Who is Leslie Bricusse? If you’ve watched the original Netflix animated Christmas movie Scrooge: A Christmas Carol You and your family may be asking yourself this very question, and you’re not the only one wanting more information about the film’s dedication.
After the last scene in Scrooge and before the credits roll, a beautiful gold ending card shares the message “in loving memory of Leslie Bricusse,” which will spark some curiosity from viewers unfamiliar with the name or his work.
Most often, dedications at the end of movies or shows are a way for the title to honor the legacy of a deceased cast or crew member, or someone associated with a cast or crew member. That is the case here as Scrooge is a tribute to a music legend.
So what exactly was Bricusse’s connection to Netflix’s latest animated Christmas movie?
Scrooge on Netflix: Devotion Explained by Leslie Bricusse
While some fans may already be familiar with Leslie Bricusse, others may not have known prior to watching the film that he was the British composer, playwright and lyricist who wrote the 1970 film Scrooge as well as the 1992 stage musical.
Bricusse also wrote the screenplay for the 2022 Netflix animated adaptation, which also featured a number of the songs he wrote for the film and subsequent play. Seeing Bricusse have the chance to continue the story of Ebeneezer Scrooge all over again is something very special for fans of his work, the character and the story.
Sadly, the Oscar- and Grammy-winning (and Tony-nominated) composer passed away in October 2021 before the film’s release. He lived to be 90 and died in his sleep.
Obviously when it comes to them Scrooge Legacy in pop culture is a big part of Leslie Bricusse. It’s wonderful that the film honors the legendary composer’s influence, as he didn’t see the final product he wrote and helped create to be released and enjoyed by a whole new generation. Let’s hope he’s celebrated again with nominations for the film.