A CHRISTMAS CAROL
US, 1984, 96 minutes, Colour.
George C.Scott, Nigel Davenport, Frank Finlay, Angela Pleasance, Roger Rees, Edward Woodward.
Directed by Clive Donner.
A Christmas Carol is a pleasing '80s version of Charles Dickens classic. The story has been filmed many times - directly with Alastair Sim as Scrooge, as a Leslie Bricusse musical with Albert Finney, in animated versions.
This film has television screening in mind. Director Clive Donner (who began his career with film versions of Harold Pinter, Alfred the Great - and later moved to television and television style movies such as Vampyra, Rogue Male, Thief of Baghdad, To Catch a King) does a workmanlike job on the film. He is aided by an excellent performance from George C. Scott as an unexpected Scrooge. (Scott had worked with Donner in a 1983 version of Oliver Twist.) There is a very fine English supporting cast - who add dignity and presence but whose parts are generally restricted. The ghosts, as usual, are presented in a somewhat bizarre fashion- Frank Finlay as eccentric, Angela Pleasence as an odd Christmas Past and Edward Woodward as an almost over-rollicking ghost of Christmas Present. The film has interesting economic background - echoes of Victorian oppression and poverty with reference to the 20th century. The film also retains Dickens' sentiment with the story of Tiny Tim.
The film is, however, quite an enjoyable version of Dickens' novel.
1. The popularity of Dickens' novel? The range of versions? An interpretation for the '80s?
2. The film geared for the television audience? At home, the home atmosphere? A colourful presentation? Stylish? The star cast?
3. Dickens as a popular writer of the 19th century - eminently suitable for cinematic adaptation for the widest audiences? The quality of this adaptation: plotline, characters, mood, message?
4. Audience knowledge of the characters, expectations: Scrooge and his miserliness, his change? Tiny Tim? The atmosphere of Christmas? Poverty? Change of heart?
5. George C. Scott's presence and style as Scrooge? A big man, imposing, stern? An American actor adapting to a British character? Seeing him at work, with his colleagues, refusing donations? A shrewd financier, hard in money deals? His attitude towards his star, towards Bob Cratchett and the darkness of the office? Corresponding to Scrooge's gloom? The visit of Fred Holywell? The clash with his nephew? His going home alone? The severe attitude towards those celebrating Christmas? To the poor? His belief in self-enterprise? Home and his loneliness? The visit of Jacob Marley, their conversation, Marley's death, the doom for Scrooge? The opening up of the experience of the ghosts?
6. The three ghosts - as characters, style, costume? The oddball presentation of each ghost? The ghost of Christmas Past and her inviting Scrooge back? The image of young Scrooge, the severity of his father, his loneliness, his falling in love with Belle, the choices to be made, his choosing money, Belle and her marriage and children? The ghost of Christmas Present and his rollicking style: the Cratchett family, their meagre meal, Tiny Tim and the operation, the jokes about Scrooge yet their toast to him? Fred and his wife and their celebration of Christmas, the jokes about Scrooge? The ghost of Christmas to Come: Scrooge old, miserly, alone, his death? Tiny Tim and his death? The effect on Scrooge: waking. feeling himself alive, change of heart (credible?), going to the Cratchetts, buying them the turkey, going to Fred? Bestowing good cheer? The shock of his friends and relations? The celebration of the day, the games at Fred's? God bless us, every one!
7. The sketch of the Cratchetts: Bob at work. careful, his pleasant wife. the children, Tiny Tim, the jokes despite the meagre meal, the toast to Scrooge? The reality with the feast. the joy and celebration? Bob's raise? The prospects for Tim?
8. Fred as the gentleman, his wife and her criticism of Scrooge, the opportunities for Scrooge to change. the welcome, the games?
9. Tiny Tim and the sentiments of Christmas? Tiny Tim and tears?
10. A piece of Victoriana? For the 20th century? Christmas and the spirit of Christmas?
