Quiz 9 on An American Christmas Carol (1979), Starring Henry Winkler

  1.  In this adaptation of A Christmas Carol, what is the first song the orphans sing when "the Scrooge" returns their piano?



 2.  In this adaptation of A Christmas Carol, what is the second song the orphans sing when "the Scrooge" returns their piano?



 3.  In this adaptation of A Christmas Carol, "the Scrooge" adopts a boy from the orphanage; what are his first and last names?



 4.  In this adaptation of A Christmas Carol, where does "the Scrooge" intend to put the orphan he adopts, to work?



 5.  According to his wife, at what time is dinner served at "the Fezziwig's" home, in this adaptation of A Christmas Carol?



 6.  In this adaptation of A Christmas Carol, after "the Marley" visits "the Scrooge," what was "the Scrooge's" first clue that he was going back in time?



 7.  Who was the President of the United States during the opening scene of this film?



 8.  In this adaptation of A Christmas Carol, who does Mr. Reeves' radio identify as the President of the United States?



 9.  In this adaptation of A Christmas Carol,  what two historic events does "the Scrooge" hear about, on Mr. Reeves' radio?



10.  In this adaptation of A Christmas Carol,  what did "the Scrooge" do to Mr. Reeves' radio?

Answers were published March 2, 2021.

Quiz by William Mortensen Vaughan

Quiz 8 on An American Christmas Carol (1979), Starring Henry Winkler

  1.  In this adaptation of A Christmas Carol, "the Scrooge" sends "the Tiny Tim" to a clinic in Australia, and names a woman who works there; is she a real person, or was she merely fictitious?



 2.  In this adaptation of A Christmas Carol, "the Scrooge" decides to re-open a granite quarry; how many people are to be employed there?



 3.  In this adaptation of A Christmas Carol, "the Scrooge" decides to re-open a granite quarry; is granite an important part of Connecticut's history?



 4.  In this adaptation of A Christmas Carol, "the Scrooge" personally destroys leather bound books he repossesses, including an original copy of what book?



 5.  According to the person from whom "the Scrooge" takes the books mentioned in Question 4, above, what was the progeny of the book he most wanted to keep?



 6.  In this adaptation of A Christmas Carol,  "the Scrooge" claims that he is having the books he destroyed rebound, by what company, in what city?



 7.  Is the company mentioned in Question 6 above a real company, or merely fictitious?



 8.  In this adaptation of A Christmas Carol,  the leader of the orphan boys choir is played by a young man who later played the role of Moxica, in 1492:  Conquest of Paradise (1992); Rochefort, in The Three Musketeers (1993); Top Dollar, in The Crow (1994); and Dorleac, in The Count of Montecristo (2002). What is his name, and how old was he when this adaptation of A Christmas Carol was released?



 9.  In this adaptation of A Christmas Carol,  what address does "the Scrooge" give when the lights in his home go out?



10.  In this adaptation of A Christmas Carol,  what happens when "the Scrooge" rips the pages out of an original copy of A Christmas Carol?

Answers were published on March 2, 2021.

Quiz by William Mortensen Vaughan

Quiz 7 on An American Christmas Carol (1979), Starring Henry Winkler

  1.  In this adaptation of A Christmas Carol, how much money does "the Bob" indicate that he owns?



 2.  In this adaptation of A Christmas Carol, when "the Scrooge's" belongings are auctioned off, what is the highest bid?



 3.  In this adaptation of A Christmas Carol, when "the Scrooge's" belongings are auctioned off, what two quantities of money does "the Scrooge" try to bid?



 4.  In this adaptation of A Christmas Carol, when "the Scrooge's" portrait is auctioned off, what is the highest bid??



 5.  In this adaptation of A Christmas Carol, when "the Scrooge's" portrait is auctioned off, what does the winning bidder do with it?



 6.  In this adaptation of A Christmas Carol, what years are listed on "the Tiny Tim's" tombstone, as the years of his birth and death?



