Description
THE STINGIEST MAN IN TOWN – 1956 – BASIL RATHBONE – VIC DAMONE – PATRICE MUNSEL
Fred Spielman and Janice Torre’s brilliantly entertaining and moving musical adaptation of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol, in a 1956 television production starring Basil Rathbone as Scrooge. Featuring Vic Damone as Young Scrooge, and Patrice Munsel as his boyhood sweetheart, Belle. The cast also includes Johnny Desmond, Martyn Green, and Robert Weede. Live telecast of December 23, 1956.
B&W, 81 minutes, 4:3, All regions
“The Holy Grail of lost Dickensian television adaptations has finally been found!”
– Fred Guida, charlesdickensonscreen.com
THE STINGIEST MAN IN TOWN
A Musical Play in Three Acts
Music by Fred Spielman
Book and Lyrics by Janice Torre
Directed by Daniel Petrie
Produced by Joel Spector
Choreography by John Heawood
Old Scrooge: Basil Rathbone
Young Scrooge: Vic Damone
Belle, Scrooge’s Boyhood Sweetheart: Patrice Munsel
Fred, Scrooge’s Nephew: Johnny Desmond
Betty, Wife of Fred: Olive Dunbar
Bob Cratchit: Martyn Green
Mrs. Cratchit: Alice Frost
Ghost of Jacob Marley: Robert Weede
Ghost of Christmas-Past: Ian Martin
Ghost of Christmas-Present: Robert Wright
Narrator-Carolers / Beggars: The Four Lads
(Frank Busseri, Bernie Toorish, Jimmy Arnold, Connie Codarini)
Two Gentlemen: John McGiver, John McGovern
Mrs. Dilber, Scrooge’s Charwoman: Phillipa Bevans
Hawkins, a Ragpicker: John Heawood
Mr. Fezziwig: Bryan Herbert
The Cratchit Children:
Martha: Betty Madigan • Tiny Tim: Dennis Kohler • Peter: Richard Morse
Annie: Karin Wolfe • Belinda: Karyl Ann Traum • Billie: Carson Woods
An Urchin: Stephen Meininger
Ghost of Christmas-Yet-to-Come: Keith Herrington
The Jerry Packer Chorus
Orchestra Conducted by Camarata
