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'{{Infobox film | name = Scrooged | image = Scrooged film poster.JPG | caption = Theatrical release poster | director = [[Richard Donner]] | producer = Richard Donner<br />[[Art Linson]] | screenplay = [[Mitch Glazer]]<br />[[Michael O'Donoghue]] | based on = {{basedon|''[[A Christmas Carol]]''|[[Charles Dickens]]}} | starring = {{Plainlist| * [[Bill Murray]] * [[Karen Allen]] * [[John Forsythe]] * [[Bobcat Goldthwait]] * [[Carol Kane]] * [[Robert Mitchum]] * [[Michael J. Pollard]] * [[Alfre Woodard]]}} | music = [[Danny Elfman]] | cinematography = [[Michael Chapman (cinematographer)|Michael Chapman]] | editing = [[Fredric Steinkamp]]<br />[[William Steinkamp]] | studio = Mirage Productions | distributor = [[Paramount Pictures]] | released = {{Film date|1988|11|23}} | runtime = 101 minutes | country = United States | language = English | budget = $32 million | gross = $60.3 million }} '''''Scrooged''''' is a 1988 American [[Christmas film|Christmas]] [[fantasy film|fantasy]] [[comedy film]] directed and produced by [[Richard Donner]]. A [[List of modernized retellings of old stories|modernization]] of [[Charles Dickens]]'s ''[[A Christmas Carol]]'' written by [[Mitch Glazer]] and [[Michael O'Donoghue]], it stars [[Billy Murray]] as Frank Cross, a depraved television executive who is soon visited by three ghosts to help him change his behavior and understand the true understanding of Christmas. The film also stars [[Karen Allen]], [[Bobcat Goldthwait]], [[Alfre Woodard]], [[John Forsythe]], [[Carol Kane]], [[John Houseman]], and [[Robert Mitchum]] in supporting roles, as well as Murray's brothers [[Brian Doyle-Murray|Brian]], [[John Murray (actor)|John]], and [[Joel Murray|Joel]]. The score was composed by [[Danny Elfman]]. Upon its release on November 23, 1988 by [[Paramount Pictures]], the film received mostly positive reviews from critics and grossed $60.3 million at the box office during its theatrical run. ==Plot== IBC Television president Frank Cross is pushing his company to broadcast an extravagant live production of ''[[A Christmas Carol]]'' on Christmas Eve, making the staff work up through and on the holiday. The stress of preparing the production causes Frank to fire executive Eliot Loudermilk for disagreeing with him, and sending cheap IBC-monogrammed towels to all on his Christmas list, including his personnel assistant Grace, and his brother James. Frank's boss Preston Rhinelander, seeing the stress Frank is under, brings in Brice Cummings to assist the production, though Brice secretly wants Frank's job. Hours before the show, Frank is visited by the ghost of his mentor Lew Hayward, who warns him three more ghosts will appear that night. Before it vanishes, the ghost dials up Claire Phillips, Frank's lost love from years ago. Claire comes to the network to talk to Frank, but Frank does not make time for her, and she returns to the homeless shelter where she works. As production starts, Frank is visited by the Ghost of Christmas Past, appearing as a taxi driver. He takes Frank to see his past: how he found solace in television after his mother left his father, and how he had fallen in love with Claire but lost her favor when he favored his television career over her. When back in the present, Frank goes to see Claire, hoping to make amends. However, his attitude quickly sours when he refuses to buy Herman, one of the homeless, a cup of coffee, and after Claire's co-workers pester her about Frank's disdain for the homeless. He returns back to the studio. The Ghost of Christmas Present arrives as a passive-aggressive fairy. She takes him to show him that Grace struggles to make ends meet for her large family, including her youngest Calvin who has remained mute since his father died, and then shows him James, who still respects Frank as his brother despite declining invitations to his Christmas celebrations and cheap gifts. The Ghost leaves him in a utility space under a sidewalk with Herman, frozen to death due to Frank's selfishness. Frank desperately tries to escape, breaking through a boarded up door to end back up on the set of the production. Preston directs Brice to take over production to give Frank some time off. Retiring to his office, Frank finds Eliot waiting for him with a shotgun, as after being fired, Eliot lost everything. Frank escapes into the elevator where the reaper-like Ghost of Christmas Future awaits. The Ghost takes him to see the future, where Grace had to put Calvin in a mental institution, and Claire had heeded Frank's