CHRISTMAS CAROL: THE MOVIE
UK, 2000, 77 minutes, Colour.
Simon Callow.Voices of: Simon Callow, Kate Winslet, Nicholas Cage, Jane Horrocks, Michael Gambon, Rhys Ifans, Juliet Stevenson, Robert Llewellyn, Iain Jones, Beth Winslet.
Directed by Jimmy Murakami.
One of the many versions one of of Charles Dickens’ best loved novels, this is an animation film designed especially for children. Many purists were up in arms about the film criticising it for its taking liberties with the novel. There was also a Muppets Christmas Carol with Michael Caine as Scrooge.
However, it takes the main elements of the story, presents them in brief animated form, in a way that children could appreciate the story and some of the themes (somewhat akin to the 1940s and 50s with the Classic Comics versions of significant literature). The other feature of the film is that it focuses on two mice, attractive characters for little children and so helping them to participate with the focus on the animals, their activities, their voices and touches of comedy. Definitely not for the purists.
Simon Callow has spent a great deal of his life touring on stage as Charles Dickens. The film opens with live action with Callow as Dickens visiting Boston in 1867 and doing a reading of the novel – with polite audiences until a woman screams when she sees a mouse! Hence the mouse theme.
When the film moves to animation, brightly coloured in an old-fashioned animation style, Callow becomes the voice of Ebenezer Scrooge. The film has a very strong voice cast with English talent and, surprisingly, Nicholas Cage as the voice of Jacob Marley. While there are the ghosts, especially of Christmas past voiced by a cheery Jane Horrocks, and the ghost of Christmas present voiced by a sombre Michael Gambon, attention is given to the character of Belle, with whom Scrooge was in love but who made a decision to go out on his own. Belle is voiced by Kate Winslet.
Belle is seen initially working in a home for children, for orphans, who are going to lose their benefits because of the impositions and demands on debt by Scrooge. She writes him a letter which he disregards until it keeps being brought to his attention by the mice. Eventually, when he is taken on the tour of what might have been, remembers his love for Belle and, in repentance, he helps her and the people at the orphanage.
This is a stronger emphasis on Belle than in the other screen versions of Dickens book.
The memories of Jacob Marley are the stuff of nightmare. Also something of a nightmare is the work in Scrooge’s office, with Bob Cratchit diligently working hard. He is voiced by Rhys Ifans.
There is a sequence when the Cratchit family sing carols outside Scrooge’s home and he tosses water at them, injuring Tiny Tim. Tiny Tim is taken to the doctor, is at home for the Christmas dinner but is unwell. Yet, despite the opposition from his wife and family, Bob Cratchit praises Scrooge and the fact that he pays him his living.
When Scrooge reviews his past life, is taken into the difficulties of the present, he is transformed, actually giving money and gifts to those who make appeals to his charity, a number of his debtors are released from prison… Bob Cratchit gets arrays and the offer of a partnership.And he goes to the Cratchit household and joins in the good cheer as well as being reunited with Belle.
This is a very pleasant way of introducing young children to the classic, encouraging them when they are older to read it. But, as has been warned, this is not a version for purists, especially intolerant purists.
