Quiz 3 on An American Christmas Carol (1979), Starring Henry Winkler

 1.  Of what company is Mr. Slade the President?

 2.  What is the first name of the sister of "the Tiny Tim," in this adaptation of A Christmas Carol?

 3.  What is the first initial and last name of the third person whose possessions "the Scrooge" repossesses, in this adaptation of A Christmas Carol?

 4.  What is the name of the store owned by the third person whose possessions "the Scrooge" repossesses, in this adaptation of A Christmas Carol?

 5.  Initially, who does "the Scrooge" think that the Ghost of Christmas Past is, in this adaptation of A Christmas Carol?

 6.  What was the name of the person in charge of the county orphanage, when "the Scrooge" lived there, in this adaptation of A Christmas Carol?

 7.  What was the first and last name of the person who removed "the Scrooge" from the county orphanage, in this adaptation of A Christmas Carol?

 8.  Approximately, when was "the Scrooge" removed from the county orphanage, in this adaptation of A Christmas Carol?

 9.  What is the name of the driver who took "the Scrooge" to the shop where he was employed as a child, in this adaptation of A Christmas Carol?

10.  What was the name of the company that employed "the Scrooge" when he left the shop where he worked as a child, in this adaptation of A Christmas Carol?

Answers to this quiz were published on February 8, 2021.

Quiz by William Mortensen Vaughan

Answers to Quiz 2 on An American Christmas Carol (1979), Starring Henry Winkler

 1.  When Mr. Slade mentions "Morgan," who or what was he probably referring to?

John Pierpont Morgan, the founder of J.P. Morgan and Company

 2.  When Mr. Slade mentions "Coolidge," who or what was he probably referring to?

Calvin Coolidge, the 30th President of the United States

 3.  When Mr. Slade mentions "Zebulon Pike," who or what was he probably referring to?

The man who climbed Pike's Peak, in Colorado

 4.  An instrumental adaptation of what song is heard during the opening scene, in this adaptation of A Christmas Carol, before the choirboys are heard singing another song?

"We Wish You a Merry Christmas"

 5.  What are the first and last names of the first person whose possessions "the Scrooge" repossesses, in this adaptation of A Christmas Carol?

Matt Reeves

 6.  What is the first name of the wife of the first person whose possessions "the Scrooge" repossesses, in this adaptation of A Christmas Carol?

Jennie

 7.  What are the first and last names of "the Tiny Tim," in this adaptation of A Christmas Carol?

Jonathan Thatcher

 8.  In this adaptation of A Christmas Carol, the Ghost of Christmas Past mentions playing a trumpet in war, and walls which fell; who does he seem to imply that he was, or knew, in a previous life?

Joshua, Moses' successor, who conquered Jericho (see Joshua 6:1-27)

 9.  What is the last name of the second person whose possessions "the Scrooge" repossesses, in this adaptation of A Christmas Carol?

Jessup

10.  In what county is the opening scene, in this adaptation of A Christmas Carol?

Merrimack County, New Hampshire

Quiz and Answers by William Mortensen Vaughan

Answers to Quiz 1 on An American Christmas Carol (1979), Starring Henry Winkler

  1.  When was this film first released?

16 December 1979, in the U.S.A. According to the Internet Movie Database, it was also released 24 December 1988, in the Netherlands.

 2.  Where does this film's opening scene take place?

Concord, New Hampshire

 3.  What song do the boys sing as they ask for donations?

"We Three Kings"

 4.  What is the name of the company that Mr. Thatcher asks Mr. Slade to re-open?

The  Alden Granite Company

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

Benedict Slade

 6.  Who is "the Cratchit," in this adaptation of A Christmas Carol?

Mr. Thatcher

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

Jack Latham

 8.  What day of what year is it, during this film's opening scene?

Dec. 24, 1933

 9.  What does "S&L" stand for, in this adaptation of A Christmas Carol?

Slade and Latham

10.  What is the title of the booklet that "the Scrooge" passes out to the choirboys, in this adaptation of A Christmas Carol?

"You Can Do It!" 

Quiz and Answers by William Mortensen Vaughan 

Carry On Christmas (1969), Starring Sid James as : Review by William Mortensen Vaughan

Title:  Carry On Christmas

Adaptation:  Starring Sid James as  Ebenezer Scrooge

Dates and Places of Earliest Release:  

WED, 24 DEC 1969 U.K.

 

My Rating:  *  (Viewer Discretion Advised)

Format Reviewed:  live-action film, on DVD,

 

Runtime:  50 minutes

 

Availability:  

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

Is this adaptation reverent? 

