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An American Christmas Carol

  • TV Movie
  • 19791979
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 38m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
1.4K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
An American Christmas Carol (1979)
Clip: He's Nice Now
Play clip3:36
An American Christmas Carol
1 Video
9 Photos
  • Drama
  • Fantasy

In an American town, an old bitter miser is given a ghostly chance at redemption on Christmas Eve.In an American town, an old bitter miser is given a ghostly chance at redemption on Christmas Eve.In an American town, an old bitter miser is given a ghostly chance at redemption on Christmas Eve.

IMDb RATING
6.8/10
1.4K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Eric Till
  • Writers
    • Charles Dickens(story "A Christmas Carol")
    • Jerome Coopersmith(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Henry Winkler
    • David Wayne
    • Chris Wiggins
Top credits
  • Director
    • Eric Till
  • Writers
    • Charles Dickens(story "A Christmas Carol")
    • Jerome Coopersmith(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Henry Winkler
    • David Wayne
    • Chris Wiggins
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 45User reviews
    • 11Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro

    • Videos1

    An American Christmas Carol
    Clip 3:36
    An American Christmas Carol

    Photos9

    An American Christmas Carol (1979)
    An American Christmas Carol (1979)
    Henry Winkler in An American Christmas Carol (1979)
    An American Christmas Carol (1979)
    Henry Winkler in An American Christmas Carol (1979)
    An American Christmas Carol (1979)
    Henry Winkler and Richard Ciupka in An American Christmas Carol (1979)
    Henry Winkler and Richard Ciupka in An American Christmas Carol (1979)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Henry Winkler
    Henry Winkler
    • Benedict Sladeas Benedict Slade
    David Wayne
    David Wayne
    • Merrivaleas Merrivale
    Chris Wiggins
    • Mr. Nathaniel Brewsteras Mr. Nathaniel Brewster
    R.H. Thomson
    R.H. Thomson
    • Thatcheras Thatcher
    Ken Pogue
    Ken Pogue
    • Jack Lathamas Jack Latham
    • (as Kenneth Pogue)
    Gerard Parkes
    Gerard Parkes
    • Jessupas Jessup
    Susan Hogan
    Susan Hogan
    • Helen Brewsteras Helen Brewster
    Will Bermender
    Will Bermender
    • Orphanas Orphan
    • (as Will Bermender)
    Dorian Harewood
    Dorian Harewood
    • Matt Reevesas Matt Reeves
    Tammy Bourne
    Tammy Bourne
    • Sarah Thatcheras Sarah Thatcher
    Brett Matthew Davidson
    Brett Matthew Davidson
    • Orphanas Orphan
    Christopher Crabb
    Christopher Crabb
    • Timas Tim
    Chris Cragg
    • Jonathan Thatcheras Jonathan Thatcher
    James B. Douglas
    • Sam Perkinsas Sam Perkins
    Arlene Duncan
    Arlene Duncan
    • Jennie Reevesas Jennie Reeves
    Linda Goranson
    Linda Goranson
    • Mrs. Doris Thatcheras Mrs. Doris Thatcher
    Derrick Jones
    • Harry Barnesas Harry Barnes
    Cec Linder
    Cec Linder
    • Auctioneeras Auctioneer
    • Director
      • Eric Till
    • Writers
      • Charles Dickens(story "A Christmas Carol")
      • Jerome Coopersmith(screenplay)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    In Depression-era New England, miserly businessman Benedict Slade receives a long-overdue attitude adjustment on Christmas Eve when he is visited by three ghostly figures who resemble three of the people whose possessions he had seized to collect on unpaid loans. Assuming the roles of the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future from Charles Dickens' classic story, they force him to face the consequences of his skinflint ways, and he becomes a caring, generous, amiable man. —Kevin McCorry <mmccorry@nb.sympatico.ca>
    • based on novella
    • ghost of christmas past
    • ghost of christmas present
    • ghost of christmas future
    • nationality in title
    • 11 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Charles Dicken's Victorian London becomes America's great Depression in this exciting new film
    • Genres
      • Drama
      • Fantasy
    • Certificate
      • Not Rated
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The clinic to which Benedict sends Jonathan to treat his polio was run by Sister Elisabeth Kenny, founded in 1932 in Townsville Queenland, over 2000km away from Sydney, which is where the last ticket went to that Slade gave Jonathan as a Christmas gift.
    • Goofs
      Near the end of the film, Slade tells Thatcher's son he's sending him to Australia to a clinic run by "Sister Elizabeth Kenny" (a nurse) to cure his polio caused paralysis. Such a nurse did exist and had developed an effective therapy to cure paralysis. However an American stricken with polio couldn't travel there to visit her. Her methods needed to be employed immediately upon contracting the disease and such a journey would take too much time. American patients were treated by their local doctor or nurse who'd read up extensively on her methods.
    • Quotes

      Mr. Brewster: When the day of quality ends in this country, we'll all be in great trouble indeed.

    • Connections
      Featured in Everything is Terrible! Holiday Special (2012)
    • Soundtracks
      We Three Kings
      (uncredited)
      Written by John H. Hopkins (as John Henry Hopkins, Jr.)

    User reviews45

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    A wonderful Christmas story
    This movie was excellent as a modern reminder that the Dicken's Classic, "A Christmas Carol" is still alive and well in this modern era. A heart- felt movie reminding us the joy of Christmas needs to be with us the whole year round. The acting is superb and traditional in every sense! This movie reaches to all, provoking the conscientious of human dignity and respect for our fellow man. One can simply tell the actors really got into their roles, ensuring this would be a great Christmas Classic. Bravo for the making of the "An American Christmas Carol". I can only assume Mr. Winkler who stared in this role feels this is one of his best works, defining the role as Ebenezer Scrooge.
    helpful•14
    2
    • munkmanor
    • Dec 23, 2006

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 16, 1979 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Canada
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Cuento de Navidad
    • Filming locations
      • Elora, Ontario, Canada
    • Production companies
      • Smith-Hemion Productions
      • Stanley Chase Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $2,000,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 38 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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    20 Essential Movie and TV Scrooges Through the Years, From Alastair Sim to Bill Murray (Photos)
    Dec 13The Wrap

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