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Featured CED VideoDisc No. 26 - Fall 2002

 


Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol and Scrooge

Scrooge Musical A Christmas Carol Mickey's Christmas Carol

This CED Feature focuses on the three versions of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol  available on CED, but in a break with tradition, I'm expanding the scope of the feature to cover all the visual performances of the Dickens' tale about which information is still available. The elementary school I attended had a tradition of showing a different Christmas Carol  each year during the holidays, so I grew up believing an endless variety of movies existed. This is not too far from the truth, as the table further down this page has over 70 entries for movie, television, and video releases of the classic Dickens' tale, and nearly every year since CED's first year of 1981 has seen the release of one or more new versions. Everyone from the Flintstones to the Jetsons has taken a crack at this timeless tale. With all the corporate corruption that has been revealed in the past year, I wouldn't be surprised to see a "CEO Christmas Carol" sometime soon.

I've always enjoyed comparing the various traditional versions of A Christmas Carol  with one another, which can be difficult without watching them back-to-back, so this page also contains a large table comparing 40 key scenes in Dickens' original novel among the various versions available on video. The images in the table may also be viewed in slide show fashion, complete with quotes from the novel, by clicking on any thumbnail image. As I write this in Fall 2002, the three CED releases have been completed, and I plan to add about one a week in the days leading up to Christmas. So there will be about 15 rows in the table by January 5, 2003. Eventually I'd like to have every traditional Christmas Carol  still available covered in the table and slide show. Traditional means versions that revolve around a central character named Scrooge living in mid-19th century England, with fairly close adherence to Dickens' original novel. There have been many non-traditional versions of this tale made, which share a common theme of a humbug central character who gets enlightened after some visitations, but they set the action in a different time or place, often with a substantially different supporting cast.

The three versions available on CED happen to all be traditional by my definition, even though two are animated and one is a musical. Mickey's Christmas Carol  might use Disney characters, but it still follows the names from the novel and is set in 19th century England. Likewise the musical Scrooge  has the same setting and cast of characters, it's just that some of the action is performed to the accompaniment of song and dance. Here are brief summaries of each of the CED releases:

 

I'd like to conclude with brief summaries of some of the classic Christmas Carol  productions not available on CED, although most of these are readily available on other video formats:

 

