A Christmas Carol (1999 film)
| A Christmas Carol | |
|---|---|
DVD cover
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| Based on |
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens |
| Written by | Peter Barnes |
| Directed by | David Jones |
| Starring |
Patrick Stewart Richard E. Grant Joel Grey |
| Theme music composer | Stephen Warbeck |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | Dyson Lovell |
| Running time | 95 minutes |
| Distributor | RHI Entertainment |
| Release | |
| Original network | TNT |
| Original release |
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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. 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.
On Christmas Eve in 1843, Ebenezer Scrooge, a surly money-lender at a counting house, does not share the merriment of Christmas. He declines his nephew Fred's invitation to join him for Christmas dinner and dismisses two gentlemen collecting money for charity. His loyal employee Bob Cratchit offers Scrooge to have Christmas off since there will be no business for Scrooge during the day and Scrooge accepts, but demands that Cratchit arrive "all the earlier" the following day. In his house, Scrooge encounters the ghost of his deceased business partner Jacob Marley, who warns him to repent his wicked ways or he will be condemned in the afterlife like he was, informing him that three spirits will visit him during the next three nights.
At midnight, Scrooge is visited by the childlike Ghost of Christmas Past who takes him back in time to his childhood and early adult life. They visit his lonely school days, and then his time as an employee under Albert Fezziwig. Fezziwig throws a Christmas party, Scrooge attends and meets a young woman named Belle (Laura Fraser), whom he falls in love with. However, the Ghost shows Scrooge how Belle left him when he chose money over her. A tearful Scrooge extinguishes the Ghost as he returns to the present.
At two o'clock, Scrooge meets the merry Ghost of Christmas Present, which shows Scrooge the joys and wonder of Christmas Day. Scrooge and the Ghost visit Cratchit's house, learning his family is content with their small dinner, Scrooge taking pity on Cratchit's ill son Tiny Tim. The Ghost eventually ages, commenting that Tiny Tim will likely not survive until next Christmas. As the Ghost dies, he warns Scrooge about the evils of "Ignorance" and "Want", two demonic children who manifest themselves before Scrooge as two wretched children. The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come arrives, appearing as a tall, silent cloaked figure, and takes Scrooge into the future. At the stock exchange, Scrooge's acquaintances discuss the death of an unnamed colleague, but do not mourn him. In a den, Scrooge recognizes his charwoman, his laundress, and the local undertaker trading several of his stolen possessions to a fence named Old Joe. Later, he sees a young couple who owed Scrooge money are relieved he is dead, as they have more time to pay off their debt. The Ghost transports Scrooge to Cratchit's house, discovering Tiny Tim has died.
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