CHRISTMAS CAROL AT FORD'S THEATRE, A (TV)
Summary
A theatrical performance of a stage version of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” filmed at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. on December 22, 1979.
The story begins in the mid-19th Century as the people of London attempt to raise Christmas spirit amongst themselves, stymied by the anti-Christmas sentiments of local banker Ebenezer Scrooge. Scrooge’s former business partner and only friend, Jacob Marley, has been dead for seven years, and Scrooge acquires a reputation for being notoriously greedy and unyielding. He acts cruelly towards his sole clerk, Bob Cratchit, as well as his nephew Fred when he comes to visit and invite him to Christmas dinner the next day. Scrooge sends Fred away, and also rebuffs a pair of gentlemen looking to collect money for the poor. That night, Scrooge encounters a beggar in the streets on his way home who runs past him; he believes the man resembles Marley, but Scrooge dismisses this as a brief hallucination. As he goes to sleep, he is visited by Marley’s ghost, clad in heavy chains. Scrooge does not believe that the ghost is real, but Marley soon changes his mind. He explains that he has been condemned to wander the earth due to his greed in life, clad in chains, and says that Scrooge will be condemned to the same fate unless he changes his ways. He warns that Scrooge will be visited by three ghosts that night, and disappears.
That night, Scrooge awakens and discovers the first of the three ghosts in his bed with him; she introduces herself as the Ghost of Christmas Past. She implores him to get up and go out with her, flying through time and space into his own past. Unseen and unheard, they view a scene from Scrooge’s boyhood at boarding school, as he is left alone there on Christmas. His sister Fan arrives to bring him home for the holidays, much to their mutual excitement. Scrooge sadly recalls that Fan eventually died after giving birth to Fred. The ghost then shows Scrooge a later point in his life during his apprenticeship to shop owner Fezziwig, who is throwing a Christmas party for his employees and friends. At this time, Scrooge meets and falls in love with a young woman named Belle, who returns his affections. The ghost then shows Scrooge a later scene, after he and Belle are engaged to be married. Belle is distraught, as she feels that Scrooge has become more obsessed with acquiring wealth than with his love for her. She feels that Scrooge can no longer fulfill his promises to her, and calls off their engagement. Scrooge begs his younger self not to let her go, but in vain. The ghost deposits Scrooge back in his bedroom, and shows him Belle married to another man, with a daughter of her own. Scrooge yells at the spirit to leave him and breaks down crying.
Later, the next spirit appears before him as a tremendously tall woman with a wreath around her head, introducing herself as the Ghost of Christmas Present. She transports him through the city to watch as people go about their Christmas morning, including Bob Cratchit and his young disabled son, Tiny Tim. The ghost then brings Scrooge to the Cratchit household, where the large family is preparing their Christmas dinner. Bob and Tiny Tim return home and reunite with them for dinner, and Scrooge notes that their meal is too meager for such a large family. Bob proposes a toast to Scrooge, but the rest of the family is resentful of Scrooge for his cruelty towards Bob. Scrooge asks the ghost if Tiny Tim will live, and the ghost predicts that unless something is done, Tiny Tim will not live to see the next Christmas. Scrooge is greatly concerned for Tiny Tim and does not want him to die, but the spirit highlights Scrooge’s callousness and disregard for his fellow man. Next, the spirit shows him Fred’s Christmas party as he speaks with his wife and friends about Scrooge, and they enjoy a few party games together. Scrooge rather enjoys himself, but cannot join in the festivities, as he cannot be seen or heard. The ghost ages rapidly and says her time is short, revealing a pair of children beneath her skirt which she calls “Ignorance and Want,” and departs with a cryptic warning.
Scrooge wanders out into the street, where he encounters a tall figure in a black robe. He surmises that it is the “Spirit of Christmas Yet to Come,” and dreads their encounter but agrees to accompany the creature. He is shown his own dead body in his bed, as well as townsfolk talking dismissively about his passing; they are thoroughly unmoved and note that no one will attend his funeral, while thieves ransack his possessions over his dead body. The spirit then shows Scrooge the Cratchit family, all mourning the death of Tiny Tim. Scrooge is shown a graveyard, where he sees his own headstone, neglected and overgrown. Scrooge refuses to have this be his fate and vows to change his ways and become a better person and to “honor Christmas” for all time. Suddenly Scrooge awakens in his bed and discovers that it is Christmas morning. He makes amends immediately by purchasing an enormous turkey to give to the Cratchit family, giving charity to the poor, and wishing everyone he meets a merry Christmas. He then visits Fred’s house and asks to be able to join their party, and Fred happily accepts. The next day, Bob comes into work to find Scrooge waiting for him. Scrooge gives him a substantial pay raise, and promises to help him properly support his family. In these ways and more, Scrooge becomes a changed man, charitable and kind.
Details
- NETWORK: WETA-TV (Washington, DC) / PBS
- DATE: December 22, 1979
- RUNNING TIME: 1:27:48
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 109103
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama; Theater; Christmas
- SERIES RUN: WETA - TV, 1979
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Frankie Hewitt … Executive Producer
- Gerry Slather … Executive Producer
- Christopher Sarson … Producer
- Jackson Frost … Associate Producer
- Rae Allen … Director, Writer
- Kirk Browning … Director
- Timothy Near … Writer
- Charles Dickens … Based on the novel by
- Ron Bishop … Cast, Ebenezer Scrooge
- Jennifer Borge … Cast, Fred's Elder Sister, Night Figure #3, Fezziwig Cook, Poor #3
- Thomas Dillon … Cast, Young Scrooge, Customer #3, Businessman #1
- Geoff Garland … Cast, Bob Cratchit, Entrepreneur
- Mary Irey … Cast, Belle, Night Figure #2, Business Woman
- Judy Jurgaitis … Cast, Mrs. Fred, Fezziwig Employee
- Josie Lawrence … Cast, Mrs. Dilber, Fred's Younger Sister, Shopper #2, Fezziwig Housemaid
- David Long … Cast, Jacob Marley, Topper, Fruiter, Businessman #2, Scrooge's Corpse
- Paul Milikin … Cast, Mr. Fezziwig, Old Joe, Old Solicitor, Poulterer, Sailor #1
- John Morgal … Cast, Tiny Tim Cratchit, Call Boy
- Steve O'Connor … Cast, Youngest Scrooge, Turkey Boy, Ignorance
- Chris Romilly … Cast, Fred, Night Figure #1, Customer #1, Businessman #3
- Eva Rose … Cast, Fan, Belle's Daughter, Belinda Cratchit, Want
- Nancy Sellin … Cast, Ghost of Christmas Present, Shopper #1, Fezziwig Daughter
- David Silber … Cast, Dick Wilkins, Young Solicitor, Ghostly Hands, Businessman #4
- Anita Sorel … Cast, Mrs. Cratchit, Mrs. Fezziwig
- Scott Sorrel … Cast, Peter Cratchit, Fezziwig Baker, Snowballer #2, Poor #4
- Gary Thomas Jr. … Cast, Lamplighter, Night Figure #4, Ghostly Hands, Fezziwig Milkman, Poor #2, Sailor #3
- Kathy Vivian … Cast, Ghost of Christmas Past, Martha Cratchit, Customer #2
- Steve Worth … Cast, Belle's Husband, Undertaker, Beggar, Fezziwig Employee, Sailor #2