Production and Scene Bah! Humbug! Scrooge Bob Cratchit Nephew Fred Two Solicitors Haunted Knocker Phantom Hearse Marley's Ghost Tormented Spirits Ghost of Christmas Past Child Scrooge Ali Baba Sister Fan Schoolmaster Mr. Fezziwig Apprentice Scrooge Dick Wilkins Mrs. Fezziwig Greedy Scrooge Fiance Belle Comely Matron Ghost of Christmas Present Torch Sprinklings Mrs. Cratchit Cratchit Children Tiny Tim Christmas Pudding Caroling Miners Lighthouse Ship at Sea Shadow Niece Mr. Topper Ignorance & Want Christmas Yet To Come Notable Businessmen Old Joe Opportunists Shrouded Corpse Caroline Tiny Tim No More Scrooge's Grave Redeemed Scrooge Turkey Fetcher Nephew's Maid Niece's Dinner Cratchit's Raise
A Christmas Carol (1999) Bah Humbug Scrooge Bob Cratchit Nephew Fred Two Solicitors Haunted Knocker Not Present Marley's Ghost Tormented Spirits Ghost of Christmas Past Child Scrooge Not Present Sister Fan Not Present Mr. Fezziwig Clerk Scrooge Dick Wilkins Mrs. Fezziwig Greedy Scrooge Fiance Belle Not Present Ghost of Christmas Present Torch Sprinklings Mrs. Cratchit Cratchit Children Tiny Tim Christmas Pudding Caroling Miners Lighthouse Ship At Sea Scrooge's Niece Mr. Topper Ignorance and Want Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come Notable Businessmen Old Joe Charwoman Seamstress Undertaker Shrouded Corpse Caroline and Husband Tiny Tim No More Scrooge's Grave Enlightened Scrooge Turkey Fetcher Nephew's Maid Niece's Dinner Cratchit's Raise
The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) Bah Humbug Scrooge Bob Cratchit Nephew Fred Two Solicitors Haunted Knocker Not Present Marley's Ghost Not Present Ghost of Christmas Past Child Scrooge Not Present Not Present Schoolmaster Mr. Fezziwig Clerk Scrooge Not Present Mrs. Fezziwig Greedy Scrooge Fiance Belle Not Present Ghost of Christmas Present Not Present Mrs. Cratchit Cratchit Children Tiny Tim Not Present Not Present Not Present Not Present Scrooge's Niece Mr. Topper Not Present Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come Notable Businessmen Old Joe Charwoman Seamstress Undertaker Not Present Not Present Tiny Tim No More Scrooge's Grave Enlightened Scrooge Turkey Fetcher Not Present Niece's Dinner Cratchit's Raise
A Christmas Carol (1984) Bah Humbug Scrooge Bob Cratchit Nephew Fred Two Solicitors Haunted Knocker Phantom Carriage Marley's Ghost Not Present Ghost of Christmas Past Child Scrooge Not Present Sister Fan Not Present Mr. Fezziwig Clerk Scrooge Dick Wilkins Mrs. Fezziwig Greedy Scrooge Fiance Belle Comely Matron Ghost of Christmas Present Torch Sprinklings Mrs. Cratchit Cratchit Children Tiny Tim Christmas Pudding Not Present Not Present Not Present Scrooge's Niece Mr. Topper Ignorance and Want Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come Notable Businessmen Old Joe Charwoman Seamstress Undertaker Shrouded Corpse Not Present Tiny Tim No More Scrooge's Grave Enlightened Scrooge Turkey Fetcher Nephew's Maid Niece's Dinner Cratchit's Raise
Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983) Bah Humbug Scrooge Bob Cratchit Nephew Fred Two Solicitors Haunted Knocker Not Present Marley's Ghost Not Present Ghost of Christmas Past Not Present Not Present Not Present Not Present Mr. Fezziwig Clerk Scrooge Not Present Not Present Greedy Scrooge Fiance Belle Not Present Ghost of Christmas Present Not Present Mrs. Cratchit Cratchit Children Tiny Tim Not Present Not Present Not Present Not Present Not Present Not Present Not Present Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come Not Present Not Present Not Present Not Present Not Present Tiny Tim No More Scrooge's Grave Redeemed Scrooge Not Present Not Present Not Present Cratchit's Raise
A Christmas Carol (1982) Bah Humbug Scrooge Bob Cratchit Nephew Fred Two Solicitors Haunted Knocker Not Present Marley's Ghost Tormented Spirits Ghost of Christmas Past Child Scrooge Ali Baba Sister Fan Schoolmaster Mr. Fezziwig Clerk Scrooge Dick Wilkins Mrs. Fezziwig Greedy Scrooge Fiance Belle Comely Matron Ghost of Christmas Present Torch Sprinklings Mrs. Cratchit Cratchit Children Tiny Tim Not Present Not Present Lighthouse Not Present Scrooge's Niece Mr. Topper Ignorance and Want Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come Notable Businessmen Old Joe Charwoman Seamstress Undertaker Shrouded Corpse Not Present Tiny Tim No More Scrooge's Grave Redeemed Scrooge Turkey Fetcher Not Present Niece's Dinner Cratchit's Raise