 7.  In this adaptation of A Christmas Carol, what years are listed on "the Scrooge's" tombstone, as the years of his birth and death?



 8.  In this adaptation of A Christmas Carol, when "the Scrooge" asks "the Bob's" wife how much her Christmas chicken weighs, how much does she tell him that it weighs?



 9.  In this adaptation of A Christmas Carol, when "the Scrooge" tells "the Bob's" wife how long to cook their Christmas turkey, how long does he tell her to cook it?



10.  In this adaptation of A Christmas Carol, when "the Scrooge" gives "the Cratchits" a bag of Christmas presents, whose present is missing?

Answers were published on March 2, 201.

Quiz by William Mortensen Vaughan

Quiz 6 on An American Christmas Carol (1979), Starring Henry Winkler

 1.  What are the first and last name of "the Belle," in this adaptation of A Christmas Carol?



 2.  "The Scrooge's," belongings, in this adaptation of A Christmas Carol, are auctioned off, by whose orders?



 3.  What song does "the Scrooge" first hear children singing in his home, in this adaptation of A Christmas Carol?

 4.  What is the second song that the children sing to "the Scrooge," in his home, in this adaptation of A Christmas Carol?



 5.  What song does "the Scrooge" play on the piano, in his home, in this adaptation of A Christmas Carol?



 6.  What is unusual about the way that "the Scrooge" plays a song on the piano, in his home, in this adaptation of A Christmas Carol?



 7.  In this adaptation of A Christmas Carol, when "the Marley" is trying to decide whether to invest in "the Scrooge's" idea, or in repairing "the Fezziwig's" factory, for how long does "the Scrooge" tell "the Marley" that "the Fezziwig" has been doing things the same way?

 8.  In this adaptation of A Christmas Carol, when the Ghost of Christmas Present shows "the Belle's" daughter to "the Scrooge," whom does the Ghost of Christmas Present say that "the Belle" married?



 9.  In this adaptation of A Christmas Carol, after "the Scrooge" fires him, "the Bob" facetiously tells his children that he has received a job offer to be what for whom?



10.  In reality, in what year was the company mentioned in Question 9, above, founded?

Answers were published on March 2, 2021.

Quiz by William Mortensen Vaughan

 

Answers to Quiz 5 on An American Christmas Carol (1979), Starring Henry Winkler

  1.  What is the first and last name of the person who is injured in a fire at the factory where "the Scrooge" worked as a boy, in this adaptation of A Christmas Carol?

Sam Perkins

 2.  Why did the owner of the factory where "the Scrooge" worked as a boy, go out of business, in this adaptation of A Christmas Carol?

He neglected to keep his insurance current, so the damages were not covered when there was fire at his factory.

 3.  Approximately how much time elapsed between the time "the Scrooge" left his home town, and the time he returned, in this adaptation of A Christmas Carol?

Ten years.  Sam Perkins commented when he saw Benedict Slade again, that it must have been at least ten years...

 4.  In this adaptation of A Christmas Carol, what probably caused the fire at the factory where "the Scrooge" worked as a boy?

A cigar. Sam Perkins leaves a lit cigar on a table or counter in the factory in a scene before the fire.

 5.  In this adaptation of A Christmas Carol, when "the Scrooge" didn't believe that "the Marley" was "the Marley," what did "the Marley" tell him that only the two of them knew?

That "the Scrooge" had told the Reverend Williams that his antique deacon's bench was only a cheap imitation so that he could "snatch it up as collateral."

 6.  In this adaptation of A Christmas Carol, when "the Scrooge" didn't believe that "the Marley" was "the Marley," what type of weapon did "the Scrooge" brandish?

A double-barrelled shotgun.

 7.  In this adaptation of A Christmas Carol, when "the Scrooge" didn't believe that "the Marley" was "the Marley," what film character did "the Scrooge" mention, to "the Marley," as an example of what can be accomplished with make-up?

