A Christmas Carol (1977) Online
It's the end of December and professional miser Ebenezer Scrooge absolutely despises this time of the year. He thinks Christmas is all humbug. He doesn't buy his nephew's talk of Christmas being a kind time, thinks it's absolute madness his servant Cratchit wants a day off and sends away collectors of donations for the poor penniless. It's also the time of the year in which his companion Jacob Marley died seven years ago. When he is all alone, he suddenly sees Marley again, in the door handle, in a tile, a bell suddenly rings. Humbug, thinks Scrooge. But then Marley really appears for him and tells him he should change his life. He warns Scrooge he will be haunted by three spirits, the Ghost of Christmas Past, the Ghost of Christmas Present and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come.
Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Michael Hordern | - | Scrooge | |
John Le Mesurier | - | Marley's Ghost | |
Bernard Lee | - | Ghost of Christmas Present | |
Patricia Quinn | - | Ghost of Christmas Past | |
Paul Copley | - | Fred | |
Clive Merrison | - | Bob Cratchit | |
Carol MacReady | - | Mrs. Cratchit | |
Maev Alexander | - | Fred's Wife | |
Zoë Wanamaker | - | Belle | |
Stephen Churchett | - | John | |
Will Stampe | - | Fezziwig | |
Christopher Biggins | - | Topper | |
Tricia George | - | Little Blonde | |
John Salthouse | - | Scrooge as a Young Man | |
Veronica Doran | - | Caroline |
This short, one hour version was shot entirely on video for TV by the BBC and broadcast in the UK on two occasions - Christmas Eve 1977 and 1979. Because of the proliferation of other versions, the BBC has never made a full-length film and so this abridgment continues to live as their only color version and has been issued on VHS and DVD.
Michael Hordern (Ebenezer Scrooge) previously played Jacob Marley in Scrooge (1951) and A Christmas Carol (1971).
Old Joe is absent in this production, but Mrs. Dilber and the Undertaker appear in the same scene as Scrooge's shrouded body. Mrs. Dilber is both Scrooge's former laundress and charlady in this television film.
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