A Christmas Carol (1999) (TV)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

David Hugh Jones

Writers:

Peter Barnes (written for television by)
Charles Dickens (novel)

Release Date:

5 December 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Fantasy

Tagline:

In Just One Night, He Has Seen His Past, His Present, And His Future... And They've All Come Back To Haunt Him.

Plot:

An adaptation of the famous novel.

Plot Keywords:

Christmas | Spirit | 1840s | Ghost | Miser

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy. Another 3 nominations

Cast

Patrick Stewart	...	Mr. Ebenezer Scrooge
Richard E. Grant	...	Bob Cratchit
Joel Grey	...	The Ghost of Christmas Past
Ian McNeice	...	Mr. Albert Fezziwig
Saskia Reeves	...	Mrs. Cratchit
Desmond Barrit	...	The Ghost of Christmas Present
Bernard Lloyd	...	Marley's Ghost
Dominic West	...	Fred (Scrooge's nephew)
Trevor Peacock	...	Old Joe
Liz Smith	...	Mrs. Dilber
Elizabeth Spriggs	...	Mrs. Riggs
Kenny Doughty	...	Young Scrooge
Laura Fraser	...	Belle
Celia Imrie	...	Mrs. Bennett
John Franklyn-Robbins	...	Crump

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Netherlands:AL

Filming Locations:

Kirby Hall, Corby, Northamptonshire, England, UK

Company:

Turner Network Television (TNT)

Trivia:

Liz Smith played Mrs. Dilber in both the 1984 version of A Christmas Carol (1984) (TV) starring George C. Scott, and the 1999 version of A Christmas Carol (1999) (TV) starring Patrick Stewart.

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: When Scrooge is with the ghosts, they walk through walls but over and on the furniture.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Clergyman: A man that is born of woman hath but a short time to live and is full of misery. He cometh up and is cut down like a flower.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Charles Dickens & the Invention of Christmas (2007) (TV)

Faithful to Dickens, Stewart perfect

The sad thing about this adaptation is simply that audiences have expected less reserved acting and brighter and cheerier moods. However, I've read the book many times, and although I like all versions, I think this is probably the 2nd best I've seen. (I love the musical Scrooge with Albert Finney. It's delightful, if not entirely British in tone.) Scrooge was a Victorian man, which means the definition of his character would be one of reservation and stiffness. Patrick Stewart is quite believable as a Victorian British gentleman miser.

I enjoyed immensely the understated end, where Scrooge changes much for the better, yet at the same time maintains the appearance of a Victorian gentleman. The scene in which Scrooge haltingly enters his nephews house is very powerful and poignant imo.

Admittedly, the supporting cast is forgettable, but that's to be expected. This is Scrooge's story and belongs to no one else. What I think turns people off for this version is the stiffness portrayed by Scrooge and the general "oppressive" atmosphere of the movie. But it is quite good, and Stewart's portrayal of the Victorian Scrooge is perfect.

Although, I think that from our own perspective, Alastair Sim's portrayal will remain the one that stays forever. This movie suffers most from a low TV budget which often limits the camera work along with special effects. But overall, this is one of the best versions out there.