The Ghost & Mrs. Muir: The Ghost of Christmas Past (1969): Review by William Mortensen Vaughan

 

Title:  "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir":  
"The Ghost of Christmas Past"

Adaptation:  Starring Charles Nelson Reilly as Claymore Gregg (the Scrooge) and an ancient Claymore Gregg (also a Scrooge); Edward Mulhare as "the Ghost"; and Hope Lange as Mrs. Muir

Dates and Places of Earliest Release:  

THU, 25 DEC 1969 U.S.A.

 

My Rating:  *****(Favorite)

Format Reviewed:  live-action film, streamed from YouTube

 

Runtime:  30 minutes

 

Availability:  

As of November 9, 2021, copies of this television series, on DVD/VHS, are available, online, for approximately $30 U.S. Dollars.

Is this adaptation reverent? 

This adaptation is somewhat reverent; it is suitable for general audiences, and includes the hymns, "O Come, All Ye Faithful" and "Silent Night."

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

Yes, when carolers sing "God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen!"

 

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

No.

What does my wife think of this adaptation?
She enjoyed it; in fact, she's the one who recommended it to me!

Where and when does this adaptation take place?

Victorian England and the fictional fishing village of Schooner Bay, Maine, circa 1975

 
What language and/or dialects are used?  

American English.

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

This adaptation doesn't follow the original version very well.  The story is an episode of the television series "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir," starring Hope Lange as Mrs. Muir, and Edward Mulhare as the ghost of Captain Daniel Gregg.

In this episode, Claymore Gregg (Charles Nelson Reilly), is "the Scrooge," refusing to sell Mrs. Muir a Christmas Tree for what she considers a reasonable price.  After she leaves his tree lot without buying a tree, Mr. Claymore discovers an abandoned infant in his car, which he decides to leave with Mrs. Muir.

She goes to bed on Christmas Eve, and dreams about a version of herself with Captain Gregg approximately one hundred years prior (circa 1870).  She plays the role of the previous Claymore's niece and employee - essentially Fred and Bob in one character.  She also ends up with an abandoned infant.

The previous Mr. Claymore goes to bed on Christmas Eve, and is visited by the Voice of the Conscience He Used to Have, instead of any Marley or Ghosts of Christmas.  As a result, he becomes a nicer person on Christmas morning.

Still in Mrs. Muir's dream, she receives a present from Captain Gregg in the form of a metal rattle, from the Bay of Tunis, for the baby she has taken in.

Later, her dream ends with a romantic kiss that Captain Gregg shares with her.

Then Mrs. Muir wakes up and soon discovers that the baby has a metal rattle just like (or perhaps the same rattle) as the one in her dream.  She also discovers that her maid, Martha (Reta Shaw), Claymore, and her own two children, have had similar dreams.  The Ghost of Captain Gregg finally admits that he is the culprit, and that the dreams are his Christmas presents to them.

Claymore has a change of heart, and gives Mrs. Muir a Christmas Tree for free.

Martha also fields a phone call from the local constable, informing her that the mother claimed the baby, whom his brother had mistakenly placed in Claymore's car, and is en route to retrieve him.

The episode ends as Claymore asks the Ghost if the infant in the dreams is his ancestor, and the Captain answers by asking how he could do such a thing to a child, even in a dream.

Is this adaptation a prequel or a sequel?  

No.

Is this adaptation supernatural? 

Yes.  It's about a ghost with magical powers, similar to Jeannie in "I Dream of Jeannie" and Samantha in "Bewitched."

Is this adaptation "framed"?  

Yes, this version is framed within a modern Mrs. Muir's dream, with a parallel in her modern reality; both the reality and the dream include a Claymore who is a "Scrooge" who reforms.

Is this adaptation a musical?  

No.

 

What songs and/or dances are included?  

Music by George Greeley.  Carolers sing "O Come, All Ye Faithful," "Silent Night," "Deck the Halls," and "God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen!"

How attractive and effective is the visual art?  

The set and wardrobe are adequate, and typical of the 'Sixties.  Edward Mulhare looks a lot like Vincent Price.

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?  

(Give specific examples of scenes with adequate or inadequate numbers of background extras.)

What is the most remarkable thing about this adaptation? 

For me, the most remarkable thing about this adaptation is that the Ghosts of Marley and Christmas are replaced by the voice of a conscience, which is able to change Claymore's attitude so quickly and easily!
 