words and shunned the homeless to become part of the elite. Finally, the Ghost shows Frank's cremation ceremony, with only James and his wife in attendance. Frank, having come to a revelation about his life, is shocked when he finds himself in the coffin as is it about to be incinerated, and breaks his way out, ending up back out of the elevator facing Eliot. Frank's completely changed demeanor surprises Eliot, particularly when Frank offers him a high-level executive position. With Eliot's help, Frank returns to the production, secures Brice in the control room, and breaks the show's live broadcast to speak of his new appreciation for life. He apologizes on air to Grace and James, and makes a passionate plea to Claire to come back to him. Claire sees this at the shelter, and makes for the network with the help of the Ghost of Christmas Past. As Frank and Claire reunite, Calvin comes up to Frank and speaks for the first time, reminding him to say the closing words of the ''Carol'', "God bless us, everyone", much to Grace's elation. Frank leads the crew in singing "[[Put a Little Love in Your Heart]]", and sees Lew, the three Ghosts, and the ghost of Herman smile and wave back to him. ==Cast== {{div col|2}} *[[Bill Murray]] as Francis Xavier "Frank" Cross *[[Karen Allen]] as Claire Phillips *[[John Forsythe]] as Lew Hayward *[[John Glover (actor)|John Glover]] as Brice Cummings *[[Alfre Woodard]] as Grace Cooley *[[Bobcat Goldthwait]] as Eliot Loudermilk *[[David Johansen]] as the [[Ghost of Christmas Past]] *[[Carol Kane]] as the [[Ghost of Christmas Present]] *[[Robert Mitchum]] as Preston Rhinelander *Nicholas Phillips as Calvin Cooley *[[Michael J. Pollard]] as Herman *[[Mary Ellen Trainor]] as Ted *[[Mabel King]] as Gramma *[[John Murray (actor)|John Murray]] as James Cross *[[Wendie Malick]] as Wendie Cross *[[Brian Doyle-Murray]] as Earl Cross, Frank and James' father *[[Joel Murray]] as Guest *[[Delores Hall]] as Hazel {{div col end}} ==Production== {{expand section|accessdate=December 2017}} Murray has told [[Roger Ebert]] and ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' that he did not get along with film director [[Richard Donner]] during production, stating that they would disagree with each other.<ref>{{cite web|last=Ebert|first=Roger|title=BILL MURRAY, "QUICK CHANGE" ARTIST|date=13 July 2015|publisher=''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]''|url=http://www.rogerebert.com/interviews/bill-murray-quick-change-artist|accessdate=12 July 2015}}</ref><ref name=entertainment>{{cite news|last=Meyers|first=Kate|title=A Bill Murray filmography|date=19 March 1993|publisher=''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''|url=http://www.ew.com/article/1993/03/19/bill-murray-filmography|accessdate=28 May 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Mullins|first=Jenna|title=NEWS/ 56 Facts You May Not Know About Your Favorite Holiday Films|date=18 December 2014|publisher=''[[E! News]]''|url=http://www.eonline.com/news/607359/56-facts-you-may-not-know-about-your-favorite-holiday-films|accessdate=17 June 2015}}</ref> Donner said of Murray: "He's superbly creative but occasionally difficult - as difficult as any actor."<ref>{{cite web|last=Puskar|first=Susan|title=Bill Murray is a creep in the role of 'Scrooge'|date=18 December 1988|publisher=''[[The Blade (Toledo)|The Blade]]''|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1350&dat=19881218&id=2FBPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9wIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6934,519903&hl=en|accessdate=17 June 2015}}</ref> ==Release== ===Box office=== ''Scrooged'' was a moderate box office hit taking in $13,027,842 on its opening weekend from 1,262 theaters. It went on to become the 13th highest-grossing film of 1988 finishing with $60,328,558.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.latimes.com/1988-12-04/entertainment/ca-1175_1_oliver-twist |title='Oliver' and 'Scrooged'-Fast-Food McDickens : Any resemblance between the movies and the classics is strictly coincidental - Los Angeles Times |publisher=Articles.latimes.com |date=1988-12-04 |accessdate=2013-10-04 |first=Robert |last=Koehler}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.latimes.com/1988-12-20/entertainment/ca-477_1_weekend-box-office |title=WEEKEND BOX OFFICE : Laughing All the Way - Los Angeles Times |publisher=Articles.latimes.com |date=1988-01-26 |accessdate=2013-10-04 |first=John |last=Voland}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.latimes.com/1988-12-28/entertainment/ca-817_1_weekend-gross |title=Weekend Box Office - Los Angeles Times |publisher=Articles.latimes.com |date=1988-12-28 |accessdate=2013-10-04 |first=John |last=Voland}}</ref> ===Reception=== The film maintains a 69% approval rating on aggregator website [[Rotten Tomatoes]] based on 42 reviews; the site's consensus states: "''Scrooged'' gets by with Bill Murray and a dash of holiday spirit, although it's hampered by a markedly conflicted tone and an undercurrent of mean-spiritedness."