The Stingiest Man in Town (1978) Bah Humbug Scrooge Bob Cratchit Nephew Fred Not Present Haunted Knocker Not Present Marley's Ghost Tormented Spirits Ghost of Christmas Past Not Present Not Present Not Present Not Present Mr. Fezziwig Clerk Scrooge Not Present Mrs. Fezziwig Greedy Scrooge Fiance Belle Comely Matron Ghost of Christmas Present Torch Sprinklings Mrs. Cratchit Cratchit Children Tiny Tim Christmas Pudding Not Present Not Present Not Present Scrooge's Niece Not Present Not Present Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come Not Present Old Joe Charwoman Seamstress Undertaker Not Present Not Present Not Present Scrooge's Grave Enlightened Scrooge Turkey Fetcher Not Present Niece's Dinner Cratchit's Raise
A Christmas Carol (1971) Bah Humbug Scrooge Bob Cratchit Nephew Fred Two Solicitors Haunted Knocker Phantom Carriage Marley's Ghost Tormented Spirits Ghost of Christmas Past Child Scrooge Ali Baba Not Present Not Present Mr. Fezziwig Clerk Scrooge Dick Wilkins Mrs. Fezziwig Greedy Scrooge Fiance Belle Not Present Ghost of Christmas Present Torch Sprinklings Mrs. Cratchit Cratchit Children Tiny Tim Not Present Caroling Miners Lighthouse Ship At Sea Scrooge's Niece Not Present Ignorance and Want Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come Notable Businessmen Old Joe Charwoman Seamstress Undertaker Shrouded Corpse Not Present Tiny Tim No More Scrooge's Grave Enlightened Scrooge Turkey Fetcher Nephew's Maid Niece's Dinner Cratchit's Raise
Scrooge (1970) Bah Humbug Scrooge Bob Cratchit Nephew Fred Two Solicitors Haunted Knocker Phantom Carriage Marley's Ghost Tormented Spirits Ghost of Christmas Past Child Scrooge Not Present Sister Fan Not Present Mr. Fezziwig Clerk Scrooge Dick Wilkins Mrs. Fezziwig Greedy Scrooge Fiance Belle Not Present Ghost of Christmas Present Not Present Mrs. Cratchit Cratchit Children Tiny Tim Not Present Not Present Not Present Not Present Scrooge's Niece Mr. Topper Not Present Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come Not Present Not Present Not Present Shrouded Corpse Not Present Tiny Tim No More Scrooge's Grave Redeemed Scrooge Turkey Fetcher Not Present Niece's Dinner Cratchit's Raise
Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol (1962) Bah Humbug Scrooge Bob Cratchit Not Present Two Solicitors Haunted Knocker Not Present Marley's Ghost Tormented Spirits Ghost of Christmas Past Child Scrooge Not Present Not Present Not Present Mr. Fezziwig Clerk Scrooge Dick Wilkins Mrs. Fezziwig Greedy Scrooge Fiance Belle Not Present Ghost of Christmas Present Not Present Mrs. Cratchit Cratchit Children Tiny Tim Christmas Pudding Not Present Not Present Not Present Not Present Not Present Not Present Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come Notable Businessmen Old Joe Charwoman Seamstress Undertaker Not Present Not Present Tiny Tim No More Scrooge's Grave Enlightened Scrooge Turkey Fetcher Not Present Not Present Cratchit's Raise
A Christmas Carol (1954) Bah Humbug Scrooge Bob Cratchit Nephew Fred Two Solicitors Not Present Not Present Marley's Ghost Not Present Ghost of Christmas Past Not Present Not Present Not Present Not Present Mr. Fezziwig Clerk Scrooge Dick Wilkins Mrs. Fezziwig Not Present Fiance Belle Not Present Ghost of Christmas Present Not Present Mrs. Cratchit Cratchit Children Tiny Tim Christmas Pudding Not Present Not Present Not Present Not Present Not Present Not Present Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come Not Present Not Present Not Present Not Present Not Present Tiny Tim No More Scrooge's Grave Redeemed Scrooge Turkey Fetcher Not Present Not Present Cratchit's Raise