No, this adaptation is not reverent; it's bawdy, and seems to mock Christians.  For example, Scrooge throws the contents of his chamber pot on a nun and her Christmas carolers.  Also, Bob Cratchit prays a humorous, irreverent prayer, and disapproves of the humorous answer he receives.

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

Yes.

 

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

No.

What does my wife think of this adaptation?

She hates it.

Where and when does this adaptation take place?

Victorian England

 
What language and/or dialects are used?  

British English

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

This adaptation does not follow the original novel very well.

For one, thing, there is no Jacob Marley.  Instead, the Ghost of Christmas Past shows up with several balls and a chain.  He shows Scrooge a vision of Dr. Frank N. Stein, to whom he refused to lend money to finish his monster.  Count Dracula serves as his assistant, instead of Igor, and he takes some of Dr. Jekyll's formula.

The Ghost of Christmas Present is a petite blonde lady, whom Scrooge attempts to seduce.  She shows him a vision of a poet named Robert (Bolling?) who dies trying to elope with his girl friend.

The Ghost of Christmas to Come shows Scrooge another vision - of Cinderella.

Scrooge wakes up and decides to mend his ways, so he takes a chamber pot full of his money outside, and offers it to a woman, who has a Bobby arrest him for soliciting her.

Is this adaptation a prequel or a sequel?  No.

Is this adaptation supernatural? Yes, there are ghosts and time travel.

Is this adaptation "framed"?  No.

Is this adaptation a musical?  No.

 

What songs and/or dances are included?  

There are two Christmas carols, each sung by a different group of carolers.  Scrooge blows up the first group of carolers, with a bomb, as they sing "The First Noel," leaving only their shoes with smoke pouring out of them. The second group of carolers is a nun with four schoolgirls (played by elderly men), singing "Good King Wenceslas"; Scrooge empties the contents of his chamber pot on them.

How attractive and effective is the visual art?  

The set, wardrobe, architecture, and art are good, including signs in excellent calligraphy.  There are three main sets:  the streets outside Scrooge's office and quarters, Scrooge's office, and his private chamber upstairs.  There are also three sets for the visions:  Dr. Frank N. Stein's laboratory, the bedroom of Robert's girl friend, and Cinderella's kitchen.

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

The transitions are fair, involving mostly cameras cutting to the next scenes.  For the bombing scene, an explosion is heard; smoke rises from the bottom edge of the screen until it covers the screen; when the smoke clears, the camera zooms in on the smoking shoes.

 

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

 

What use is made of background extras?  

Little use, if any, is made of background extras, but they don't seem necessary.

What is the most remarkable thing about this adaptation? 

The most remarkable thing about this adaptation is, perhaps, the number of feminine costumes worn by elderly men.  

 

Also notable, is the absence of reverence. 

 

This adaptation also has one of the Ghosts of Christmas in chains as if he were Marley, but this is not unique; the Sesame Street and the Sanford and Son adaptations show something very similar.

 
What extras are included on the tape or DVD?

Three other Carry On Christmas shows are included on the DVD.

Quiz 2 on An American Christmas Carol (1979), Starring Henry Winkler

 1.  When Mr. Slade mentions "Morgan," who or what was he probably referring to?

 2.  When Mr. Slade mentions "Coolidge," who or what was he probably referring to?

 3.  When Mr. Slade mentions "Zebulon Pike," who or what was he probably referring to?

 4.  An instrumental adaptation of what song is heard during the opening scene, in this adaptation of A Christmas Carol, before the choirboys are heard singing another song?

 5.  What are the first and last names of the first person whose possessions "the Scrooge" repossesses, in this adaptation of A Christmas Carol?

 6.  What are the first and last names of the wife of the first person whose possessions "the Scrooge" repossesses, in this adaptation of A Christmas Carol?

 7.  What are the first and last names of "the Tiny Tim," in this adaptation of A Christmas Carol?

 8.  In this adaptation of A Christmas Carol, the Ghost of Christmas Past mentions playing a trumpet; who does he seem to imply that he was, or knew, in a previous life?

 9.  What is the last name of of the second person whose possessions "the Scrooge" repossesses, in this adaptation of A Christmas Carol?

10.  In what county is the opening scene, in this adaptation of A Christmas Carol?

The answers to this quiz were published on Groundhog Day, 2021.

Quiz by William Mortensen Vaughan

Quiz 1 on An American Christmas Carol (1979), Starring Henry Winkler

 1.  When was this film first released?

 2.  Where does this film's opening scene take place?

 3.  What song do the boys sing as they ask for donations?

 4.  What is the name of the company that Mr. Thatcher asks Mr. Slade to re-open?

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

 6.  Who is "the Cratchit," in this adaptation of A Christmas Carol?

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

 8.  What day of what year is it, during this film's opening scene?

 9.  What does "S&L" stand for, in this adaptation of A Christmas Carol?

10.  What is the title of the booklet that "the Scrooge" passes out to the choir boys, in this adaptation of A Christmas Carol?