Dr. Frankenstein's monster.

 8.  In this adaptation of A Christmas Carol, when "the Scrooge" didn't believe that "the Marley" was "the Marley," "the Scrooge" tells "the Marley" about a film; what film must that have been?

Frankenstein (1931), starring Boris Karloff as "The Monster."

 9.  What are the first and last names of "the Fezziwig," in this adaptation of A Christmas Carol?

Nathaniel Brewster

10.  What did "the Scrooge" give "the Fezziwig" for Christmas, in this adaptation of A Christmas Carol?

A cheap chair made by the Stapleton Furniture Company, in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Quiz and Answers by William Mortensen Vaughan

 

 

Maxine's Christmas Carol (2000), Featuring the Voice of Tress MacNeille as Maxine: Review by William Mortensen Vaughan

Title:  Maxine's Christmas Carol

 

At left: (L-R) Maxine look-alike and William Mortensen Vaughan, I.V.O. Tun Tavern, Atlantic City, New Jersey, September, 2019 (photo by Libertad Green)

 

Adaptation:  Featuring the voice of Tress MacNeille as Maxine, "the Scrooge"

Dates and Places of Earliest Release:  

TUE, 12 SEP 2000 U.S.A.

 

My Rating:  ****

Format Reviewed:  animated film, on VHS

 

Runtime:  30 minutes

 

Availability:  

As of February 20, 2021, copies of this film, in the form of a hard copy book, are available, online, for approximately $10 U.S. Dollars.

Is this adaptation reverent? 

No, this adaptation in not particularly reverent!

Does this adaptation mention "God" or "Christ"?  No.

 

Does this adaptation include the phrase "God bless us...?"  No.

What does my wife think of this adaptation?
She thinks it's odd but funny.

Where and when does this adaptation take place?

A small town in 1999.

 
What language and/or dialects are used?  

American English

How closely does this adaptation follow the original novel, by Charles Dickens?

This adaptation does not follow the original novel very closely.  A boy named Billy invites Maxine to Christmas dinner and a party at his house, but Maxine, a crabby, elderly lady, declines the invitation.  After Christmas shopping and pulling a few pranks, she settles down in her home to watch television on Christmas Eve, and to eat microwaved burritos on stick with her dog, Floyd.  She doses off, but is awakened by the ghost of Marlene, an office manager she used to work with.  Then she is visited by Tiffani, a valley girl, who plays the role of Christmas Past; then, a new age guru on a magic carpet; and, finally, three extraterrestrials in a spaceship/time machine who take her to 2025, to show her how much Billy will hate Christmas if she doesn't go to his Christmas party.  They drop her off at Billy's in time for his Christmas party, where she and the boy exchange gifts.  Then Maxine leaves, promising viewers she will remain crabby the rest of the year, right before she throws a snowball at the "camera"!

Is this adaptation a prequel or a sequel?  No.

Is this adaptation supernatural? 

Yes, this film features ghosts, and time travel, as well as extra-terrestrials.

Is this adaptation "framed"?  No.

Is this adaptation a musical?  No.

 

What songs and/or dances are included?  

Music by Jim Latham... Music does not seem to be the focus of this adaptation, although the opening scene is accompanied by a vocal version of "Jingle Bell Rock"; a monster truck is featured with a set of horns that plays an instrumental version of "Deck the Halls"; several elderly ladies sing "Deck the Halls" in exchange for donations; and the final credits roll through an instrumental version of "Good King Wenceslas." 

How attractive and effective is the visual art?  

The art is adequate.

How creative and intense are the transitions, especially when "the Scrooge" is taken from one time and/or place to another?

The transitions are adequate.

 

What aerial and/or nap-of-the-earth footage is included?  N/A  

 

What use is made of background extras?  

Adequate use of animated background extras is made, at Billy's Christmas party, and in the streets, for examples.

What is the most remarkable thing about this adaptation? 

