CHRISTMAS CAROL, A {PATRICK STEWART} (TV)
Summary
This production is a made-for-televsion adaptation of Charles Dickens's holiday classic. The program begins as fifty-three-year-old Jacob Marley is laid to rest on Christmas Eve of 1836. His partner, the miserable miser Ebenezer Scrooge, attends the burial. Scrooge reminisces on how he and Marley made their counting house thrive, promising that their firm will continue to prosper. Seven years later, Scrooge's clerk Bob Cratchit wonders if Marley's name will ever be removed from their signage. Then, Scrooge's happy nephew Fred arrives at the shop and Scrooge wonders why the poor man is so merry. Fred is upset that his stubborn uncle won't celebrate Christmas with him. Later, two charity collectors come by to try and get some money for the poor, but Scrooge rejects them. Later that night, Scrooge chases away some child carolers. Cratchit asks Scrooge if he may have Christmas day off and is begrudgingly granted it. Returning home, Scrooge sees the image of Marley on his door knocker and is frightened. Later, Scrooge begins seeing the tiles in his fireplace come to life, then his house bells begin to ring. Scrooge is stunned when Marley's ghost appears before him. Marley reveals how he has been condemned to wander through eternity wearing the chains he forged in life. Scrooge tries to justify their actions in business but Marley refuses to accept them. Marley tells Scrooge he will soon be haunted by three visits from spirits. Before leaving, Marley looks out Scrooge's open window and shows the miser all the spirits of the night. As scheduled, Scrooge meets the Ghost of Christmas Past as the clock strikes one. The ghost takes Scrooge to his old boarding school just as his former classmates are headed home for the holidays, leaving the young Scrooge sad and by himself. Scrooge discusses why his father left him alone. Next, the ghost shows young Scrooge meeting with his sister Fran, who claims their father has changed and finally wants to bring the boy home. The ghost and Scrooge talk about Fran's early death just after giving birth to Fred. Next, the ghost takes Scrooge to warehouse of Albert Fezziwig and Co., where Scrooge apprenticed. As they observe, the kindly Fezziwig, a young adult Scrooge, and his friend Dick Wilkins prepare for a Christmas Eve party. At the soiree, Scrooge's happiness "showed up" in the form of the beautiful Belle. Present-day Scrooge laments not appreciating what he had at the time as he watches himself dancing with Belle. From there, the ghost takes Scrooge to see himself "changed" as he speaks with Belle, who releases him from his promise to marry her due to her poverty. Scrooge can't believe that he didn't chase after Belle as she left his life. Scrooge is distraught, not wanting to see any more as he literally extinguishes the spirit's light. Next, Scrooge is visited by the Ghost of Christmas Present, who takes him through the streets as he sprinkles blessings on people's food. From there, the ghost and Scrooge head to Cratchit's house, where Mrs. Cratchit and four of her children gleefully sing together. Then, the Cratchit's eldest daughter, Martha, returns from a hard night's work to help the family. Next, Cratchit returns with his crippled boy, Tiny Tim. At dinner, the family's meager goose is brought before them, followed by a small flaming pudding. A saddened Scrooge wonders if Tiny Tim will live, and the ghost reveals that unless the future changes the child will die. Scrooge is surprised to see the Cratchits happy, feeling blessed even in their poor state. Amazingly, Cratchit even toasts Scrooge, over Mrs. Cratchit's protests. Afterward, the ghost shows Scrooge how people in different vocations mark the holiday, taking him to a remote lighthouse, then aboard a sailing ship, and following up with some miners. Next, they go to Fred's house, where Fred's friend Topper Haines and some of his colleagues mock Scrooge. However, Fred defends Scrooge since his late mother so loved her brother. Scrooge admits that he sometimes forgets that Fred is Fran's child. The ghost chides Scrooge for not accepting Fred's earlier invitation to dine. Scrooge agrees, then begs to watch the party guests play blind man's buff. Following a trip to a prison where the inmates sing carols, the spirit's life begins to ebb and he fades away. Before he dies, however, he shows two pitiful children of mankind -- "ignorance" and "want" -- warning Scrooge of their