Scrooge (1951) Bah Humbug Scrooge Bob Cratchit Nephew Fred Two Solicitors Haunted Knocker Not Present Marley's Ghost Tormented Spirits Ghost of Christmas Past Child Scrooge Not Present Sister Fan Schoolmaster Mr. Fezziwig Clerk Scrooge Not Present Mrs. Fezziwig Greedy Scrooge Fiance Belle Comely Matron Ghost of Christmas Present Not Present Mrs. Cratchit Cratchit Children Tiny Tim Christmas Pudding Caroling Miners Not Present Not Present Scrooge's Niece Mr. Topper Ignorance and Want Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come Notable Businessmen Old Joe Charwoman Seamstress Undertaker Not Present Not Present Tiny Tim No More Scrooge's Grave Redeemed Scrooge Turkey Fetcher Nephew's Maid Niece's Dinner Cratchit's Raise
The Christmas Carol (1949) Bah Humbug Scrooge Bob Cratchit Nephew Fred Not Present Not Present Not Present Marley's Ghost Not Present Ghost of Christmas Past Child Scrooge Not Present Not Present Not Present Not Present Not Present Not Present Not Present Not Present Not Present Not Present Ghost of Christmas Present Not Present Mrs. Cratchit Cratchit Children Tiny Tim Not Present Not Present Not Present Not Present Not Present Not Present Not Present Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come Notable Businessmen Not Present Not Present Not Present Not Present Tiny Tim No More Scrooge's Grave Enlightened Scrooge Turkey Fetcher Not Present Not Present Cratchit's Raise
A Christmas Carol (1938) Bah Humbug Scrooge Bob Cratchit Nephew Fred Two Solicitors Haunted Knocker Not Present Marley's Ghost Not Present Ghost of Christmas Past Child Scrooge Not Present Sister Fan Schoolmaster Mr. Fezziwig Clerk Scrooge Dick Wilkins Not Present Not Present Not Present Not Present Ghost of Christmas Present Torch Sprinklings Mrs. Cratchit Cratchit Children Tiny Tim Christmas Pudding Not Present Not Present Not Present Scrooge's Niece Mr. Topper Not Present Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come Notable Businessmen Not Present Not Present Shrouded Corpse Not Present Tiny Tim No More Scrooge's Grave Redeemed Scrooge Turkey Fetcher Nephew's Maid Niece's Dinner Cratchit's Raise
Scrooge (1935) Bah Humbug Scrooge Bob Cratchit Nephew Fred Two Solicitors Haunted Knocker Not Present Marley's Ghost Tormented Spirits Ghost of Christmas Past Not Present Not Present Not Present Not Present Not Present Not Present Not Present Not Present Greedy Scrooge Fiance Belle Comely Matron Ghost of Christmas Present Not Present Mrs. Cratchit Cratchit Children Tiny Tim Christmas Pudding Not Present Lighthouse Ship At Sea Scrooge's Niece Mr. Topper Not Present Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come Notable Businessmen Old Joe Charwoman Seamstress Undertaker Shrouded Corpse Not Present Tiny Tim No More Scrooge's Grave Redeemed Scrooge Turkey Fetcher Nephew's Maid Niece's Dinner Cratchit's Raise
A Christmas Carol (1923) Bah Humbug Scrooge Bob Cratchit Nephew Fred Two Solicitors Not Present Not Present Marley's Ghost Not Present Ghost of Christmas Past Not Present Not Present Not Present Not Present Not Present Not Present Not Present Not Present Greedy Scrooge Fiance Belle Not Present Ghost of Christmas Present Not Present Not Present Not Present Not Present Not Present Not Present Not Present Not Present Scrooge's Niece Mr. Topper Not Present Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come Not Present Not Present Not Present Not Present Not Present Not Present Scrooge's Grave Redeemed Scrooge Not Present Nephew's Maid Niece's Dinner Cratchit's Raise
A Christmas Carol aka Old Scrooge (1913) Bah Humbug Scrooge Bob Cratchit Nephew Fred Two Solicitors Not Present Not Present Marley's Ghost Not Present Ghost of Christmas Past Child Scrooge Not Present Sister Fan Not Present Not Present Not Present Not Present Not Present Not Present Fiance Belle Not Present Ghost of Christmas Present Not Present Mrs. Cratchit Cratchit Children Tiny Tim Christmas Pudding Not Present Not Present Not Present Not Present Not Present Not Present Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come Not Present Not Present Not Present Not Present Not Present Tiny Tim No More Scrooge's Grave Enlightened Scrooge Turkey Fetcher Not Present Not Present Cratchit's Raise