What bonus material is included on the tape or DVD? 

N/A

Dr. Who: A Christmas Carol (2010): Review by William Mortensen Vaughan

 Title:  Dr. Who:  A Christmas Carol

Adaptation:  Starring Michael Gambon as Kazran Sardick (the Scrooge) and Elliot Sardick; Matt Smith as The Doctor

Dates and Places of Earliest Release:  

SAT, 25 DEC 2010 U.K. & U.S.A.

 

My Rating:  ***(Offensive Favorite)

Format Reviewed:  live-action film, on DVD

 

Runtime:  1 hour 2 minutes

 

Availability:  

As of November 9, 2021, copies of this film, on DVD, are available, online, for approximately $15 U.S. Dollars.

Is this adaptation reverent? 

This adaptation is somewhat reverent, in that it seems to focus on the importance of human lives, and even the life of a potentially man-woman-and-child-eating shark.

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

[T.B.D.]

 

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

[T.B.D.]

What does my wife think of this adaptation?
She thinks "it's weird."

Where and when does this adaptation take place?

On a futuristic planet, owned and operated by a Scrooge-like despot named Kazran Sardick, who is capable of freezing family members as collateral for debts, and reviving them years later.  He is also unimpressed by (and unconcerned with) Earthling spaceships entering his planet's atmosphere, and crashing and burning on its surface.

 
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 closely.  Kazran Sardick is "the Scrooge."  A spaceship from Earth enters the angry fish filled cloud cover he maintains over the planet he rules.  The spaceship is about to crash, and several people beg for his assistance, but he insists on letting the Earthlings crash and die.  Dr. Who (Matt Smith) arrives and, in addition to begging for the Earthlings' lives, plays the role of the Ghost of Christmas Past, showing Kazran why he became the way he is.  By traveling through time, he meets Kazran as a boy (Laurence Belcher), and, returning every Christmas Eve for years, cultivates a friendship, and a romance between a young, adult Kazran (Danny Horn) and one of the people, Abigail (Katherine Jenkins) he kept frozen as collateral against her family's debt.  Dr. Who and Kazran unfreeze Abigail each Christmas Eve, and party together, then refreeze her.

Eventually, Kazran discovers that Abigail has a set number of days to live, and the next day Abigail is released, she will die.  This makes him a bitter man again, and he refuses to release Abigail again, and takes his frustration out on everyone else on his planet.

But Dr. Who needs Kazran to release Abigail to sing, soothe the angry sky fish, and save the Earthlings' spaceship.  Somehow, he persuades Kazran to release Abigail, let her sing, and enjoy her last Christmas Eve with him as best she can.

Is this adaptation a prequel or a sequel?  

No.

Is this adaptation supernatural? 

No, it's more science fictional than supernatural.

Is this adaptation "framed"?  

No.

Is this adaptation a musical?  

No.

 

What songs and/or dances are included?  

Music by Murray Gold. Abigail sings what sounds like opera music, which soothes the angry sky fish.

How attractive and effective is the visual art?  

The sets, wardrobe, and special effects are good.

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

The transitions are creative, startling, and intense.  Dr. Who turns up in startling places.  It's easy to understand why Kazran becomes frustrated with him after ordering his henchmen to remove him from his home office, only to discover removing him is virtually impossible.

 

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

The Doctor takes Kazran and Abigail on an aerial sleigh ride.  

 

What use is made of background extras?  

Adequate use is made of background extras.

What is the most remarkable thing about this adaptation? 

This is perhaps the most complicated adaptation of A Christmas Carol I've ever seen.  It requires its viewers to pay close attention in order to follow what's going on.
 
What bonus material is included on the tape or DVD? 

Scene selection and optional, English subtitles are available.  Two featurettes are included:  "Dr. Who Confidential Christmas Special 2010" and "Dr. Who at the Proms 2010."

An All Dogs Christmas Carol: Review by William Mortensen Vaughan

 

Title:  An All Dogs Christmas Carol

Adaptation:  Featuring the voice of Ernest Borgnine as Carface (the Scrooge)

Dates and Places of Earliest Release:  

TUE, 17 NOV 1998

 

My Rating:  ***** (Favorite)

Format Reviewed:  animated film, on DVD

 

Runtime:  1 hour 13 minutes

 

Availability:  

As of November 8, 2021, copies of this film, on DVD/VHS, are available, online, for approximately $5 U.S. Dollars.