This is perhaps the funniest and most sarcastic adaptation of A Christmas Carol I've ever seen.
 
What bonus material is included on the tape or DVD? 

My copy of this adaptation is on VHS, but it has a behind the scenes featurette after the feature, starring Maxine creator John Wagner and his mother, upon whom he based the comic strip character, Maxine.

Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol (1962), Featuring the Voice of Jim Backus: Review by William Mortensen Vaughan

Title:  Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol

Adaptation:  Featuring the voice of Jim Backus as Mr. Magoo

Dates and Places of Earliest Release:  

TUE, 18 DEC 1962 U.S.A.

FRI, 31 DEC 1965 Finland

 

My Rating:  *****

Format Reviewed:  animated film, on DVD

 

Runtime:  53 minutes

 

Availability:  

As of February 20, 2021, copies of this film, on DVD, are available, online, for approximately $10 U.S. Dollars.

Is this adaptation reverent? 

Yes.

Does this adaptation mention "God" or "Christ"?

Yes.

 

Does this adaptation include the phrase "God bless us...?" 

Yes, Tiny Tim says, "God bless us, everyone!"

What does my wife think of this adaptation?
She likes the hymns in it, and thinks that it's "pretty cute."

Where and when does this adaptation take place?

Victorian England, depicted on a Broadway stage circa 1960

 
What language and/or dialects are used?  

American English

How closely does this adaptation follow the original novel, by Charles Dickens?

This adaptation follows the original novel fairly closely, with some changes and exclusions, within a "frame."

Mr. Magoo plays the role of Ebenezer Scrooge on Broadway.

After Jacob Marley's ghost appears to Scrooge, the next ghost to appear is that of Christmas Present, at 2 a.m., in a pink robe, instead of at 1 a.m., in green, with white trim.  The next ghost to appear, is the Ghost of Christmas Past, who arrives at 1 a.m.

Scrooge appears as a boy in school, but the scene with Fan is missing.  He then meets Belle at Fezziwig's ball, and she breaks off their engagement in the next scene.

Fred and his wife and friends are missing.  Scrooge celebrates Christmas with Bob Cratchit and his family instead.

Mr. Magoo's performance receives a standing ovation.

Is this adaptation a prequel or a sequel?  No.

Is this adaptation supernatural? 

The frame is not supernatural, but the play is, since it features ghosts and time travel. Some of the animations of events and effects on stage appear supernatural; for example, the ghosts are translucent.

Is this adaptation "framed"?  

Yes, Mr. Magoo plays the role of Scrooge in play on Broadway.

Is this adaptation a musical?  No.

 

What songs and/or dances are included?  

(Music by Jule Styne... Mr. Magoo sings "Great to Be Back on Broadway."  Scrooge and Cratchit sing "Ringle, Ringle." A child sings "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing!" Belle sings "Winter Was Warm." Cratchit sings "The Lord's Bright Blessing."  Scrooge sings "Alone in the World." The people in Old Joe's pawn shop sing "We're Despicable."

How attractive and effective is the visual art?  

The animated art is simple and two-dimensional, but excellent!

How creative and intense are the transitions, especially when "the Scrooge" is taken from one time and/or place to another?

The transitions are adequate.

 

What aerial and/or nap-of-the-earth footage is included?  N/A

What use is made of background extras?  

Adequate use is made of animated background extras in the theater, and in New York City traffic, for example.

What is the most remarkable thing about this adaptation? 

It seems to be the perfect combination of humor, drama, tragedy, music, and nostalgia.

 
What bonus material is included on the tape or DVD? 

The DVD includes:

• Scene Index
• "History of Mr. Magoo in Film and Television"
• "Biographies of the Voice Talents, With Jim Backus"
• "Career Retrospective of Composer Jule Styne and Lyicist Bob Merrill"
• original movie poster
• a classic Bonus Mr. Magoo short

Review by William Mortensen Vaughan