<ref name="Tomatoes">{{rotten-tomatoes|id=scrooged|title=Scrooged}}</ref> On ''[[Siskel & Ebert & The Movies]]'', [[Gene Siskel]] gave it thumbs up while [[Roger Ebert]] gave it thumbs down.<ref>[http://bventertainment.go.com/tv/buenavista/atm/reviews.html?sec=1&subsec=62 ''Siskel & Ebert & The Movies'' review]</ref> [[The Washington Post]]'s review cites: "While "Scrooged" will never become a seasonal tradition in the mold of "Miracle on 34th Street" or "It's a Wonderful Life" (it will date rather quickly, for one thing, and it will either scare, or sail over, the heads of the kiddie crowd), it should provide plenty of holiday jollies this year."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/scroogedbrown.htm |title='Scrooged' (PG-13) |publisher=Washingtonpost.com |date=1988-11-25 |accessdate=2013-10-04}}</ref> [[BBC]] was positive about the film, stating "As far as surprises go, there aren't many, since the movie pretty much sticks to the original tale, albeit setting it in modern times and throwing in a love interest in the shape of all-round goodybags Claire (Allen). But that's not the point. This is Murray's show and by the end, you'll find it difficult not to start singing yourself (for those who haven't seen it - you'll soon get the picture)."<ref>{{cite web|author= Ben Falk|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2000/11/28/scrooged_1988_review.shtml |title=Films - review - Scrooged |publisher=BBC |date=2000-11-28 |accessdate=2013-10-04}}</ref> ===Awards=== ''Scrooged'' was nominated at the [[62nd Academy Awards]] for [[Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling|Best Makeup]]. It was also nominated for three [[16th Saturn Awards|Saturn Awards]]: [[Saturn Award for Best Fantasy Film|Best Fantasy Film]], [[Saturn Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]] for Bill Murray, and [[Saturn Award for Best Special Effects|Best Special Effects]]. Danny Elfman's score won a [[BMI Awards|BMI Award]]. ==DVD and Blu-ray== Although the DVD had been available for some time, Paramount decided upon a special edition release titled the ''Yule Love It! Edition''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/47089/scrooged/ |title=Scrooged : DVD Talk Review of the DVD Video |publisher=Dvdtalk.com |date= |accessdate=2013-10-04}}</ref> Announced for October 31, 2006, it was never released for unknown reasons. Special features to be included were:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dvdizzy.com/scrooged.html|title=Scrooged Blu-ray Review|publisher=}}</ref> * Audio commentary by Richard Donner * Bill Murray's message from the ShoWest exhibitors convention * "A Christmas to Remember" featurette * "Updating Ebenezer" featurette * "Bringing Ghosts to Life" featurette * "The Look of Scrooged" featurette * "On the Set with Bill Murray" featurette The Blu-ray was released on November 1, 2011 with a DTS HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack and the film's theatrical trailer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/51885/scrooged/ |title=Scrooged (Blu-ray) : DVD Talk Review of the Blu-ray |publisher=Dvdtalk.com |date= |accessdate=2013-10-04}}</ref> ==Soundtrack and score== {{Infobox album <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Albums --> | Name = Scrooged | Type = soundtrack | Artist = various artists | Cover = Scrooged Original Motion Picture Soundtrack cover.jpg | Alt = | Released = 1989 | Recorded = | Genre = | Length = {{Duration|m=37|s=50}} | Label = [[A&M Records|A&M]] | Producer = | Misc = {{Singles | Name = Scrooged | Type = soundtrack | Single 1 = [[Put a Little Love in Your Heart#Annie Lennox & Al Green version|Put a Little Love in Your Heart]] | Single 1 date = October 1988<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.45cat.com/record/recordus94|title=Annie Lennox And Al Green - Put A Little Love In Your Heart|publisher=}}</ref> | Single 2 = [[The Love You Take]] | Single 2 date = December 1988<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.45cat.com/record/am1264|title=Dan Hartman And Denise Lopez - The Love You Take|publisher=}}</ref> | Single 