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* [[Karen Allen]]
* [[John Forsythe]]
* [[Bobcat Goldthwait]]
* [[Carol Kane]]
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| cinematography = [[Michael Chapman (cinematographer)|Michael Chapman]]
| editing = [[Fredric Steinkamp]]<br />[[William Steinkamp]]
| studio = [[Mirage Enterprises|Mirage Productions]]
| distributor = [[Paramount Pictures]]
| released = {{Film date|1988|11|23}}
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}}
'''''Scrooged''''' is a 1988 American [[Christmas film|Christmas]] [[fantasy
''Scrooged'' was filmed on a $32 million budget over three months in New York City and Hollywood from December 1987 to March 1988. Murray returned to acting for the film after taking a four-year hiatus following the success of ''[[Ghostbusters]]'', which he found overwhelming, although he had a minor role in ''[[Little Shop of Horrors (1986 film)|Little Shop of Horrors]]''. Murray worked with Glazer and O'Donoghue on reworking the script before agreeing to join the project. The production was tumultuous, as Murray and Donner had different visions for the film. Murray described his time on the film as "misery", while Donner called Murray "superbly creative but occasionally difficult". Along with Murray's three brothers, [[Brian Doyle-Murray|Brian]], John and [[Joel Murray|Joel]], ''Scrooged'' features numerous celebrity cameos.
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== Plot ==
<!-- Per WP:FILMPLOT, plot summary should be between 400 to 700 words. -->
IBC Television executive Frank Cross is pushing for an extravagant live production of ''[[A Christmas Carol]]'' on Christmas Eve, making everyone work throughout the holiday. After showing his team a gruesome TV spot for the show, Frank fires executive Eliot Loudermilk for disagreeing with him.
Frank sends cheap IBC towels to most on his Christmas list, including his personal assistant Grace and his brother James, but the powerful and influential figures on his list get expensive [[Videocassette recorder|VCR]]s. Seeing Frank's stress from the production, his boss Preston Rhinelander brings in consultant Brice Cummings for assistance, who secretly wants Frank's job.
The night before the show, Frank is visited by the ghost of his past mentor Lew Hayward, an also unloved miser who died from a heart attack seven years prior. Lew warns him three more ghosts will appear over the next day to help him avoid the same fate. Before
As rehearsals start and Frank finishes lunch with Preston, he is visited by the [[Ghost of Christmas Past]], appearing as a manic taxi driver. He reminds him how he used television to compensate for a cold and distant father and how he fell in love with Claire but lost her when he prioritized his television career over her.
Afterwards, Frank goes to Claire's shelter to make amends. However, his attitude quickly sours and he shows his contempt for the homeless and the workers.
The [[Ghost of Christmas Present]] arrives as an ethereal, sweet-voiced fairy who punches, kicks and slaps Frank to
The Ghost then leaves him in a frozen utility space under a sidewalk with Herman, whom he met at the homeless shelter. To Frank's shock, Herman has frozen to death. Frank desperately tries to escape, breaking through a boarded-up door leading to the set of the production. Preston directs Brice to take over rehearsals to give Frank some time off. In his office he finds a drunken and deranged Eliot waiting for him. He's ready to shoot Frank for costing him his job, family, and home. ▼
Frank escapes into the elevator where the [[Death (personification)|Grim Reaper]]-like [[Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come|Ghost of Christmas Future]] awaits. It takes him to a future where a now-catatonic Calvin has been institutionalized. Claire has followed Frank's advice, leading to her marrying rich, living decadently, and viewing the homeless with disgust. Finally, the Ghost shows Frank's cremation ceremony, with only James and his wife present. Frightened and remorseful, having initially mistaken James as the deceased, Frank is further shocked to find himself about to be incinerated. He breaks out and emerges from the elevator to face Eliot, elated to be alive but oblivious that he is still trying to kill him. Frank's completely changed demeanor surprises Eliot, particularly when he offers him a high-level executive position, which he accepts. ▼
▲Frank desperately tries to escape, breaking through a boarded-up door leading to the set of the production. Preston directs Brice to take over rehearsals to give Frank some time off. In his office he finds a drunken and deranged Eliot waiting for him. He's ready to shoot Frank for costing him his job, family, and home.
Eliot helps Frank return to the production set, where he secures Brice in the control room and breaks into the live broadcast to speak of his new appreciation for life. He apologizes on-air to Grace, James, and the cast and crew, and makes a passionate plea to Claire. Claire sees this at the shelter and heads for the network with the help of the Ghost of Christmas Past. As Frank and Claire reunite, Calvin comes up, speaking for the first time, reminding him to say "God bless us, everyone", much to Grace's elation. ▼
▲Frank escapes into the elevator where the [[Death (personification)|Grim Reaper]]-like [[Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come|Ghost of Christmas Future]] awaits. It takes him to a future where a now-catatonic Calvin has been institutionalized. Claire has followed Frank's advice, leading to her marrying rich, living decadently, and viewing the homeless with disgust. Finally, the Ghost shows Frank's cremation ceremony, with only James and his wife present.
▲Eliot helps Frank return to the production set, where he secures Brice in the control room and breaks into the live broadcast to speak of his new appreciation for life. He apologizes on-air to Grace, James, and the cast and crew, and makes a passionate plea to Claire.
Frank leads the crew in singing "[[Put a Little Love in Your Heart]]", and sees Lew, the three Ghosts, and Herman's ghost smiling and waving back to him while singing along as the show ends. Then Frank encourages everyone in the theater to sing along. Watching at home, James hails Frank as "My brother, the King of Christmas".