evils. Next, Scrooge is visited by the Ghost of Christmas Yet-to-Come, who takes him to the stock exchange, where profit is worshipped. There, several businessmen discuss the death of "Old Scratch," and comment how no one will attend his funeral. Next, Scrooge watches an undertaker, a laundress, and a charlady all come to Old Joe to sell the late mystery man's belongings, including the silk shirt in which he was to be buried. Refusing to look at the man's corpse, Scrooge asks to be shown someone feeling emotion at the man's death. The spirit takes Scrooge to a couple whose debt has been erased by the man's demise, and how they're rejoicing at his passing. Seeking a show of tenderness, they go to the Cratchits, where the family is in mourning over the death of Tiny Tim. The family members cry over Tim's lifeless body. Afterward, Scrooge tells the spirit that he would like to change things if he could, save Tiny Tim if it were within his power. Finally, the spirit takes Scrooge to the graveyard and forces him to look at a tombstone. Scrooge is horrified to see that it bears his own name. He asks the spirit to pity him and allow him to change things, to heed the lessons he has just been taught. At that point, the grave opens up and Scrooge and his corpse fall toward brimstone. Then, Scrooge awakens in his bed, an instantly changed man as he breaks into hysterical laughter. He asks a child outside his window to get a prize turkey for him to anonymously send to the Cratchits. Scrooge takes to the streets, doling out contributions before heading to church to carol. Then, Scrooge goes to Fred's house for Christmas dinner and revelry, surprising all in attendance. The next day, Cratchit is late in arriving to work and Scrooge feigns anger before giving him a raise and pledging to help his family. Fred notes that his uncle became a second father to Tiny Tim, as well as an altered man "who knew how to keep Christmas well." Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: TNT
- DATE: December 5, 1999 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:33:40
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:58824
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama
- SERIES RUN: TNT - TV, 1999
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Robert Halmi … Executive Producer
- Patrick Stewart … Executive Producer
- Wendy Neuss … Executive Producer
- Dyson Lovell … Producer
- Peter Barnes … Associate Producer, Writer
- Chris Thompson … Production (Misc.), Line Producer
- David Jones … Director
- Charles Dickens … Based on the novel by
- Stephen Warbeck … Music by
- Patrick Stewart … Cast, Ebenezer Scrooge
- Richard E. Grant … Cast, Bob Cratchit
- Joel Grey … Cast, Ghost of Christmas Past
- Ian McNeice … Cast, Albert Fezziwig
- Saskia Reeves … Cast, Mrs. Cratchit
- Desmond Barrit … Cast, Ghost of Christmas Present
- Bernard Lloyd … Cast, Marley's Ghost
- Dominic West … Cast, Fred
- Trevor Peacock … Cast, Old Joe
- Liz Smith … Cast, Mrs. Dilber
- Elizabeth Spriggs … Cast, Mrs. Riggs
- Kenny Doughty … Cast, Young Ebenezer Scrooge
- Laura Fraser … Cast, Belle
- Celia Imrie … Cast, Mrs. Bennett
- John Franklyn-Robbins … Cast, Crump
- Roger Frost … Cast, Clergyman
- Edward Petherbridge … Cast, Foster
- Jeremy Swift … Cast, Williams
- Leagh Conwell … Cast, Boy Caroler
- Rowland Stirling … Cast, Child Scrooge
- Josh Maguire … Cast, Boy Scrooge
- Rosie Wiggins … Cast, Fran Scrooge
- Mattthew Cottle … Cast, Dick Wilkins
- Annette Badland … Cast, Mrs. Fezziwig
- Michael Green … Cast, Eli Fezziwig
- Charlotte Brittain … Cast, Marigold Fezziwig
- Lynn Ferris … Cast, Daisy Fezziwig
- Holly Hutchings … Cast, Lily Fezziwig
- Tom Towndrow … Cast, Peter Cratchit
- Zoe Timmins … Cast, Belinda Cratchit
- Tabitha Francis … Cast, Young Girl Cratchit
- Barnaby Francis … Cast, Young Boy Cratchit
- Claire Slater … Cast, Martha Cratchit
- Ben Tibber … Cast, Tiny Tim
- Bruce Alexander … Cast, Mr. Bennett
- Crispin Letts … Cast, Topper Haines
- Annabel Mullion … Cast, Emily Bowley
- Helen Coker … Cast, Betsy
- Pooky Quesnel … Cast, Maude
- Leanne Howard-Williams … Cast, Want
- Daniel Booroff … Cast, Ignorance
- Tim Potter … Cast, The Third Spirit
- Gawn Grainger … Cast, First Broker
- Roger Hammond … Cast, Second Broker
- Stephen Moore … Cast, Third Broker
- Claire Adamson … Cast, Caroline
- Joe Jones … Cast, Caroline's Husband
- Billy Seymour … Cast, Turkey Boy
- Jack Chissick … Cast, Poulterer
- Debbie Chazen … Cast, Fred's Maid