A Christmas Carol - Multimedia Links

Although reading this book (even the short versions) aloud to your children builds much better memories than watching a video or listening to an audio book, it is not surprising that many worthwhile adaptions of A Christmas Carol have been made. In fact the book has been translated into stage and screen well over fifty times, if you count parodies such as Bill Murray's Scrooged (which is not on my "a-list").

On film, Ebenezer Scrooge has been played by such notables as Reginald Owen, Alastair Sim, Albert Finey, George C. Scott, Patrick Stewart, and Michael Caine. The best of the best are:

• Most authentic modern versions - The George C. Scott and Patrick Stewart versions. When the George C. Scott version was released, a related book that described many Victorian Christmas customs was published as a companion to the movie. Though it is out of print, this book is worth having for any serious fan of the story or of Victorian Christmases in general. Check out A Christmas Carol Christmas Book by Tim Hallinan, Amazon # B000B5S88A.

• Best children's version - The Muppet Christmas Carol. Michael Caine plays a believable Scrooge surrounded by a supporting cast of fuzzy characters. The plot is surprisingly close to the book, making this a good introduction to the story, and the sound track has some very nice songs.

• Best retelling - The made-for-television special An American Christmas Carol, stars Henry Winkler as a Depression-era miser whose experiences largely parallel Scrooge's. Don't laugh, this is the most emotionally moving of all the adaptations.

Recommended Movies With Similar Themes

• It's a Wonderful Life, starring James Stewart, is a classic in its own right.
• One Magic Christmas, starring Mary Steenburgen, is the story of a modern housewife whose "Christmas spirit" disappears when it suddenly looks as though the family will lose everything they have worked for. The scenario is all too real, the characters are believable, the story is "character driven," and the acting is supurb. Harry Dean Stanton as a harmonica-playing, quiet-voiced angel makes even the supernatural element palatable and integral to the film.
• The Family Man, starring Nicholas Cage, deserves honorable mention in this category as well. It's the story of a financially successful bachelor who is forced by a supernatural twist to see what (and who) he gave up to achieve that success. Shelia likes it because the personal interaction of the principals is believable (under the circumstances), and parts are charming in what I would call a "chick-flicky" way. But, although the action happens around Christmas, it's not really about Christmas per se, as the other movies on this page are..

Honorable Mention

Mickey's Christmas Carol

This is also a reasonably close and very respectful adaptation of Dickens' original Christmas Carol. Scrooge McDuck, a longtime Disney character (seen mostly in Disney comic books) is, quite naturally, the geezer. Goofy is Marley, Mickey is Bob Cratchit, and so on, but, with the exception of certain liberties (such as Goofy/Marley's clumsiness), the Disney characters do justice to their Dickens counterparts.

This movie is currently available as part of a Disney compilation that also includes Small One. But don't be fooled into handing the dvd to the kids and telling them to watch all three shows on the disk back to back without you in the room. This show and Small One, are worth making the time to watch with your family.

Now Available For Instant Download: Kelsey Grammer's A Christmas Carol (Download)

To return to the Dickens Christmas Carol Home Page, click here.

To return to the Family Christmas Movies Home Page, click here.