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* [[Robert Mitchum]] as Preston Rhinelander
* [[Michael J. Pollard]] as Herman
* [[Alfre Woodard]] as Grace Cooley (based on [[Bob Cratchit]])
* [[David Johansen]] as the [[Ghost of Christmas Past]]
* Nicholas Phillips as Calvin Cooley (with Raphael Harris as an older Calvin)
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The film also features Murray's three brothers; [[Joel Murray]] cameos as a party guest, Brian Doyle-Murray plays Frank's father, and John Murray plays his on-screen brother James.<ref name="AMCBlog"/> The film also features the final appearance of the [[Solid Gold (TV series)#The Solid Gold Dancers|Solid Gold Dancers]].<ref name="MentalFloss"/> Comedian [[Sam Kinison]] was considered for the role of the Ghost of Christmas Past before it went to musician David Johansen, a personal friend of Murray's. Robert Mitchum cameos as Frank's boss Preston Rhinelander; the actor was not interested in the small role, but Donner asked him to meet with Murray, who convinced him to take the part.<ref name="MentalFloss"/> Lee Majors cameos as himself in the film after being contacted directly by Donner. Majors appears in the opening scene helping to save Santa Claus. Majors was armed with a stripped-down [[M134 Minigun]], the same one featured in ''[[Predator (film)|Predator]]'', which he found difficult to carry due to its weight.<ref name="AVCameo"/>
== Soundtrack ==
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''Scrooged'' was released on VHS and Laserdisc in 1989 and DVD in 1999. The DVD version was scheduled for re-release on October 31, 2006 as the "Yule Love It!" edition. This version was to include commentary by Donner, "On the set with Bill Murray", Murray's message from the [[National Association of Theatre Owners|ShoWest]] exhibitors convention, and other featurettes including "The Look of ''Scrooged''", "Updating Ebeneezer", "Bringing the Ghosts to Life" and "Christmas to Remember". Although Paramount promoted the "Yule Love It!" edition with images of a custom DVD case and a retail price as late as September that year, it missed its release date and it remains unreleased. The reason for this has not been disclosed.<ref name="HomeMediaIGN"/>
''Scrooged'' was released on [[Blu-ray]] on November 1, 2011. The release featured a 1080p resolution transfer of the original film and DTS HD Master Audio 5.1 quality sound. The release was criticized for only including the film's theatrical trailer, with [[Collider (website)|Collider]]'s Phil Brown saying "there must be some incredible behind-the-scenes stories to tell."<ref name="HomeMediaDVDT"/><ref name="HomeMediaCol"/><ref name="HomeMediaHDG"/> In August 2023, [[Paramount Pictures|Paramount]] Home Entertainment announced the 4K version of ''Scrooged'', being released November 7, 2023 for the film's 35th anniversary.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Seibold |first1=Witney |title=Bill Murray's Scrooged Is Getting A 35th Anniversary 4k Release With New Special Features |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/1378474/bill-murray-scrooged-35th-anniversary-4k-release-new-special-features/ |website=Slash Film |date=28 August 2023 |access-date=August 28, 2023}}</ref>
== Reception ==
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== Legacy ==
Since its release, ''Scrooged'' has become a [[Cult following|cult classic]]<ref name="LegacyIGN"/> and a Christmas classic, being regularly shown on television during the holiday period. ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''{{'}}s Whitney Pastorek called it an immortal classic and argued that it is the most underrated Christmas movie. Pastorek said that the film is "both crude and sentimental, resonant and ludicrous...''Scrooged'' is the perfect holiday movie for bitter, reluctant, closet Christmas lovers".<ref name="LegacyEW"/> ''[[The Boston Globe]]''{{'}}s [[Maura Johnston]] said that the film was ahead of its time which allowed it to remain relevant years later.<ref name="LegacyBoston"/>
''PopMatters'' said that their view of the ongoing commercialization of Christmas, and the film's anticipation of marketing tactics aimed at pets watching television, made the film more relevant now than at the time of its release.<ref name="LegacyBoston"/><ref name="LegacyPOP"/> In 2012, ''Den of Geek!'' described it as the "finest Christmas comedy of all time".<ref name="LegacyDOG"/> Al Green's and Annie Lennox's "Put a Little Love in your Heart" is also played regularly at Christmas despite not being about or mentioning Christmas.<ref name="LegacyBoston"/> O'Donoghue disavowed the film before his death, stating that the script was much funnier than what ended up on screen.<ref name="AVODono"/>
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<ref name="LATimesOliver">{{cite web|url=https://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 - |work=Los Angeles Times |date=December 4, 1988|access-date=June 29, 2014 |first=Robert |last=Koehler |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130629162124/http://articles.latimes.com/1988-12-04/entertainment/ca-1175_1_oliver-twist |archive-date=June 29, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="LegacyBoston">{{cite web |first=Maura |last=Johnston |author-link=Maura Johnston |title=Bill Murray twisted Christmas in 'Scrooged' |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/movies/2014/12/19/bill-murray-twisted-christmas-scrooged/0JDZw9fZrEMh2R7n4bgjdI/story.html |date=December 20, 2014 |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |access-date=January 14, 2018 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180114183445/https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/movies/2014/12/19/bill-murray-twisted-christmas-scrooged/0JDZw9fZrEMh2R7n4bgjdI/story.html |archive-date=January 14, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="LegacyCollider">{{cite web |first=Dave |last=Trumbore |title='A Christmas Carol' Adaptations Ranked from "Bah Humbug!"to "God Bless Us Everyone!" |url=https://collider.com/a-christmas-carol-adaptations-ranked/#scrooged-bill-murray-1988 |date=December 8, 2017 |website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]] |access-date=January 14, 2018 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180114220322/http://collider.com/a-christmas-carol-adaptations-ranked/%23scrooged-bill-murray-1988 |archive-date=January 14, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>
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