Christmas Carol: The Movie

Pathe release the title in the UK in late November backed by various tie-in promotions and a single aimed at chart success. Despite competition from Michael Caine, George C Scott and Albert Finney, the late Alastair Sim remains the definitive screen Scrooge and the 1951 version of the Dickens novel enjoyed a recent successful theatrical re-issue in the UK. Sim also lent his inimitable vocal talents to a 1972 animated version of A Christmas Carol directed by Richard Williams which won the Oscar as Best Short Film. The latest version begins with a live-action prologue set in the Boston of1867. Actor Simon Callow plays Charles Dickens, a role which has brought him great stage success and which he is currently playing on a world tour. On this occasion, Dickens has arrived to enthrall the audience with one of his celebrated recitations. The sight of a mouse prompts a scream from the audience but provides Dickens with his introduction to a version of A Christmas Carol in which a mouse called Gabriel plays a significant part. The film then shifts into animation and into the familiar story of the curmudgeonly old misanthrope Ebenezer Scrooge (Callow) and the grim Victorian England in which he pursues financial gain at the expense of spiritual fulfilment. Drab, dreary colours are used to convey a world in which the debtors' prison is a constant threat to those hovering on the brink of insolvency. The latest to fall from grace is a doctor who has served the needs of many poor and desperately ill souls in the community. His nurse, Bell (Winslet) decides to write to Ebenezer Scrooge pleading for mercy and reminding him of the affection they once shared.

Cold-hearted Scrooge is not a man to be profligate with his compassion, even at the Christmas season. Refusing an offer of hospitality from his nephew and grudging the paid holiday expected by his humble clerk, his only warmth is reserved for the little mouse Gabriel who is rewarded with a minuscule piece of cheese and a modicum of conversation.

The ghost of Jacob Marley (Cage) is the first to appear and warn Scrooge of the error of his ways. Over the course of a long night's journey into day his old business partner is followed by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future. The film reveals some of its most beautiful animation as Scrooge and the ghosts fly high over visions of changing seasons and better days, Festive feasts and merry gatherings. Director Jimmy T Murakami and producer Iain Harvey previously worked together on animated perennial The Snowman and there is a certain similarity in the scenes here although the traditional animation may seem old hat to audiences hungry for the subversive, cutting-edge delights of Shrek.

Inevitably, the grim reminder of Scrooge's own failings prompts a change of heart and Gabriel ensures that he reads the letter from Bell, the woman he once promised to marry.

Aimed at a family market, A Christmas Carol lacks the emotional depth and complexity to be found in the best versions of the story and doesn't even begin to match the heartwarming charm of The Muppets version. Loveable rodents may provide an appealing element for younger viewers but they do little to enhance or illuminate a story that would have worked equally well without them. Scenes with skeletal spectres may also prove a little terrifying for the youngster viewers.

Despite its failings, the story and its illustrious past will still provide enough of attraction for a reasonable sized audience to revisit an old, familiar friend.

Prod co: Illuminated Film Company/MBP
Int'l sales: Winchester Films
Exec prods: Nik Powell, Rainer Mockert
Prod: Iain Harvey
Scr: Robert Llewellyn, Piet Kroon
Prod des: Errol Bryant
Ed: Taylor Grant
Mus: Julian Nott
Main cast: Simon Callow, Kate Winslet, Nicolas Cage, Rhys Ifans, Jane Horrocks, Juliet Stevenson, Michael Gambon.