3 = The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire) | Single 3 date = December 1988<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.45cat.com/record/am487|title=Natalie Cole - The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)|publisher=}}</ref> | Single 4 = We Three Kings Of Orient Are | Single 4 date = 1988<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Miles-Davis-Larry-Carlton-David-Sanborn-Paul-Shaffer-We-Three-Kings-Of-Orient-Are/release/4119093|title=Miles Davis, Larry Carlton, David Sanborn & Paul Shaffer - We Three Kings Of Orient Are|publisher=}}</ref> | Single 5 = A Wonderful Life | Single 5 date = 1988<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Mark-Lennon-A-Wonderful-Life/release/5179129|title=Mark Lennon - A Wonderful Life|publisher=}}</ref> | Single 6 = Sweetest Thing | Single 6 date = 1988<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/New-Voices-Of-Freedom-Sweetest-Thing/release/8922132|title=New Voices Of Freedom - Sweetest Thing|publisher=}}</ref> | Single 7 = Christmas Must Be Tonight | Single 7 date = 1988<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Robbie-Robertson-Christmas-Must-Be-Tonight/release/5370280|title=Robbie Robertson - Christmas Must Be Tonight|publisher=}}</ref> }} }} In 1989, [[A&M Records]] released the soundtrack to ''Scrooged'', which features 9 songs. {{Track listing | headline = Track listing<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.discogs.com/viewimages?release=2176370 |title=Images for Scrooged - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack |publisher=[[Discogs]] |accessdate=March 22, 2012}}</ref> | extra_column = Artist | writing_credits = yes | title1 = [[Put a Little Love in Your Heart#Annie Lennox & Al Green version|Put a Little Love in Your Heart]] | writer1 = [[Jackie DeShannon]], Randy Myers, [[Jimmy Holiday]] | extra1 = [[Annie Lennox]] & [[Al Green]] | length1 = 3:48 | title2 = A Wonderful Life | writer2 = [[Judson Spence]], Monroe Jones | extra2 = Mark Lennon | length2 = 4:19 | title3 = [[Sweetest Thing]] | writer3 = [[U2]] | extra3 = New Voices of Freedom featuring Adriane McDonald & George Pendergrass | length3 = 4:12 | title4 = [[The Love You Take]] | writer4 = [[Dan Hartman]] | extra4 = Dan Hartman & [[Denise Lopez (American singer)|Denise Lopez]] | length4 = 4:21 | title5 = Get Up 'n' Dance | writer5 = L. Mallison, [[Kool Moe Dee|Mohandas Dewese]], R. Isaacs | extra5 = [[Kool Moe Dee]] | length5 = 4:09 | title6 = [[We Three Kings|We Three Kings of Orient Are]] | writer6 = [[John Henry Hopkins, Jr.]] | extra6 = [[Miles Davis]], [[Larry Carlton]], [[David Sanborn]] & [[Paul Shaffer]] | length6 = 4:43 | title7 = Christmas Must Be Tonight | writer7 = [[Robbie Robertson]] | extra7 = Robbie Robertson | length7 = 4:51 | title8 = [[Brown Eyed Girl]] | writer8 = [[Van Morrison]] | extra8 = [[David Johansen|Buster Poindexter]] | length8 = 3:34 | title9 = [[The Christmas Song|The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)]] | writer9 = [[Mel Tormé]], [[Robert Wells (songwriter)|Robert Wells]] | extra9 = [[Natalie Cole]] | length9 = 3:53 }} [[Al Green]] and [[Annie Lennox]]'s version of the song "[[Put a Little Love in Your Heart]]", featured in the film, reached #9 in the US, and was a top 40 hit in several countries worldwide. ==See also== {{Portal|Film|Christmas}} * [[List of ghost films]] * [[List of Christmas films]] ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== {{wikiquote}} * {{IMDb title|0096061|Scrooged}} * {{Mojo title|scrooged|Scrooged}} * {{rotten-tomatoes|scrooged|Scrooged}} * {{AllRovi movie|43277|Scrooged}} {{A Christmas Carol}} {{Richard Donner}} [[Category:1988 films]] [[Category:1980s fantasy films]] [[Category:1980s ghost films]] [[Category:1980s romantic comedy films]] [[Category:American Christmas films]] [[Category:American fantasy-comedy films]] [[Category:American films]] [[Category:American ghost films]] [[Category:American romantic comedy films]] [[Category:Christmas comedy films]] [[Category:English-language films]] [[Category:Films scored by Danny Elfman]] [[Category:Films about television]] [[Category:Films based on A Christmas Carol]] [[Category:Films directed by Richard Donner]] [[Category:Films set in New York City]] [[Category:Films set in the 1950s]] [[Category:Films set in the 1960s]] [[Category:Films set in the 1970s]] [[Category:Films set in the 1980s]] [[Category:Films shot in Toronto]] [[Category:Paramount Pictures films]] [[Category:Screenplays by Michael O'Donoghue]] [[Category:Screenplays by Mitch Glazer]]'