Anyone who really loves A Christmas Carol should get the book The Annotated Christmas Carol
http://www.wwnorton.com/catalog/fall03/005158.htm I've read it several times and highly recommend it.
I remember going to see Scrooge at the Michael Todd Theatre in Chicago with my class when I was 10. Nowdays when it's shown on TV, the part in the musical where Scrooge goes to hell is edited out because it's considered too traumatic for younger viewers. Being a little warped myself, I absolutely love the part where Scrooge's coffin is carried out while his back is turned, and then he follows the procession down the street singing "Thank you very much thank you very much it's the nicest thing that anyone's ever done for me" without realising it's his death that everyone is celebrating.
As for versions, I probably like the 1951 version with Alistair Sim the best.
