part of The Complete Rankin/Bass Christmas Collection box set on October 18, 2022. The special made its physical high-definition debut on the Complete Rankin/Bass Christmas Collection's Blu-ray version, released in October 2023.

Cast[]

B A H HumbugEsq

B.A.H. Humbug, the story's narrator.

Voice actor/actress Character
Walter Matthau Ebenezer Scrooge (adult)
Robert Morse Ebenezer Scrooge (young)
Tom Bosley B.A.H. Humbug, Esq.
Theodore Bikel Jacob Marley
Dennis Day Fred
Paul Frees The Ghost of Christmas Past
The Ghost of Christmas Present
Sonny Melendrez Bob Cratchit
Debbie Clinger Martha Cratchit
Robert Rolofson Tiny Tim
Steffani Calli Belinda Cratchit
Eric Hines Peter Cratchit
Darlene Conley Mrs. Cratchit
Shelby Flint Belle
Dee Stratton Fred's Wife
Diana Lee Additional voices

Gallery[]

External links[]

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Rankin/Bass
Rudolph the Red-Nosed ReindeerCricket on the HearthThe Little Drummer BoyFrosty the SnowmanSanta Claus is Comin' to Town • "A Christmas Tree" • 'Twas the Night Before ChristmasThe Year Without a Santa ClausThe First Christmas: The Story of the First Christmas SnowFrosty's Winter WonderlandRudolph's Shiny New YearThe Little Drummer Boy, Book IINestor, the Long-Eared Christmas DonkeyThe Stingiest Man in TownRudolph and Frosty's Christmas in JulyJack FrostPinocchio's ChristmasThe Leprechauns' Christmas GoldThe Life and Adventures of Santa ClausSanta, Baby!
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