By John C.

 

“Marley was dead: to begin with.”  This year marks 167 years since Charles Dickens first published those immortal opening words of his beloved masterpiece, A Christmas Carol.  The story of Ebenezer Scrooge, a Victorian miser who is visited by three ghosts and taken on a spiritual journey of self redemption and discovery on the night of Christmas eve, remains one of the greatest ever written about the holiday.

Dickens was a great writer and master storyteller, and his 1843 novella has had more screen adaptations than any other book.  With everyone from Mr. Magoo to Bill Murray having starred in a variation on the story, pretty much everyone has tried their hand at an homage.

I have not taken the time to properly sit down and watch all of the many adaptations that have come over the years, but below are three of my most memorable that I personally believe retain the true spirit of the original text.

 

A Christmas Carol (1951)

In it’s purest form, A Christmas Carol is an excellent example of a character arc, thoughtfully showing us a past, present and future look at the central character of Ebenezer Scrooge.  The best adaptations need an actor who is able to capture both the subtle and obvious side of this character’s transformation, and Alastair Sim’s fully realized performance in this 1951 classic is synonymous with Christmas for a lot of people.

 

Although this film version does omit a few famous lines and changes some key plot points, particularly in the Christmas Past sequence, it is still placed at the top of many people’s lists.  Nearly 60 years later, the special effects are still equally impressive, and Sim’s performance as Scrooge is undeniably one of the best.

 

The most complete edition of the film only runs for a mere 86 minutes, and what a film find it would be if a longer version were discovered.

 

The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

The fact that I’ve always been a big fan of Jim Henson’s Muppets might have something to do with the fact that this one is on my list.  Take from that what you will, but it is Michael Caine’s excellent performance here as Scrooge that allows this musical retelling to retain the true spirit of the original.

 

Aside from Caine’s performance, what makes this adaptation stand out from the crowd is the excellent soundtrack of heartwarming songs by Paul Williams.  Although it can be equally enjoyed by those of all ages, this would also prove a good choice when introducing younger audiences to the classic story.

 

A Christmas Carol (2009)

A tour-de-force of haunting visuals and powerful storytelling, this dark and terrifying retelling from director Robert Zemeckis, also ranks as one of the closest and best to the source material.  Through the use of motion-capture animation, Jim Carrey plays the central role of Scrooge, and it is one of the most well-rounded performances of the comedian’s career.

 

Although disregarded by many, this adaptation is strikingly faithful to the original text, with the look of the characters lifted right from the pages of the book.  As with Zemeckis’ equally beautiful The Polar Express five years prior, this adaptation of A Christmas Carol is one of the most under appreciated.

 

We can not have a beginning without an ending, and the final words of Dickens’ story are just as important and immortal as the first.  In the end it is Tiny Tim’s astute observation that closes our journey.  “God bless us, everyone!”