A Christmas Carol

A Christmas Carol in Prose, Being a Ghost-Story of Christmas, commonly known as ***A Christmas Carol***, is a novella by Charles Dickens, first published in London by Chapman & Hall on December 19, 1843. A Christmas Carol tells the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, an old miser who is visited by the ghost of his former business partner Jacob Marley and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come. After their visits Scrooge is transformed into a kinder, gentler man.

The novel was the subject of Dickens' first public reading, given in Birmingham Town Hall to the Industrial and Literary Institute on December 27, 1852. This was repeated three days later to an audience of 'working people', and was a great success by his own account and that of newspapers of the time. Over the years, Dickens edited and adapted the piece for a listening, rather than reading, audience. Excerpts from A Christmas Carol remained part of Dickens' public readings until his death.

### Theatre

Throughout the late nineteenth century, and into the early years of the twentieth, British actor Seymour Hicks toured England with his own non-musical adaptation of the story, in which he played Scrooge. A Christmas Carol (1964 to present), an original musical stage adaptation written and directed by Tim Dietlein, is the longest running adaptation in theatre history.

A number of adaptations for the stage were produced during the 1970s and 1980s, especially in the United States. A 1985 adaptation was performed at the Symphony Space in New York City as a fundraiser for the Riverside Shakespeare Company, with narration by Helen Hayes, featuring Len Cariou as Scrooge, and Celeste Holm, Raul Julia, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, and Fritz Weaver. This script was restaged the following year on Broadway, narrated by Ms. Hayes, featuring F. Murray Abraham as Scrooge, and Ossie Davis as Marley's Ghost, June Havoc, and Rex Smith as Bob Cratchit.

#### A Christmas Carol (Patrick Stewart, 1987)

English actor Patrick Stewart was inspired to produce a one-man stage version of ***A Christmas Carol***, which premiered at a parish church in Mirfield, West Yorkshire in 1987, and has been performed in the United Kingdom and the United States on occasion since 1988. It is performed without costumes or props, and has Stewart playing more than 30 characters. Critics have praised Stewart's portrayal and compared them to the readings performed by Dickens during the 19th century. Stewart took the performance to New York City from December 17, 1991 for 16 performances. The success of that run resulted in him receiving the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding One-Person Show, and a further run in the city during 1992 for 24 more performances.

#### Scrooge: The Musical (1992)

***Scrooge: The Musical*** is a stage musical with book, music and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse. Its score and book are closely adapted from the music and screenplay of the 1970 musical film Scrooge starring Albert Finney and A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Bricusse was nominated for an Academy Award for the song score he wrote for the film, and most of those songs were carried over to the musical.

The original production starred Anthony Newley as Scrooge and opened on November 9, 1992 at the Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham. The cast also included Stratford Johns, Tom Watt and Jon Pertwee. The original UK production travelled to Australia featuring Keith Michell and ran from November, 1993 to January, 1994 in Melbourne. The production later transferred to the West End, starring Newley, at the Dominion Theatre from November 12, 1996 to February 1, 1997.

The original London cast recording featuring Anthony Newley as Scrooge was released October 14, 1997.

#### A Christmas Carol: The Musical (1994)

A Broadway musical adaptation with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, ran at The Theatre at Madison Square Garden, New York City yearly until 2003. Actors starring as "Scrooge" included Tony Randall (1996), Hal Linden and Roddy McDowell (alternating) (1997), and Roger Daltrey (1998). Later stars included Frank Langella (2000), Tim Curry (2001), F. Murray Abraham (2002), Jim Dale (2003), and Kelsey Grammer for a 2004 television version of the musical.

### Film

***Scrooge, or, Marley's Ghost*** (November, 1901) is a short British film that is the earliest surviving screen adaptation. Watch the film on YouTube. Several versions were produced during the early 1900s into the 1930s.

#### A Christmas Carol (1938)

> *"Greater than 'David Copperfield'!"*
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***A Christmas Carol*** is an American film adaptation of Charles Dickens's 1843 novella of the same name, starring Reginald Owen as Ebenezer Scrooge, an elderly miser who learns the error of his ways on Christmas Eve after visitations by four spirits.

##### Plot Summary

Ebenezer Scrooge (Owen), is warned by Marley's ghost (Leo G Carroll) on Christmas Eve that he must change his miserly ways or face damnation. He is told that he can expect visitations from three ghosts, to which Scrooge "humbugs." When the ghosts do come, he is shown his past, the present that he has made and the future, which includes his own death and that of Tiny Tim (Terry Kilburn). Scrooge gets the message and changes his ways on Christmas Day and thus saves himself and Tiny Tim.