Is this adaptation reverent? 

Yes.  It's about angel dogs in dog heaven.

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

Yes. (See below.)

 

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

Yes, Timmy says, "God bless us everyone!"

What does my wife think of this adaptation?
She enjoyed it, and thinks it's one of the most unique versions of A Christmas Carol she has ever seen.

Where and when does this adaptation take place?

San Francisco, California, circa 2000.

 
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.  It is based on characters in the animated, feature-length films All Dogs Go to Heaven and its sequel.

A dog named Carface (voice of Ernest Borgnine) is the equivalent of Scrooge.  Timmy (Taylor Emerson), a puppy with a splint on one of its hind legs, is the equivalent of Tiny Tim, but is not the offspring of any of Carface's employees.  Carface has a sidekick, Killer (Lidsville's Charles Nelson Reilly), but his sidekick doesn't seem to have a family, other than Carface's crime family.

Carface has a boss, a flying dog named Belladonna (Bebe Neuwirth).  Belladonna is the evil cousin of Anabelle (also Bebe Neuwirth).  Belladonna and Anabelle have bodies like greyhounds, but feminine hairstyles on their heads, and wings like Pegasus.  Anabelle is apparently an archangel in dog heaven, and Belladonna, a witch, on Earth.  Belladonna devises an evil plan to take over all the dogs in San Francisco on Christmas Eve.  This evil plan involves a gargantuan dog whistle, which will hypnotize all of the dogs in the city, and will influence them to take their masters' Christmas presents to a certain location, where Belladonna intends to let Carface take possession of them.  She's not interested in the loot, just the satisfaction of ruining Christmas.

There are also two or three guardian angels, in the form of mutts Charlie Barkin (Steven Weber) and Itchy Itchiford (Dom DeLuise) (perhaps a Basset Hound), and another greyhound with a feminine hairdo, Sasha (Sheena Easton).  They throw a Christmas charity party to raise money for the operation Timmy needs.

Carface and Killer show up, and, using a magical dog whistle, rob them of their presents, bones, and the few coins they've collected for Timmy.

Charlie, trying to impress Sasha, takes Itchy to get the stolen goods back, but Carface outsmarts them repeatedly, and, after over-confidently revealing her evil plan, Belladonna sics her firy minions on them, so, when they are trying to decide what to do next, Anabelle intervenes, giving Charlie a magic amulet, which he discovers will allow him, Itchy, and Sasha to portray the Ghosts of Christmas Future, Past, and Present, respectively, but in chronological order, in Carface's dreams, on Christmas Eve, after Carface's alarm is set to wake him up in time to play his role in Belladonna's diabolical plot to ruin Christmas in San Francisco.

Carface, after seeing visions of Timmy, is so touched by how similar Timmy is to himself, that he has a change of heart, and betrays Belladonna.  Then Anabelle steps in to save Carface from Belladonna.  Then Carface gives back the presents he stole, as well as more presents, and enough money to cover Timmy's operation.

Is this adaptation a prequel or a sequel?  No.

(If so, explain; e.g., A Christmas Carol II:  The Sequel, shows Scrooge and Cratchit during a Christmastime at least a year after the original story took place.)

Is this adaptation supernatural? 

Yes.  It includes angels and witchcraft, as well as magical ghosts.

Is this adaptation "framed"?  

Yes, this story is told to angel puppies in dog heaven by an angel named Anabelle.

Is this adaptation a musical?  

Yes.

 

What songs and/or dances are included?  

Music by Mark Watters. At least three original musical numbers are included:  A Christmas duet by a Chihuahua with a Hispanic accent, and, I believe, a Scotty dog; an autobiographical ballad by Carface; and a diabolical duet by Killer and Belladonna.

How attractive and effective is the visual art?  

The art is 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?  

N/A

What is the most remarkable thing about this adaptation? 

The most remarkable thing about this adaptation is, perhaps, how "far out" it is from the original novel, while still incorporating a Scrooge, a Timmy, and three Ghosts of Christmas.  There's even a Martha, in the human form of Timmy's owner.
 
What bonus material is included on the tape or DVD? 

Scene Selection, and a Sing Along section are available; audio and subtitles are available in French and English.

