Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Patrick Stewart | ... | Mr. Ebenezer Scrooge | |
Richard E. Grant | ... | Bob Cratchit | |
Joel Grey | ... | The Ghost of Christmas Past | |
Ian McNeice | ... | Mr. Albert Fezziwig | |
Saskia Reeves | ... | Mrs. Cratchit | |
Desmond Barrit | ... | The Ghost of Christmas Present | |
Bernard Lloyd | ... | Marley's Ghost | |
Dominic West | ... | Fred (Scrooge's nephew) | |
Trevor Peacock | ... | Old Joe | |
Liz Smith | ... | Mrs. Dilber | |
Elizabeth Spriggs | ... | Mrs. Riggs | |
Kenny Doughty | ... | Young Scrooge | |
Laura Fraser | ... | Belle | |
Celia Imrie | ... | Mrs. Bennett | |
John Franklyn-Robbins | ... | Crump |
In 1840s London, Ebenezer Scrooge is a mean-spirited businessman who receives his terrifying comeuppance. One Christmas Eve, he is visited by the ghost of Jacob Marley, his dead business partner. Marley foretells that Scrooge will be visited by three spirits, each of whom will attempt to show Scrooge the error of his ways. Will Scrooge reform his ways in time to celebrate Christmas? Written by Mike Konczewski
Having read the book a couple times, and have watched every notable Hollywood production of the tale, this version is far and away the best and most faithful to the original book. Not ever detail is precisely from the book (but so what); the over-arching story is most accurate and captures the real essence of the story. (For those who don't know, Dickens continued to edit and re-write his one man stage performance for many years after publication of the book, so don't be so petty as to demand perfect adherence to the original novel if Dickens himself didn't.) Stewart nails Scrooge; head and shoulders above all other actors playing this role. My biggest complaint is that it was clearly edited for TV time constraints and I just wish they would release a "directors cut" with a few scenes being more fulled expressed. This version is a must-watch every Christmas. A+