##### Notable Cast

* Reginald Owen as Ebenezer Scrooge
* Gene Lockhart as Bob Cratchit
* Kathleen Lockhart as Mrs. Cratchit
* Terry Kilburn as Tiny Tim Cratchit
* June Lockhart as Belinda Cratchit (uncredited)
* Leo G. Carroll as Marley's Ghost
* Ann Rutherford as Spirit of Christmas Past

#### Scrooge (1951)

> *"Now! The story that has brought joy to millions! A new screen triumph!"*
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***Scrooge*** is a British fantasy drama film and an adaptation of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol (1843). It stars Alastair Sim as Ebenezer Scrooge. It was released as A Christmas Carol in the United States.

* November 30, 1951 (UK); December 2, 1951 (US)

The film also features Kathleen Harrison in an acclaimed turn as Mrs. Dilber, Scrooge's charwoman. George Cole stars as the younger version of Scrooge, Hermione Baddeley as Mrs. Cratchit, Mervyn Johns as Bob Cratchit, Clifford Mollison as Samuel Wilkins, a debtor, Jack Warner as Mr. Jorkin, a role created for the film, Ernest Thesiger as Marley's undertaker and Patrick Macnee as young Jacob Marley. Michael Hordern plays Marley's ghost, as well as old Marley. Peter Bull serves as narrator, by reading portions of Dickens' words at the beginning and end of the film; he also appears on-screen as one of the businessmen cynically discussing Scrooge's funeral.

#### Scrooge (1970)

> *"What the dickens have they done to Scrooge?"*
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***Scrooge*** is a British musical film adaptation of Charles Dickens' 1843 story A Christmas Carol. It was filmed in London, directed by Ronald Neame, and starred Albert Finney as Ebenezer Scrooge. Other cast members include Alec Guinness who plays Jacob Marley's ghost. The film's musical score was composed by Leslie Bricusse, and arranged and conducted by Ian Fraser. With eleven musical arrangements interspersed throughout (all retaining a traditional British air), the award-winning motion picture is a faithful musical retelling of the original.

* November 19, 1970 (US); November 30, 1970 (UK)

Albert Finney won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Musical/Comedy in 1971. The film received four Academy Award nominations, including for Best Original Song for "Thank You Very Much".

##### Plot Summary

In 1860, cranky old miser Ebenezer Scrooge (Finney) hates Christmas; loathes people and defends the decrease of the surplus of poor population; runs his bank exploiting his employee Bob Cratchit (David Collings) and clients, giving a bitter treatment to his own nephew and acquaintances. However, on Christmas Eve, he is visited by the doomed ghost of his former partner Jacob Marley (Guinness) that tells him that three spirits would visit him that night. The first one, the spirit of Christmas Past (Edith Evans), recalls his miserable youth when he lost his only love due to his greed; the spirit of Christmas Present (Kenneth More) shows him the poor situation of Bob's family and how joyful life may be; and the spirit of Christmas Future (Paddy Stone) shows his fate. Scrooge finds that life is good and time is too short and suddenly you are not there anymore, changing his behaviour toward Christmas, Bob, his nephew (Michael Medwin) and people in general. IMDb.com

##### Notable Cast

* Albert Finney as Ebenezer Scrooge
* Alec Guinness as Jacob Marley's ghost
* Edith Evans as Ghost of Christmas Past
* Kenneth More as Ghost of Christmas Present
* Paddy Stone as Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come
* David Collings as Bob Cratchit
* Michael Medwin as Fred, Scrooge's nephew
* Gordon Jackson as Tom, Fred's friend
* Anton Rodgers as Tom Jenkins
* Laurence Naismith as Fezziwig
* Suzanne Neve as Isabel
* Derek Francis as charity gentleman
* Roy Kinnear as charity gentleman
* Geoffrey Bayldon as Pringle, the toyshop owner
* Molly Weir as woman debtor

#### Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983)

***Mickey's Christmas Carol*** is an American animated featurette produced by Walt Disney Productions. The cartoon is an adaptation of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, starring Scrooge McDuck as Ebenezer Scrooge. Many other Disney characters, primarily from the Mickey Mouse universe, Robin Hood, and The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad, were cast throughout the film.

* October 20, 1983 (UK); December 16, 1983 (US)

#### The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

**The Muppet Christmas Carol** is an American musical fantasy comedy-drama film and an adaptation of Charles Dickens's 1843 novel A Christmas Carol. It is the fourth in a series of live-action musical films featuring The Muppets, with Michael Caine starring as Ebenezer Scrooge. Although it is a comedic film with contemporary songs, The Muppet Christmas Carol otherwise follows Dickens's original story closely. The film was produced and directed by Brian Henson for Jim Henson Productions and released by Walt Disney Pictures.

