A Christmas Carol

Director: David Jones

Overview

"Patrick Stewart stars in this made-for-TNT adaptation of A Christmas Carol that comes to DVD with a standard full-frame transfer that preserves the original broadcast aspect ratio. The closed-captioned English soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital Surround. English and French subtitles are accessible. Supplemental materials include a making-of featurette and cast profiles. Anyone looking for family friendly holiday fare should enjoy this DVD. This is a solid, if unexceptional, release from Warner Bros."

Product Details

Release Date:	11/07/2000
UPC:	0053939816129
Original Release:	1999
Rating:	NR
Source:	Turner Home Ent
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Full Frame]
Sound:	[stereo, Dolby Digital]
Language:	English
Time:	1:34:00

Special Features

Behind-the-scenes documentaries with Patrick Stewart and remaking a classic; Interactive menus; Cast/director profiles; Scene access; Subtitles: English & Français

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Patrick Stewart	Ebenezer Scrooge
Richard E. Grant	Bob Cratchit
Ben Tibber	Tiny Tim
Joel Grey	First Spirit
Ian McNeice	Albert Fezziwig
Saskia Reeves	Mrs. Cratchit
Desmond Barrit	Second Spirit
Bernard Lloyd	Jacob Marley
Dominic West	Fred Bowley
Trevor Peacock	Old Joe
Liz Smith	Mrs. Dilber
Elizabeth Spriggs	Mrs. Riggs
Kenny Doughty	Young Scrooge
Laura Fraser	Belle
Celia Imrie	Mrs. Bennett
Tim Potter	Third Spirit
Roger Frost	Clergyman
Rosie Wiggins	Fran
Edward Petherbridge	Actor
Jeremy Swift	Actor
Stephen Warbeck	Composer

Technical Credits

Peter Barnes

Dyson Lovell	Producer
Peter Barnes	Screenwriter
Robert Halmi Sr.	Executive Producer
Patrick Stewart	Executive Producer
David Hugh Jones	Director
Wendy Neuss	Producer
David Jones	Director
Robert Halmi, Sr.	Executive Producer
Joyce Gallie	Casting
Nick Adams	Sound Editor

Editorial Reviews

One of the best of the numerous adaptations of author Charles Dickens's holiday classic, this made-for-television original movie produced for the TNT network benefits greatly from its closer-than-usual adherence to the source material and a career-high performance from leading actor Patrick Stewart. The actor perfected his role in a long-running one-man stage show version of the tale, and his years of acing the part of Scrooge come through in every scene, whether he's mindlessly tapping his toes to a long-forgotten tune, dusting off a laugh that's cracked and dry from disuse, or scowling with contempt at charity workers. The technical credits here are excellent, with the benefit of modern special effects and the cinematography of Ian Wilson even garnering an Emmy nomination, but what sets this A Christmas Carol apart from the rest is the quality and believability of Stewart as the embittered antihero, a role that's difficult to attenuate: too campy, and the end result is the Mr. Magoo cartoon; too sour and you get George C. Scott in the overly gruff 1977 TV variation; too mean and there's Reginald Owen in the first big-budget treatment of the tale from 1938. Alastair Sim in the 1951 classic is widely considered the high-water mark of Scrooge portrayals and it's a testament to Stewart's commitment and talent that his is probably the best work in the role since then.