 

Christmas Carol Versions, Traditional and Not
Title Year Scrooge or equivalent Interpretation Notes
A Christmas Carol 2009 Jim Carrey Traditional 3D/IMAX
Dora's Christmas Carol Adventure 2009 ? Non-Traditional Animated
Barbie in a Christmas Carol 2008 Morwenna Banks (voice) Non-Traditional Animated
A Valentine Carol 2007 Emma Caulfield Non-Traditional TV
A Sesame Street Christmas Carol 2006 Caroll Spinney (voice) Non-Traditional Puppets
A Christmas Carol 2004 Kelsey Grammer Traditional Musical
A Christmas Carol 2004 ? Traditional Animated Animals
A Carol Christmas 2003 Tori Spelling Non-Traditional Animated
Christmas Carol: the Movie 2001 Simon Callow (voice) Traditional Animated
Scrooge and Marley 2001 Dean Jones Non-Traditional TV
A Christmas Carol 2000 Warren Mitchell Non-Traditional TV
A Diva's Christmas Carol 2000 Vanessa Williams Non-Traditional TV
Christmas Glory 2000 2000 Richard Griffiths Non-Traditional Dramatic Reading
Maxine's Christmas Carol 2000 Maxine Non-Traditional Animated
A Christmas Carol 1999 Patrick Stewart Traditional TV
101 Dalmatians Christmas 1998 ? Non-Traditional Animated
An All Dogs Christmas Carol 1998 Ernest Borgnine (voice) Non-Traditional Animated
The Ghosts of Dickens' Past 1998 Christopher Heyerdahl Non-Traditional Dickens himself in a quasi-Scrooge role
A Christmas Carol 1997 Tim Curry (voice) Traditional Animated
Ebenezer 1997 Jack Palance Non-Traditional TV
Ms. Scrooge 1997 Cicely Tyson Non-Traditional  
Beavis and Butt-head Do Christmas 1996 Mike Judge (Beavis voice) Non-Traditional TV, Animated
Ebbie 1995 Susan Lucci Non-Traditional TV
A Christmas Carol 1994 Jeremy Kerridge Traditional TV
A Flintstones Christmas Carol 1994 Henry Corden (voice) Non-Traditional TV, Animated
Bah, Humbug!: The Story of Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol' 1994 James Earl Jones Non-Traditional Dramatic Reading
Animaniacs Helloooo Holidays 1993 ? Non-Traditional Animated
Alvin's Christmas Carol 1992 Alvin Non-Traditional Animated
Brer Rabbit's Christmas Carol 1992 Brer Fox Non-Traditional Animated
The Muppet Christmas Carol 1992 Michael Caine Traditional Puppets/Live Actors
A Christmas Carol: Being a Ghost Story of Christmas 1991 ? ?  
Scrooge: A Christmas Carol 1989 Alastair Sim Traditional Colorized TV release of 1951 version
Scrooged 1988 Bill Murray Non-Traditional  
Black Adder's Christmas Carol 1988 Rowan Atkinson Non-Traditional TV
James Galway's Christmas Carol 1986 James Galway Non-Traditional TV Musical
One Magic Christmas 1985 Mary Steenburgen Non-Traditional  
The Jetsons Christmas Carol 1985 Frank Welker (voice) Non-Traditional TV, Animated
A Christmas Carol 1984 George C. Scott Traditional TV
Christmas Carol 1984 Michel Bouquet Traditional TV
Scrooge's Rock 'N' Roll Christmas 1984 Jack Elam Non-Traditional TV Musical
Mickey's Christmas Carol 1983 Alan Young (voice) Traditional Animated
A Christmas Carol 1982 ? Traditional Animated
A Christmas Carol 1982 Richard Hilger Traditional Theatrical Adaptation
