THE MAN WHO INVENTED CHRISTMAS
2017, 104 minutes, Colour.
Dan Stevens, Christopher Plummer, Jonathan Pryce, Simon Callow, Miriam Margolyes, Ian Mc Neice, Morfydd Clark, Donald Sumpter, Bill Paterson, Miles Jupp, Annette Badland, Justin Edwards, Anna Murphy.
Directed by Bharat Nalluri.
One might have thought that Jesus himself might have been considered the “inventor� of Christmas – or, at least, Matthew or Luke in their Gospels. But, no, the man of the title is Charles Dickens, so well-known for his novel, A Christmas Carol.
This is an entertaining imagination about Dickens and his crisis in 1843, his failure with three books including Martin Chuzzlewit and his book on his American tour (with which the film opens, an extrovert extravaganza from his audience and his wishing he could get home!). Dickens has a block, is in debt, his fear that if he doesn’t produce another book or, if it fails, he will never write again.
Dan Stevens (Downton Abbey and his reminding us of his role as the Beast in Beauty and the Beast) is a sometimes frantic Dickens, caught up in his own world and imagination, angry with others, including his wife, resentful of his father and his extravagance, living in his imagination as he gathers names, images, family connections to produce A Christmas Carol.
Just as there are ghosts and fantasy in the novel itself, this film uses the same technique. Central to it all is Scrooge himself (and there are a couple of scenes in the trailer which are, unfortunately, not in the film, scenes where Dickens is trying to work out the name Scrooge as well is what he will call his story). Scrooge is played by Christopher Plummer, relishing the role, denouncing humbug, misanthropic, pessimistic, quick with the putdown of Dickens himself (the author – allegedly!). The ghost of Scrooge enables Dickens to focus on a story, the character of Scrooge and his heartlessness toward Bob Cratchit and, especially, the ailing Tiny Tim. Actually, by the end, Scrooge is able to challenge Dickens who then discovers his own Scrooginess, redeeming Scrooge himself.
We see how Dickens loves collecting names, relishing Marley, for instance. There is an nice touch at the end when he hears the name Copperfield. In fact, the presentation of his father in this film is very much like Mr Micawber.
Dickens has a put-upon wife, several children, a manager of his household and a maid. They all have a lot to put up with. And then his father turns up, Dickens having bought his parents a house in Devon. His father, well played by Jonathan Pryce, really has no conception of money and imposes on his son, his wife always patient. Dickens finds him exceedingly exasperating but, as he has a flashback about his father’s imprisonment, Dickens himself going to a blacking factory (with echoes of Oliver Twist), being bullied, he finally remembers that a bequest from his father is that everyone should play a part in lightening others’ loads.
Dickens’ sister and her family arrive from Manchester for a visit – and their little son is ill and has a crutch. Which means that various characters that Dickens encounters become part of his fantasy, his sister’s family becoming the Cratchits, his good friend and confidante, John Forster (a likeable Justin Edwards), becomes the ghost of Christmas present and his lawyer becomes the ghost of Jacob Marley. Dickens goes into this world quite frequently and, happily, with “God bless us everyone�, there is Christmas cheer all round as the book is finally published on time, John Leach (played by Simon Callow who has played Dickens on screen and on stage) finishing the sketches, Thackeray, seen as a rival to Dickens, giving the book a very warm review.
In the note at the end of the film remind us that one of the great effects of the novel was an increase in philanthropy, in people giving to those in need.
1. The title, audience expectations? Charles Dickens and A Christmas Carol? The 19th century and the status of celebrating Christmas? The British style, cards and goodwill (and not particularly based on the Gospel stories)? Germany and the Christmas trees? Victoria and Albert introducing them to England? And philanthropy?
2. Audiences and Dickens, their knowledge of him, his novels, the plots as well-known, film and television versions? Stories derived from Dickens? His reputation?
3. The recreation of the 19th century, the United States and Dickens’ theatre tour, the extroverted response of the people, song and dance on stage, eulogy speeches? Contrast with London, his wanting to go home? The household, the interiors of his house, scenes on the streets, the publishing house, the home of the artist, Inns? The musical score and the overtones of Christmas songs?
4. The fantasy in the novel? The ghosts of Christmas past present and future? The fantasy in this story of Dickens? Scrooge and his appearances, Christopher Plummer relishing the role? Humbug, cranky, inhuman? The encounter with the ghosts? Dickens’ sister and in-laws representing the Cratchits? The ghost of Jacob Marley? The girl ghost of Christmas past, the jolly ghost of Christmas present and his friend Foster? The ghost of the future? These ghosts and their apparitions familiar from the novels? The inspiration for Dickens writing, creative? Trying to write, the blocks, the interruptions? Testing out what he wrote on the maid? Dickens and his noting down particular names – and the final encounter at the railway station and Copperfield?
5. The focus on financial difficulties, at home, the failure of his three previous books? The decorations home, the chandelier? His father wanting money? The going to visit the lawyer, the loan, his fees? And the lawyer appearing as the ghost of Jacob Marley?
6. Scrooge, his appearance, dialogue, language, crotchety, criticisms?
7. Writing and imagination, the role of the author, ideas, writers blocks, difficulties, the actual writing and the equipment in the 19th century, testing out the text, going to the illustrator and the demands, the style of the book, the demands of the publishers? Foster and bouncing ideas from him – yet being angry with him? Reading to the maid? His nephew and his crutches? Tiny Tim?
8. Dickens, at home, his wife, hard on her, yet dependent on her? The many children? Tensions and joy?
9. The background of his parents, his genial mother, the memories of his father, a jovial man, irresponsible, arrested, taken to prison, yet exhorting his son? Dickens buying his elderly parents a house in Devon? The coming to London, his carefree father, borrowing money, an article for the Spectator but never finishing it, buying a new vest, toys for the children, the chandelier? Genial with the children? Dickens and his response to his father, the memories, criticising his extravagance, banishing him? The talk with Scrooge, Tiny Tim and the change of heart? Hurrying to the station, telling his parents to return? His father’s bequest about lightening others’ loads? And the image of Mr Micawber?
10. Forster, a good friend? Patient, his fiancee and her father’s rejection, being the ghost of Christmas present? Going to the artist? His being hurt by Dickens? The reconciliation? And the fiancee’s father’s relenting?
11. Dickens’ sister, her husband, from Manchester, her attitude towards their father, her sick son, her husband – and their being embodied as the Cratchit family in Dickens’ imagination?
12. The visit to the artist, his attitudes, his skills? Dickens disagreeing with the interpretation of the sketch of the ghost? The publishers, the time limit, the demands?
13. The visit to the blacking factory, rekindling the memories of Dickens and his past, the hard work, his being bullied, humiliated by the managers? The revelation of Dickens own Scrooginess?
14. The importance of the visions of Marley, the vision of the ghosts, the death of Tim? Scrooge, the challenge, Scrooge and the vault, the walls coming in, Dickens and his new awareness, saving him?
15. The firing of the maid in his anger, lending her the book on Aladdin, her bringing it back, the being reinstated? The joy at the end, the wife, the parents, the book in Dickens’s hand?
16. The book itself, its appearance, the character of Thackeray and his comments and success, his favourable review of the book?
17. The aftermath notes, the celebration of Christmas – and the increase of philanthropy and kindness as a consequence of the book?
