Oranges and Lemons - Cultural References - in Film and Television

In Film and Television

  • In the 1951 film Scrooge, a triumphant version of the tune "Oranges and Lemons" is heard when Ebenezer Scrooge (Alastair Sim) sees the Ghost of Christmas Present for the first time. He enters a room and finds it brightly decorated by the ghost.
  • An instrumental version of the rhyme's melody appears in the 1973 film The Wicker Man as "Chop Chop". The tune soundtracks a scene in which characters, chanting "chop chop", conduct a ceremony with swords reminiscent of the children's party game mentioned above.
  • The tune makes a brief appearance in Howard Blake's score for the 1982 animated film The Snowman, in a scene in which the Snowman is trying different fruits for his nose.
  • The Interrogator sings the last two lines near the end of the 1991 film Closet Land.
  • Steve Martland's arrangement of "Oranges and Lemons" is used in Songs for Dead Children, a 24-minute animated film by the Quay Brothers (2003).
  • In The Avengers episode "Too Many Christmas Trees," Mrs. Peel and John Steed sing this song to close their minds from telepathic influences.
  • In The Old Dark House (1963), Casper frequently quotes lines from "Oranges and Lemons".
  • In Being Human Season 2, Coroner Stephen Quinn quotes this to the vampire, John Mitchell, "Here comes the candle to light you to bed, Here comes the chopper to chop off your head."
  • In NCIS (TV series) both Season 2, Episode 8, and Season 8, Episode 18, S Donald "Ducky" Mallard sings the line "Here comes a candle to light you to bed, Here comes a chopper to chop off your head. Chop chop chop chop"
  • In Doctor Who Series 6 Episode 11 The God Complex, Joe (the first captive "guest" to be sacrificed) refers to the line "Here comes a candle to light you to bed, Here comes a chopper to chop off your head. Chop chop chop chop"
  • Jamie Oliver sings the first verse whilst making a Bakewell tart and St. Clements icing during episode 4 of Jamie's Great Britain.
  • The Wiggles perform a TV-friendly version on their television show "Wiggle and Learn" with the line "Here comes the chopper to chop off your head" replaced with "Here comes a teddy to guide you to bed."
  • In the 1943 film The Seventh Victim, the character Mary Gibson (played by Kim Hunter) sings the final two lines to her kindergarten class.

Read more about this topic:  Oranges And Lemons, Cultural References

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