Like Ebenezer collapsing under the weight of his self-loathing and misanthropic approach to life, you too might feel overwhelmed by the choice of Dickens adaptations this time of year. There are so many film versions of “A Christmas Carol”, many of them decent and a few of them very good. But if you haven’t yet seen it, it’s time to direct your attention to Scrooge, from 1970.

This excellent film starring Albert Finney, Alec Guinness, Edith Evans, Kenneth More and David Collings probably won’t win over any non-musical fans, but is worth checking out for the production design, performances, and moments of weirdness. Also, the songs.

I won’t blame you if you’re tired of it by now, but “Pure Imagination” from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory is still an undeniably great song. One of the cowriters of that soundtrack – Leslie Bricusse - wrote the music and songs for Scrooge, and catchy numbers like “Christmas Children”, “I Like Life”, and “Thank You Very Much” belong on any self-respecting Christmas music fan’s seasonal rotation.

This version has grown on me over the years and you might not take to it at first. But give it a chance and see if the music and fine depictions of Scrooge, Marley, Isabel, and Cratchit don’t stick with you after the credits roll. From the opening titles (Ronald Searle’s amazing drawings) to the strange reappearance of Marley near the end (with an extended sequence in Hell!) this iteration of Dickens’ immortal classic is worth experiencing.