The answers to this quiz were published on January 26, 2021!

Quiz by William Mortensen Vaughan

 

An American Christmas Carol (1979), Starring Henry Winkler: Review by William Mortensen Vaughan

Title:  An American Christmas Carol

Adaptation:  Henry Winkler stars as "the Scrooge," Benedict Slade.

My Rating:  ****

Dates of Earliest Release:   

16 DEC 1979 U.S.
24 DEC 1988 Netherlands

Format Reviewed:  live-action film, on DVD

Runtime:  98 minutes

Availability:  

As of 6:55 p.m., January 3, 2021, it could be viewed at ShoutFactoryTV.

Copies of this film on DVD are for sale online, for approximately $10 U.S. Dollars. 

This film has also been released on BluRay.

Is this adaptation reverent?  

Yes, this adaptation is somewhat reverent.  

It includes the hymn "God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen." 

The Ghost of Christmas Past also claims that he used to play a horn when walls fell, implying that he was Joshua (or with Joshua) when the walls around Jericho fell (see Joshua 6:1–27).

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

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

What does my wife think of it?  

She didn't like it the first time she saw it.  She thinks Henry Winkler looks like Dr. Phibes, which gives her the creeps. But after watching it again, in January of 2021, she finds she likes it.

 When and where does this adaptation take place?  

This adaptation takes place in Concord, in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, 1933.  It also shows scenes from 1893 and 1917. Mention is made of U.S. Presidents Herbert Hoover and Franklin D. Roosevelt.

What language and/or dialects are used?  American English.

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

This adaptation recreates the general story line of the novel, with different characters (Benedict Slade, instead of Ebenezer Scrooge, for example).

Mr. Slade has an employee, named Mr. Thatcher, whom he fires, on Christmas Eve, after having him help repossess the possessions of several people.  Mr. Thatcher has a son, named Tim, who uses crutches, and has a disease.

After Mr. Slade fires Mr. Thatcher, the ghost of his deceased partner, Jack Latham, appears to him, and tells him that he will receive visitations from three other ghosts.

The Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future appear to Mr. Slade; they resemble three men whose belongings Mr. Slade repossessed that day.

After seeing the visions they show him, Mr. Slade wakes up on Christmas Morning, a changed man.  He gives Tim tickets for a journey across North America and the Pacific Ocean, to visit a doctor, in Australia, whom he believes will heal him.

Mr. Slade also rehires Mr. Thatcher, and promotes him.  He then takes Mr. Thatcher around to give back the property they'd repossessed the day before.   

Finally, Mr. Slade goes to the orphanage where he was adopted, and adopts another boy, and takes him in the way his foster parents had taken him in when he was a boy.

Is this adaptation a prequel or a sequel?  No.

Is this adaptation supernatural?  

Yes, this adaptation is supernatural, featuring ghosts and time travel.
 
Is this adaptation "framed"?  No.

Is this adaptation a musical?  No.

What songs and/or dances are included?  

There is a ragtime animal dance that Henry Winkler and Susan Hogan perform, in which they place their hands under their armpits to form wings, and repeatedly peck at the air on opposite, alternating sides of each other's heads, as if they were birds.

Early in the film, a young man leads a choir of orphaned boys around town, singing carols and asking for donations. This young man is played by Michael Wincott in one of his earliest roles - years before he played Moxica, in 1492 (1992); Top Dollar in The Crow (1994); or Dorleac, in The Count of Monte Cristo (2002).

How attractive and effective is the visual art?  

The set, wardrobe, architecture, and art are good.  It includes old furniture and furnishing, such as a pot-bellied stove and a radio, as well as a historic, World War I poster, from 1917. 

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?  

I don't remember any... Of greater interest are the historical items in this period drama.

What use is made of background extras?  

Effective use of background extras is made. For example, when the boys' choir is seen caroling, the streets seem to be filled with last-minute shoppers, as might be expected in a commercial district on Christmas Eve. Also, numerous unemployed men appear outside the Alden Granite Company where they lost their jobs. There are also several parties, at which there seem to be plenty of people.

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

The transitions are effective.

What is the most remarkable thing about this adaptation?  

The most remarkable thing about this adaptation is, perhaps, seeing Henry Winkler 1) in a role other than "the Fonz" on "Happy Days," and 2) old, which doesn't work for me, after all of the hours I spent watching "Happy Days."  Henry Winkler will always be "the Fonz" to me.

What extras are included on the DVD?  

The DVD includes a featurette, which is an interview with Henry Winkler, in which he mentions the year 2013.

Review by William Mortensen Vaughan