The Smurfs: A Christmas Carol: Review by William Mortensen Vaughan

 

Title:  "The Smurfs:  A Christmas Carol"

Adaptation:  Featuring the voice of George Lopez as Grouchy, (the Scrooge)

Dates and Places of Earliest Release:  

FRI, 9 SEP 2011 U.S.A.

 

My Rating:  * (Offensive)

Format Reviewed:  animated film, on DVD

 

Runtime:  22 minutes

 

Availability:  

As of November 8, 2021, copies of this film, on DVD, are available, online, for approximately $5 U.S. Dollars.

Is this adaptation reverent? 

This adaptation is somewhat reverent, at least in regard to family loyalty.

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

Christ is only mentioned as part of the word "Christmas."

 

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

No.  Instead, Grouchy Smurf says he hates "Christmas; it only comes once a year!" 

What does my wife think of this adaptation?
She's not a fan of the Smurfs.

Where and when does this adaptation take place?

This adaptation takes place in Smurf Village when it is about to be invaded and pillaged by Gargamel.

 
What language and/or dialects are used?  

Plain English.

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

This adaptation does not follow the original novel very closely, although Grouchy Smurf has a change of heart with regard to Christmas after being visited by the Ghosts of Christmas Past (Smurfette), Present (another Smurf), and Future (similar to the Reaper), and seeing that the survival of Smurf Village somehow hangs in the balance of his behavior.  He is not visited by anyone comparable to Jacob Marley.

One thing Grouchy Smurf hates about Christmas is that Papa Smurf always gives him a hat, when what he wants is a hang glider.  He finally discovers that Papa Smurf gives him hang gliders, in the form of Smurf hats.

This adaptation is a little disturbing, because Papa Smurf essentially drugs Grouchy Smurf against his will.  Papa Smurf mixes a potion with nutmeg and holly, to conjure up the Spirit of Christmas, to show Grouchy Smurf "the true meaning of Christmas," without any mention of the birth of Jesus Christ.  The conjured spirit appears in the form of a blue cloud, which flies around like Tinker Bell, and sneaks into Grouchy Smurf's nightcap; upon taking a sip from his mug, after the spirit enters it, Grouchy Smurf immediately falls asleep.

Then he wakes up in a two-dimensional dream world, where the Spirits of Christmas Past, Present, and Future appear to him.

Is this adaptation a prequel or a sequel?  

No.

Is this adaptation supernatural? 

Yes, this film features ghosts.

Is this adaptation "framed"?  

Yes.  The story is shown in three-dimensional animation, but Grouchy Smurf dreams and sees visions of ghosts in two-dimensional animation.

Is this adaptation a musical?  No.

 

What songs and/or dances are included?  

Music by Christopher Lennertz. The show starts with a parade of Smurfs singing "Deck the Halls."  Later, Smurfs are shown playing an instrumental version of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" on various instruments.

How attractive and effective is the visual art?  

The three-dimensional, animated art is excellent! The two-dimensional art is good, too.  Usually, perhaps because of nostalgia, I prefer two-dimensional cartoons, but the three-dimensional animations in this film are superb!

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?  

N/A

What is the most remarkable thing about this adaptation? 

The most disturbing and offensive thing about this adaptation of A Christmas Carol is, perhaps, that the Smurfs decide to spike Grouchy's drink without his knowledge, causing him to hallucinate. This is too reminiscent of crimes involving "date rape drugs." Administering anything to a person without their knowledge is dangerous, criminal, potentially deadly, and a violation of their free will and freedom, and should NOT be portrayed in cartoons as if it were "just O.K." 

 

Another remarkable thing about this adaptation is the excellent use of both three- and two-dimensional animation!
 
What bonus material is included on the tape or DVD? 

Audio languages and subtitles are available in English, French, and Spanish.

Ebenezer, Starring Jack Palance: Review by William Mortensen Vaughan

 Title:  Ebenezer

Adaptation:  (Starring Jack Palance  as  Ebenezer Scrooge

Dates and Places of Earliest Release:  

TUE, 13 OCT 1998

 

My Rating:  *** (Offensive favorite)

Format Reviewed:  live-action film, on DVD

 

Runtime:  1 hour 29 minutes

 

Availability:  

As of November 8, 2021, copies of this film, on DVD, are available, online, for approximately $15 U.S. Dollars.

Is this adaptation reverent? 

Yes, this adaptation is reverent; however, it shows Scrooge having dinner at a house of ill repute, cheating at poker, and fist and gun fighting.

