Charles Dickens wrote a story that Hollywood and the theater loves. And audiences too I would say. I think I have a copy of the book, I’ll have to read it again. Your viewpoint changes a wee bit in 30 or 40 years. Dickens only lived to be 58. I want to go back and see what his intention was, not how his work was interpreted. Hollywood does not have a good relationship with Jesus, I want to see what his was. Because that is the nagging problem I have with the tale, that these fellows having received a visit from a series of ghosts, then work their way to heaven in the succeeding days by giving to the poor, is how they portray it on film and in the theater.

Just last night I saw a wonderful version by Richard Williams that won the Oscar in 1972 for Best Animated Short. Incredibly the shortfall was the voice of Ebenezer played by Alastair Sims, who had done a simply wonderful film version 20 years earlier. But for anyone who appreciates nice drawings, I highly encourage you to watch it on YouTube. I wish I could see it on my TV’s large screen. The artwork compared to today’s claptrap is not to be believed. In just one scene the Spirit takes Scrooge around the English countryside and even out to sea so that he can see how Christmas is celebrated from the rich and famous to the lowly and humble.

Different versions differ on how much ‘bible’ they throw in. In the 1951 version (or was it the 1938 version with Reginald Owen?) there is a surprising amount of bible reading and the singing of ‘God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen’ (“… Christ the Lord our Savior was born on Christmas day!“). In the 1984 version with George C. Scott I remember very little. Same with the 1979 adaptation starring Henry Winkler. This one is actually An American Christmas Carol and is one of my favorites. Dave Trumbore may not cover them all here, but he does rank 20 of them from worst to best. A must see list as no one could have seen all of these!

English literature I’ve noticed over the years has a common theme of a monetary windfall coming from a change of heart or an old wealthy relative kicking off at an opportune time. Americans of course come at it from a different perspective in that we dramatize the hero’s hard work or ingenuity in inventing a better mouse trap. Whatever the case it makes for a fine story. In a lot of ways corporate America hasn’t moved the compassion ball an inch and are still well entrenched in vulture capitalism.

Perhaps my favorite of all is the story change Henry Winkler’s version took with the orphanage. In this case ‘Benedict Slade’ returns at the end to the orphanage he grew up in, to find a boy who now needs his help. As a practical and literary device it is superb. Henry lets a little of the ‘Fonz’ show as he deals in a compassionate manner with the tough youth.

[As far as Dickens’ theology at least in the first few pages seems quite evident. He refers to the fireplace in Scrooges room built long ago by a Dutch tradesman. He describes the tiles as depicting biblical scenes from both new and old testament. Later when Marley is berating Ebenezer he refers to his lack of “Christian spirit”. There is an interesting video here from the British Library on the motivation for writing A Christmas Carol. Dickens was aghast at the working conditions very young children and women were being forced to work in.]