A Christmas Carol (1984 film)
| A Christmas Carol | |
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| Directed by | Clive Donner |
| Produced by | George F. Storke |
| Written by | Roger O. Hirson Charles Dickens (novel) |
| Starring | George C. Scott Frank Finlay David Warner Susannah York Edward Woodward Roger Rees |
| Country | United Kingdom/United States |
| Language | English |
| Original channel | CBS |
| Release date | 17 December 1984 |
| Running time | 100 minutes |
A Christmas Carol is a 1984 made-for-television film adaptation of Charles Dickens' famous 1843 novella of the same name. The film is directed by Clive Donner who had been an editor of the 1951 film Scrooge and stars George C. Scott as Ebenezer Scrooge. The film was well received and is considered by many as one of the best adaptations of the classic tale.[1]
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[edit] Plot
In the Victorian period, Ebenezer Scrooge (George C. Scott) is a cynical and embittered old man whose greatest concern is money, and who regards compassion as a luxury he cannot afford. On Christmas Eve, Scrooge is visited by the ghost of Jacob Marley (Frank Finlay), his former business partner, who, as a result of his greed and mistreatment of the poor, is doomed to walk the earth forevermore, never to find rest or peace, fettered in chains of his own sins. Marley arranges for Scrooge to be visited by three spirits in an attempt to show him the errors of his ways and avoid the same horrid afterlife — the Ghosts of Christmases Past (Angela Pleasence), Present (Edward Woodward), and Yet to Come (Michael Carter). The spirits force Scrooge to examine the failings of his own life, as well as the bravery and optimism of his loyal but ill-treated employee Bob Cratchit (David Warner). Scrooge reforms, learning to keep the spirit of Christmas alive in his heart, ultimately becoming a well-loved and respected man.
[edit] Cast
- George C. Scott - Ebenezer Scrooge
- Frank Finlay - Marley's Ghost
- Angela Pleasence - Ghost of Christmas Past
- Edward Woodward - Ghost of Christmas Present
- Michael Carter - Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come
- David Warner - Bob Cratchit
- Susannah York - Mrs. Cratchit
- Anthony Walters - Tiny Tim Crachit
- Roger Rees - Fred Hollywell
- Caroline Langrishe - Janet Hollywell
- Lucy Gutteridge - Belle (Scrooge's unappreciated fiancée)
- Nigel Davenport - Silas Scrooge (Ebenezer's and Fan's father)
- Mark Strickson - Young Ebenezer Scrooge
- Joanne Whalley - Fan Scrooge (Ebenezer's beloved sister and Fred's mother)
- Timothy Bateson - Mr. Fezziwig
- Michael Gough - Mr. Poole
- John Quarmby - Mr. Harking
- Peter Woodthorpe - Old Joe
- Liz Smith - Mrs. Dilber
- Dennis Morgan - A village gentleman
[edit] Production
The movie was filmed on location in Shrewsbury, England. It originally aired on CBS on December 17, 1984 in the United States but was released theatrically in Great Britain. The United States debut was sponsored by IBM, which purchased all the commercial spots for the two-hour premier. The film was marketed with the tagline "A new powerful presentation of the most loved ghost story of all time!" Scott was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Special for his portrayal in A Christmas Carol.
The movie has run in syndication on local American channels since it debuted in 1984, earning a loyal fanbase, but was not released to VHS until 1995 and to DVD in 1999. This was because Scott himself (and later his estate through Baxter Healthcare, to whom the Scott family donated their copyright) owned the rights to this film. On November 25, 2007 it returned to national television on AMC for the first time since its debut. The network ran the movie throughout the Christmas season. AMC also ran the movie throughout the 2008 Christmas season. In 2009, the Hallmark Channel also began running the movie soon after Thanksgiving and will continue to throughout the holiday season. It remains one of the most beloved adaptations of A Christmas Carol. During 2009 the film was re-released on DVD by 20th Century Fox, with updated box art, but the same menu and features as the previous DVD release. It was released on Blu-ray in December 2010 by 20th Century Fox.
[edit] Critical response
Novelist and essayist Louis Bayard, writing for Salon.com, described this adaptation as "the definitive version of a beloved literary classic", praising its fidelity to Dickens' original story, the strength of the supporting cast, and especially Scott's performance as Scrooge.[2]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Bayard, Louis (December 24, 2009). "The best "Christmas Carol" ever". Salon.com. http://www.salon.com/ent/movies/feature/2009/12/24/christmas_carol/index.html. Retrieved December 25, 2009.
- ^ Bayard, Louis (December 24, 2009). "The best "Christmas Carol" ever". Salon.com. http://www.salon.com/ent/movies/feature/2009/12/24/christmas_carol/index.html. Retrieved December 25, 2009.
[edit] External links
- A Christmas Carol at the Internet Movie Database
- A Christmas Carol at AllRovi
- A Christmas Carol at Rotten Tomatoes
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