* December 11, 1992 (US); December 18, 1992 (UK)

#### A Christmas Carol (1997)

***A Christmas Carol*** is an American animated musical film version of the book of the same name by Charles Dickens that was released straight to video. It features eight new songs and a voice line-up including Tim Curry (Ebenezer Scrooge), Whoopi Goldberg (Ghost of Christmas Present), Ed Asner (Jacob Marley's Ghost), and Michael York (Bob Cratchit).

### Television (Live)

Between 1944 and 1956, most television versions of the story were staged live. An early live television adaptation was broadcast by DuMont's New York station WABD on December 20, 1944. *Christmas Night*, with a ballet and with music by Ralph Vaughan Williams was broadcast on BBC television on December 25, 1946. A December 25, 1947 live television version on DuMont starred John Carradine as Scrooge, and featured David Carradine and Eva Marie Saint, the latter in her TV debut.

An adaptation of A Christmas Carol with Ralph Richardson as Scrooge was shown as a 30-minute filmed episode of NBC's Fireside Theater on December 25, 1951. The story was dramatised twice on Kraft Television Theatre (NBC): December 24, 1952, starring Malcolm Keen as Scrooge, and December 24, 1953 (then known as Pond's Theatre), starring Noel Leslie as Scrooge. Some actors appeared in both, with Leslie appearing as the Ghost of Christmas Past in the previous version.

*The Stingiest Man In Town* (1956), was the second musical adaptation (see A Christmas Carol (1954)). It starred Basil Rathbone (who appeared in the 1954 version as Marley's Ghost) and Vic Damone as, respectively, the old and young Scrooge. This was a live episode of the dramatic anthology series The Alcoa Hour and aired on December 23, 1956. Rathbone reprised the role of Scrooge in a filmed episode of the British half-hour anthology series Tales from Dickens, with Fredric March as narrator. It was broadcast on December 27, 1959.

#### The Christmas Carol (1949)

***The Christmas Carol*** was a low-budget, black and white television special narrated by Vincent Price. Compressing the Charles Dickens classic story into a half-hour, it is stated to be "the oldest extant straight adaptation of the story" for television. It was originally produced as a syndicated production for airing on 22 stations across the United States on Christmas Day in 1949. It was sponsored by Magnavox and represented that company's first use of television advertising. In 1952 the show was acquired by Consolidated Television Sales for further syndication.

The production is considered primitive by modern standards; it is also noted for misspelling Ebenezer Scrooge's name as "Ebeneezer" in the opening credits. The cast is led by Taylor Holmes as Scrooge and includes an early appearance by Jill St. John, then age 9 and billed as Jill Oppenheim, who plays one of the Cratchit daughters.

#### A Christmas Carol (1954)

***A Christmas Carol*** is an episode of the hour-long American television anthology variety series, Shower of Stars, which was one of the few American TV productions of the time telecast in the UK, in 1956. Unusually for the time, it was presented on film and in colour. Unfortunately, only a black-and-white print seems to have survived, and it has been released on DVD. The commercials seen live during the program have also survived. The program is introduced on kinescope by host William Lundigan.

* December 23, 1954 (US); December 25, 1956 (UK)

The production boasted a script and lyrics by noted American playwright Maxwell Anderson, and a score by Bernard Herrmann. Fredric March, in his only known portrayal of the role, starred as Ebenezer Scrooge, and Basil Rathbone portrayed Marley's Ghost.

The production featured few songs, but those it did feature forced the adapters to severely condense the story, especially the final third. Rather than having a Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, the adaptation featured a mynah bird, who leads Scrooge to a graveyard in which he sees not only his own grave, but that of Tiny Tim.

The script added an unusual twist to the story in having the Ghost of Christmas Past (Sally Fraser) and the Ghost of Christmas Present (Ray Middleton) be portrayed by the same actors who played Scrooge's sweetheart Belle and his nephew Fred, respectively, and Scrooge not only notices the resemblance, but mistakes the Ghost of Christmas Present for his nephew.

### Television (Recorded)

None of the later versions were done live, but were either shot on videotape or filmed. They include:

#### Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol (1962)

***Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol*** is a musical adaptation of Charles Dickens's famous short story A Christmas Carol starring the cartoon character Mr. Magoo. Aside from the 1950 marionette special The Spirit of Christmas, it was the first animated holiday program ever produced specifically for television, originally airing on December 18, 1962, and the only one until the stop-motion special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was first shown on December 1964. The special also inspired the 1964 TV series The Famous Adventures of Mr. Magoo. It featured the voice of Jim Backus as Magoo, with voice-over appearances by Paul Frees, Morey Amsterdam, Joan Gardner, and Jack Cassidy.