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

[T.B.D.]

 

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

[T.B.D.]

What does my wife think of this adaptation?
She thinks it's "unique."

Where and when does this adaptation take place?

Canada when the horse was the primary means of transportation.

 
What language and/or dialects are used?  

Plain English.

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

This adaptation takes place in a Canadian version of the wild, wild west, featuring Jack Palance as Ebenezer Scrooge, perhaps the most evil Scrooge ever portrayed.  Ebenezer is a gun man, who frequents a house of ill repute.

Albert Schultz plays Bob Cratchitt, Scrooge's bar tender, at his saloon.

Daryl Shuttleworth plays Fred, Scrooge's nephew, the local constable, who dresses like an organ-grinding monkey.
           
Ricky Schroder plays a young man named Samuel Benson, who loses his money, ranch, and horse to Scrooge, playing poker and getting into a fist fight with him.  Scrooge beats him at poker, then, when the young man starts a fight with Scrooge, after losing all of his money and the deed to all of his land to him, Scrooge beats him up with his bare hands, and takes his horse as payment for the damage done to his saloon during the fight.

I'm not sure which character this young man is supposed to correspond to, in the novel.  He is of no relation to Scrooge or Cratchitt.  He is the fiance of Jacob Marlowe's daughter, Erica Marlowe, played by Amy Locane.  Jacob, played by Richard Halliday, is Scrooge's deceased partner, surnamed Marlowe instead of Marley.

When Jacob dies, he leaves his saloon to Erica, but Scrooge keeps it for himself, and gets Erica a job as a cleaning lady in Martha's house of ill repute.  The Martha in this version, played by Darcy Dunlop, is the proprietor at the house of ill repute, instead of Bob Cratchitt's eldest daughter.

Bob has two boys and a girl, but nothing seems to be wrong with any of them.

Samuel Benson is the youngster with the health problem:  bad eyesight.  Due to his poor eyesight, he misses when he shoots at Scrooge in a gun fight, but, by then, Scrooge has been visited by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, and not only spares the boy's life, but admits he cheated at poker, and gives him back his property, and promises to buy him some eyeglasses.  He also apologizes to his fiancee, Erica, and gives her the saloon which her father had intended for her to have when he died.

In this version, Scrooge got married, but his wife left him for a Royal Canadian Mountie (Richard Comar), who appears as the Ghost of Christmas Present.  A squaw (Michelle Thrush) serves as the Ghost of Christmas Past, and a cloaked phantom (Morris Chapdelaine) the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come.

Is this adaptation a prequel or a sequel?  

No.

Is this adaptation supernatural? 

Yes, this film features ghosts and time travel.

Is this adaptation "framed"?  

No.

Is this adaptation a musical?  

No.

 

What songs and/or dances are included?  

Music by Bruce Leitl. At least two musical numbers are included.  Scrooge throws Cratchitt's boots at carolers outside his saloon, and sings with his fellow entertainers and the audience during the grand finale.  For the grand finale, Scrooge appears on horseback at the town Christmas pageant, in the role of Father Christmas, and the children and their parents join him in singing an unusual carol.

How attractive and effective is the visual art?  

This adaptation was filmed on a ranch in Canada, and captures the feel of a typical Western movie, with open spaces, horses, and six-shooters.  While playing poker, the players don't even bother with chips, but use cash, and the bartering system (bags of gold and deeds to land).

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

The special effects used during the transitions are acceptable.

 

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 background extras.

What is the most remarkable thing about this adaptation? 

As I mention above, Jack Palance's Ebenezer is perhaps the most evil version of Scrooge ever portrayed.  Although Scrooge threatens a child with a ruler in the original version, there is no indication he ever physically assaulted anyone.  In this version's future, Scrooge shoots a young man dead during a duel, over the poker game in which he cheated - not to mention beating the boy up with his bare hands, before receiving his ghostly visitations.  Also, while the original version of Scrooge was unfamiliar with the red light district in London, this Scrooge frequented a house of ill repute on a regular basis.
 
What bonus material is included on the tape or DVD? 

No extras are available on the DVD.  My DVD copy has no extras; I just press [Enter] on my DVD player's remote control to play the movie from the splash screen.

