A Christmas Carol (1971) (TV)

Director:

Richard Williams

Writer:

Charles Dickens (short story)

Genre:

Animation | Family | Short | Fantasy | Drama

Plot:

An old bitter miser is given a chance for redemption when he is haunted by ghosts on Christmas Eve. |

Plot Keywords:

Victorian Era | Christmas | Ghost | Redemption | Greed

Awards:

Won Oscar.

Cast

Alastair Sim	...	Ebenezer Scrooge (voice)
Michael Hordern	...	Marley's Ghost (voice)
Melvyn Hayes	...	Bob Cratchit (voice)
Joan Sims	...	Mrs. Cratchit (voice)
Paul Whitsun-Jones	...	Ragpicker / Fezziwig (voice)
David Tate	...	Scrooge's Nephew / Charity Man (voice)
Diana Quick	...	Ghost of Christmas Past (voice)
Felix Felton	...	Ghost of Christmas Present (voice)
Annie West	...	Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come (voice)
Mary Ellen Ray	...	Mrs. Dilber (voice)
Alexander Williams	...	Tiny Tim (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Michael Redgrave	...	Narrator

Runtime:

28 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Argentina:Unrated

Company:

Richard Williams Productions

Trivia:

After this film won the Oscar, the Academy changed its rules so that a made-for-TV cartoon could never again win this honor, even if it was shown theatrically.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Anglian Lives: Alan Partridge (2003) (TV)

Best animated version of a Dickens classic Xmas tale

This is the best animated version of the hoary old Dickens tale ever brought to the screen. This is no assembly-line cartoon; this is a Victorian lithograph brought to life. Splendid artwork, dizzying camera angles, magnificent and painstaking animation at its best. There are master craftsmen at work here; no shortcuts or sloppy work. The only criticism I could make of it is that it's too short. I sure wish that Santa had given them an unlimited budget to work with. Probably not suitable for younger children, as some of the images are a little terrifying (the children under the robe of the second spirit send chills up my spine every time I see it). I first saw it on PBS back in 1972, I think, and it has haunted me ever since. I was fortunate enough to find a copy on eBay, and it was as good as I had remembered from 30 years back. It's a rotten shame that it's been neglected by the networks ("A Christmas Story" and "Miracle on 34th Street" are great films, but they flog them to death every Christmas). If you want to get in the Christmas spirit, do yourself a favor and beg, borrow or steal a copy of this film.