A Christmas Carol (2004) (TV)

Director:

Arthur Allan Seidelman

Writers (WGA):

Charles Dickens (novel)
Mike Ockrent (musical) ...

Release Date:

28 November 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Fantasy | Musical

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Based On Novel

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy. Another 1 win & 4 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sun. Dec. 27	12:00 PM	HALMRK
Sun. Dec. 27	6:00 PM	HALMRK
Thur. Dec. 31	12:00 PM	HALMRK

Cast

Kelsey Grammer	...	Ebenezer Scrooge
Jesse L. Martin	...	Ghost of Christmas Present / Ticket Seller
Jane Krakowski	...	Ghost of Christmas Past / Streetlamp Lighter
Jason Alexander	...	Jacob Marley / Marley's Ghost
Jennifer Love Hewitt	...	Emily
Geraldine Chaplin	...	Ghost of Christmas Future / Blind Beggarwoman
Patrick David	...	Chest-In-Safe Ghost
Steven Miller	...	Young Ebenezer Scrooge
Emily Deamer	...	Grace Smythe
Julian Ovenden	...	Fred Anderson
Joseph Tremain	...	Jonathon (urchin)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Julie Alannagh-Brighten	...	Sally Anderson
Brian Bedford	...	Mr. Fezziwig
Will Collyer	...	Caroller
Gus Corrado	...	Mr. Hawkins
Beth Curry	...	Panto girl #2
Edward Gower	...	Bob Cratchit
Linzi Hateley	...	Mrs. Cratchit
Máté Haumann
Ruthie Henshall	...	Young Scrooge's Mother
Mike Kelly	...	Scrooge's Father
Ian McLarnon	...	Mr. Smythe
Claire Moore	...	Mrs. Fezziwig
Jacob Moriarty	...	Tiny Tim
John Rado	...	The Judge
Sheila Reid	...	Mrs. Mops
Alan Ruscoe	...	The Poulterer
Karen Sieber	...	Panto girl #1
Leah-Verity White	...	Fan
Dave Willetts	...	Charity Trio
Josh Wilmott	...	Scrooge (10 years old)

Also Known As:

A Christmas Carol: The Musical (USA)

Runtime:

USA:97 min

Country:

Hungary | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

USA:Not Rated | Australia:G | Netherlands:AL

Filming Locations:

Budapest, Hungary

Company:

Hallmark Entertainment

Trivia:

This version is unique in that Scrooge meets all three Christmas Ghosts in human form before meeting them as spirits.

Goofs:

Continuity: Through the course of the movie, Scrooge's teeth continuously change from rotten to white.

Quotes:

Jacob Marley: When the clock strikes one... the Ghost of Christmas Past
Ebenezer Scrooge: I prefer not to think about the past
Jacob Marley: When the clock strikes two... the Ghost of Christmas Present
Ebenezer Scrooge: At the present I'd like to go to bed
Jacob Marley: When the clock strikes three... the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Be! Three ghosts who yet may stop you ending up like me...

Movie Connections:

Version of "Tales from Dickens: A Dickens Christmas: A Christmas Carol" (1958)

First rate TV Fare, loved it.

I couldn't get enough of this! Catchy tunes and and fast pacing kept it going right to the end. Can't wait to add this to my collection as another great version of A Christmas Carol.

I've noticed some complaints about the adding of characters and slight plots changes. Well, I WELCOMED these. It makes the story fresh and interesting, I mean come on! We all love this story but have seen it/heard it/read it exactly the same many many times.

Be sure to catch Jason Alexander's song, as well as the one at Fezziwig's. They hightlight a strong musical score. I'm hoping for a soundtrack. Honorable mention to Jennifer Love Hewitt, I wasn't sure what to expect having only hearing her sing pop. But she holds her own here and shows versatility with her voice.

A Christmas Carol is a great, simple, musical. Large chorus numbers filled with choreography and soft ballads. It is a welcomed break from the attention deficit Moulin Rouge and scene-stealer infested Chicago.