Thursday, December 25, 2014

December 25 - A Christmas Carol (1984)

Today’s movie is a fantasy drama with scenes that happen on December 25.  Watch it Tonight and enjoy.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL (1984)        

Ebenezer Scrooge is a miserly moneylender who thinks Christmas is “humbug” and mistreats his employee, Bob Cratchit. He only very reluctantly agrees to give Cratchit Christmas day off. Scrooge refuses an invitation from his nephew Fred to dine with him the next day.  On his way home Scrooge meets Bob Cratchit’s crippled son, Tiny Tim, and refuses to make a contribution to aid the poor and needy.  In Scrooge’s large, empty house the ghost of his dead partner, Jacob Marley, visits him. Scrooge is reluctant to believe it is really a ghost, but when Marley tells Scrooge he is doomed to hell, Scrooge asks Marley what can be done.  Marley tells Scrooge that three spirits will visit him over the course of the night starting at 1 AM. At that hour on December 25, 1843 [26:35 to 1:35:13] the first spirit “The Ghost of Christmas Past” appears and takes Scrooge back to his childhood. Scrooge was ignored by his father, but loved by his sister. Scrooge went to work for Mr. Fezziwig and met, and eventually became engaged to Belle. Eventually his devotion to business drives Belle away. Scrooge is returned to his bedroom, where the “Ghost of Christmas Present” visits him. This spirit takes him to Bob Cratchit’s house, where Scrooge is criticized for being cheap and greedy, defended only by Bob. Scrooge is, in spite of himself, touched by their honest celebration of the holiday. He is upset when the spirit tells him that Tiny Tim is doomed to die soon. He also takes Scrooge to the house of his nephew Fred, where he is also castigated. Then Scrooge is visited by the spooky “Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come”. He takes Scrooge to the poor side of town, where Scrooge eventually figures out that he is dead and some of his things have been stolen. Scrooge sees the Cratchit family’s grief at the death of Tiny Tim. Scrooge then sees his own tombstone. Scrooge awakens in his own room on Christmas. He vows to keep the true spirit of Christmas. He sends a gift of food to the Cratchits. Scrooge next makes a very generous contribution to aid the poor. Scrooge visits Fred and makes up with him. The next day Scrooge surprises Bob Cratchit by doubling his salary. Scrooge is a changed man. 

The best version of this story. Reminds you of the real reason for the season. Very good costuming and sets.

A Christmas Carol in Prose, Being a Ghost Story of Christmas by Charles Dickens (Elvendon Press, Goring-on-Thames, UK, 1986) at page 56 Scrooge is told “its Christmas Day”, which is December 25th, as per Holidays, Festivals and Celebrations of the World ed. by Helene Henderson (Omnigraphics, New York, 2005) at page 787

Producer - George F. Storke

Director - Clive Donner

Awards – The film was nominated for the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or 
                 a Special (Scott) at the 37th Primetime Emmy Awards.

Screenplay - Roger O. Hirson

Runtime – 1 hour 40 minutes

Released – December 17, 1984

Starring –

George C. Scott as Ebenezer Scrooge, a man who thinks Christmas is “humbug”
Frank Finlay as Jacob Marley's Ghost, Scrooge’s former partner
Angela Pleasence as Ghost of Christmas Past
Edward Woodward as Ghost of Christmas Present
Michael Carter as Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come
David Warner as Bob Cratchit, Scrooge’s employee
Susannah York as Mrs. Cratchit, Bob’s wife
Anthony Walters as Tiny Tim Crachit, Bob’s handicapped son
Roger Rees as Fred Hollywell, Scrooge’s nephew
Caroline Langrishe as Janet Hollywell, Fred’s wife
Lucy Gutteridge – Belle, Scrooge's slighted fiancée
Nigel Davenport as Silas Scrooge, Ebenezer's and Fan's father
Mark Strickson as Young Ebenezer Scrooge
Joanne Whalley as Fan Scrooge, Ebenezer's beloved sister and Fred's mother
Timothy Bateson as Mr. Fezziwig, Scrooge and Marley’s one time boss
Michael Gough as Mr. Poole
John Quarmby as Mr. Harking
Peter Woodthorpe as Old Joe
Liz Smith as Mrs. Dilber
Dennis Morgan as A village gentleman

Copyright by Ivan Walters in 2014.



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