#### The Stingiest Man in Town (1978)

> *"Meet Scrooge..."*
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***The Stingiest Man in Town,*** based on Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol, is a Christmas special created by Arthur Rankin Jr. and Jules Bass, which featured traditional animation rather than the Animagic most often used by the company. It was an animated remake of a long-unseen, but quite well received, live-action musical special (also called The Stingiest Man in Town) which had starred Basil Rathbone, Martyn Green, and Vic Damone. The live-action version had been telecast in 1956, on the NBC anthology series The Alcoa Hour. The animated remake first aired December 23, 1978, in the United States on ABC.

##### Plot Summary

This version of the story is told from the perspective of B.A.H. Humbug, Esq (Tom Bosley). After Ebenezer Scrooge (Walter Mattau) refuses to assist the poor or have Christmas Dinner with his nephew (Dennis Day), he is visited by the ghost of his one time business partner and friend, Jacob Marley (Theodore Bikel). Marley tells him to change his ways and Scrooge refutes this as madness. He is then visited by three ghosts (Paul Frees as the Ghosts of Christmases Past and Present), all who show him what his future will be like if he doesn't change his ways. IMDb.com

#### Bugs Bunny's Christmas Carol (1979)

***Bugs Bunny's Christmas Carol*** is an eight-minute animated short film produced by Warner Bros. Television and DePatie-Freleng Enterprises and released by Warner Bros. as part of the Christmas special, Bugs Bunny's Looney Christmas Tales, which aired on November 27, 1979.

The cartoon is an adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic A Christmas Carol, featuring Yosemite Sam as Ebenezer Scrooge and Porky Pig as Bob Cratchit. Bugs Bunny plays Jacob Marley and Fred. Scrooge's dream-journey into his past, present, and future is omitted; instead, Bugs dresses up as a white-robed emissary of Hades to scare Scrooge straight.

#### A Christmas Carol (1984)

> *"Rediscover the Joy of Christmas Spirit!"*
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***A Christmas Carol*** is a British-American 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.

##### Plot Summary

Ebenezer Scrooge (Scott) is a bitter old miser who cares only about making money. He has no friends, has disowned his only living relative - his nephew Fred (Roger Rees) - and generally treats everyone he meets with extreme contempt. He particularly loathes Christmas, which he a sees as an excuse for picking a man's pocket once a year, and only reluctantly give his clerk, Bob Cratchit (David Warner), the day off. On Christmas Eve however, he is visited by the ghost his long dead partner, Jacob Marley (Frank Finlay), who begs him to change his ways. Refusing to do so, he's told that three ghosts - the Ghosts of Christmas Past (Angela Pleasance), Present (Edward Woodward) and that which is Yet to Come (Michael Carter) - will visit him that night. In doing so, they show him what he has lost and what he will leave behind after he is gone unless he mends his ways. IMDb.com

##### Notable 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
* Roger Rees – Fred Hollywell/Narrator
* Caroline Langrishe – Janet Hollywell
* Nigel Davenport – Silas Scrooge (Ebenezer's and Fan's cruel 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. Hacking
* Liz Smith – Mrs. Dilber

#### A Christmas Carol (1999)

> *"In just one night, he has seen his past, his present, and his future... and they've all come back to haunt him."*
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***A Christmas Carol*** is a 1999 British-American made-for-television film adaptation of Charles Dickens' famous novel A Christmas Carol that was first televised December 5, 1999 on TNT (released direct to video in the UK on November 27, 2000). It was directed by David Jones and stars Patrick Stewart as Ebenezer Scrooge and Richard E. Grant as Bob Cratchit. The film was produced after Patrick Stewart performed a series of successful theatrical readings of "A Christmas Carol" on Broadway and in London (1987-92).

##### Plot Summary

In 1840s London, Ebenezer Scrooge (Stewart) is a mean-spirited businessman who receives his terrifying comeuppance. One Christmas Eve, he is visited by the ghost of Jacob Marley (Bernard Lloyd), his dead business partner. Marley foretells that Scrooge will be visited by three spirits (Joel Grey, Desmond Barritt,and Tim Potter) each of whom will attempt to show Scrooge the error of his ways. Will Scrooge reform his ways in time to celebrate Christmas? IMDb.com

##### Notable Cast

* Patrick Stewart - Ebenezer Scrooge
* Richard E. Grant - Bob Cratchit
* Joel Grey - Ghost of Christmas Past
* Ian McNeice - Albert Fezziwig
* Saskia Reeves - Mrs. Cratchit
* Desmond Barrit - Ghost of Christmas Present
* Bernard Lloyd - Jacob Marley's Ghost
* Dominic West - Fred
* Trevor Peacock - Old Joe
* Liz Smith - Mrs. Dilber (Charwoman)
* Elizabeth Spriggs - Mrs. Riggs (Laundress)
* Laura Fraser - Belle
* Celia Imrie - Mrs. Bennett
* John Franklyn-Robbins - Mister Crump (Undertaker)
* Tim Potter - Ghost of Christmas Future