A Christmas Carol (1977)

Miser Ebenezer Scrooge hates Christmas, but then gets a visit from his companion Jacob Marley, who has been dead for seven years. He urges Scrooge to change his life.

Director:

Moira Armstrong

Writers:

Charles Dickens (short story), Elaine Morgan

Stars:

Michael Hordern, John Le Mesurier, Bernard Lee

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michael Hordern	...	Scrooge
John Le Mesurier	...	Marley's Ghost
Bernard Lee	...	Ghost of Christmas Present
Patricia Quinn	...	Ghost of Christmas Past
Paul Copley	...	Fred
Clive Merrison	...	Bob Cratchit
Carol MacReady	...	Mrs. Cratchit
Maev Alexander	...	Fred's Wife
Zoë Wanamaker	...	Belle
Stephen Churchett	...	John
Will Stampe	...	Fezziwig
Christopher Biggins	...	Topper
Tricia George	...	Little Blonde
John Salthouse	...	Scrooge as a Young Man
Veronica Doran	...	Caroline

Storyline

It's the end of December and professional miser Ebenezer Scrooge absolutely despises this time of the year. He thinks Christmas is all humbug. He doesn't buy his nephew's talk of Christmas being a kind time, thinks it's absolute madness his servant Cratchit wants a day off and sends away collectors of donations for the poor penniless. It's also the time of the year in which his companion Jacob Marley died seven years ago. When he is all alone, he suddenly sees Marley again, in the door handle, in a tile, a bell suddenly rings. Humbug, thinks Scrooge. But then Marley really appears for him and tells him he should change his life. He warns Scrooge he will be haunted by three spirits, the Ghost of Christmas Past, the Ghost of Christmas Present and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come.

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Plot Keywords:

christmas | scrooge | ghost | 1840s | victorian era | 

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Genres:

Drama | Fantasy

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 December 1977 (UK)

Also Known As:

Cuento de Navidad

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Michael Hordern (Ebenezer Scrooge) previously played Jacob Marley in A Christmas Carol (1951) and A Christmas Carol (1971).

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Connections

Version of Ghosts of Girlfriends Past (2009)

User Reviews

Charming version of a familiar tale

In comparison to longer, more showy versions of Dickens' classic novella, this version from 1977 with Michael Hordern as Scrooge can look a bit underfunded - however, I think that its short length and the quality of its cast outweigh these concerns.

The key of adapting a familiar story is to meet expectations in many ways, and this version does succeed. The visitations of the four spirits (including Jacob Marley), are well done, Bernard Lee as Christmas Present, John Le Mesurier as Marley amongst them. Hordern himself makes a good Scrooge, grey, morose and menacing at the start, and gentle and reformed at the end.

Alongside versions with Alistair Sim, George C Scott, Patrick Stewart, and others, this version more than holds its own.