A Christmas Carol, Starring Vincent Fegan: Review by William Mortensen Vaughan

 Title:  A Christmas Carol

Adaptation:  Starring Vincent Fegan as  Ebenezer Scrooge

Dates and Places of Earliest Release:  

SUN, 1 JAN 2012

 

My Rating:  ** (Substandard)

Format Reviewed:  live-action film, on DVD

 

Runtime:  1 hour, 22 minutes

 

Availability:  

As of November 8, 2021, copies of this film, on DVD/VHS, are available, online, for approximately $15 U.S. Dollars.

Is this adaptation reverent? 

Yes, it's reverent, but it's also creepy!

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

[T.B.D.]

 

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

[T.B.D.]

What does my wife think of this adaptation?
She doesn't like it.  She thinks it's weird and creepy.  She doesn't like the lack of background extras.

Where and when does this adaptation take place?

Out in "the country," sometime after the invention of power lines.

 
What language and/or dialects are used?  

Irish English.

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

This adaptation follows the original novel fairly well, but it is the epitome of why film producers should use background extras.  Although it follows the original story fairly well, it sorely lacks background characters.  It seems to have been shot in the country, rather than in a city; none of the scenes resemble a city such as London, where the original story took place.  There are no passers-by, no shoppers, no boys sliding on the ice, no workers warming themselves by a fire in the streets...  Fezziwig's ball is not a ball; it's a toast among only three people:  Mr. Fezziwig, Ebenezer Scrooge, and Dick Wilkins.  Fred's party isn't a party; it's Fred and his wife - just the two of them.  The scene with Belle and her husband does not even include her daughter, let alone any children - just her and her husband.  Bob is missing three of his six children.  The mother who owed Scrooge money and is glad about his death is missing her husband.  Old Joe attends only the laundress and the charwoman, and not the undertaker's man.

There are only two businessmen at the Exchange, commenting on Scrooge's death, instead of the three or four whom Dickens mentions in his novel.  (Whether or not there are three, or four, is open to interpretation, based on the original novel, but there are at least three:  one "fat man with a monstrous chin," "another," and "a third."  Dickens also makes mention of a "red-faced gentleman with a pendulous excrescence on the end of his nose," but this may or not may have be the man he refers to as "another.")  There are no other people at the Exchange, in this adaptation, which Dickens describes as a busy place, with "merchants" who "hurried up and down" and "conversed in groups."  My wife thinks the two men at the Exchange in this adaptation are the same two men who went to Scrooge's counting house to ask for a donation.

Although one of the women takes Scrooge's bed curtains to old Joe, and Scrooge wakes up on Christmas morning to exclaim that his curtains are still there, he is shown on a bed which is not a four-poster bed, and has no place to put bed curtains.  The scene is shot toward a curtained window, as if to imply that the bedroom window curtains are the bed curtains in question.

Several shots of female ghosts are included, for no apparent reason.  Perhaps the director owed these women a favor.

Is this adaptation a prequel or a sequel?  

No.

Is this adaptation supernatural? 

Yes.  Not only is this version supernatural, it seems more like one of Maria Olsen's low budget horror films than A Christmas Carol.  The music is dreadful, sometimes drowning out the dialogue.  The lighting and over-exposure, mixed with art and double or more expsosures, and the lack of background extras, and the solitary settings, as well as the female Ghost of Christmas Past's masculine, telepathic voice, all added to the creepiness of this film.

Is this adaptation "framed"?  

Yes, this adaptation is framed by Charles Dickens, played by Laurence Foster, reading the story out loud.

Is this adaptation a musical?  

No.

 

What songs and/or dances are included?  

Music by Michael Richard Plowman. If there are any musical numbers in this film, they aren't memorable enough to mention.

How attractive and effective is the visual art?  

The art in this film is very unattractive, especially the Phantom's hand, which seems to be covered by melting wax or acid.

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

The transitions are inadequate.  They mostly consist of double or more exposure.

 

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

N/A 

 

What use is made of background extras?  

Inadequate use is made of background extras.

What is the most remarkable thing about this adaptation? 

The most remarkable part of this whole film is the performance/monologue of Neill Fleming, in the role of Bob Cratchit, grieving for the loss of Tiny Tim.  This is the most heart-wrenching show of grief on the part of any Bob Cratchit for any Tiny Tim which I have ever seen!
 
What bonus material is included on the tape or DVD? 

This DVD allows chapter selection.  It also includes trailers, one of which is for an Irish, ghost hunting documentary.