A Christmas Carol 1981 William Peterson Traditional TV
A Christmas Carol at Ford's Theatre 1979 ? Traditional TV
An American Christmas Carol 1979 Henry Winkler Non-Traditional TV
Bugs Bunny's Christmas Carol 1979 Mel Blanc (voice) Non-Traditional TV, Animated
Skinflint: A Country Christmas Carol 1979 Hoyt Axton Non-Traditional Musical
Rich Little's Christmas Carol 1978 Rich Little Non-Traditional TV
Scrooge 1978 Warren Graves Traditional TV
The Stingiest Man in Town 1978 Walter Matthau (voice) Traditional TV Musical, Animated
A Christmas Carol 1977 Michael Hordern Traditional TV
A Christmas Carol 1976 ? Traditional TV
A Christmas Carol 1971 Alastair Sim (voice) Traditional Animated, Sim reprises his 1951 role
Scrooge 1970 Albert Finney Traditional Musical
A Christmas Carol 1969 ? Traditional Animated
Carol for Another Christmas 1964 Sterling Hayden Non-Traditional TV
Mr. Scrooge 1964 Cyril Ritchard Traditional TV
O Velho Scrooge 1963 ? ? TV
Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol 1962 Jim Backus (voice) Traditional TV, Animated
A Christmas Carol 1958 Basil Rathbone Traditional Tales from Dickens TV Episode
A Christmas Carol 1954 Fredric March Traditional TV (from the first year of color TV)
It's Never Too Late 1953 ? Non-Traditional aka Non è mai troppo tardi
A Christmas Carol 1953 Noel Leslie Traditional TV
Scrooge 1951 Alastair Sim Traditional aka A Christmas Carol
A Christmas Carol 1950 Bransby Williams Traditional TV
The Christmas Carol 1949 Taylor Holmes Traditional TV
A Christmas Carol 1947 John Carradine Traditional TV
Leyenda de Navidad 1947 Jesús Tordesillas ?  
A Christmas Carol 1938 Reginald Owen Traditional  
Scrooge 1935 Seymour Hicks Traditional Hicks reprises his 1913 role
Scrooge 1928 Bransby Williams Traditional Silent
Scrooge 1923 Russell Thorndike Traditional Silent
Scrooge 1922 H.V. Esmond Traditional Silent
The Birds' Christmas Carol 1917 ? ? Silent, aka A Bit o' Heaven
The Right to Be Happy 1916 Rupert Julian Traditional Silent, aka Scrooge the Skinflint
A Christmas Carol 1915 ? Traditional Silent
Scrooge 1913 Seymour Hicks Traditional Silent
The Virtue of Rags 1912 Francis X. Bushman Non-Traditional Silent
A Christmas Carol 1910 Charles Ogle Traditional Silent
A Christmas Carol 1908 ? Traditional Silent
Scrooge 1901 ? Traditional Silent, aka Marley's Ghost

 


A Christmas Carol on Handhelds

 

Christmas Carol iSilo Palm WindowsDownload carol.zip for Windows host computers
Christmas Carol iSilo Palm MacOSDownload carol.prc for MacOS host computers (control-click file name)

After download, unzip the Windows file (the Mac file is ready to install as is), and use the handheld computer install program to prepare it for transfer. During the next sync operation the carol.prc file will be placed on your Palm OS, Pocket PC, or Windows CE handheld, and the complete 1843 Charles Dickens book may be read on the device using a reader application like iSilo.


Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol
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