J. H. Authors

One Woman. Three Names. Many Books.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

OLD SCROOGE 1913

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Seymour Hicks plays Scrooge in this adaptation. Apparently Mr. Hicks had played the role on stage for several years. Another silent version, but this print felt newer (though was older). Again, the story is abbreviated, but much less so this time. The title cards have more detail, and there are many more of them.

Some interesting choices in abbreviating this story included:

Jacob Marley is the only ghost. His theatricality is profound–he looks half mummy with his white sheets and shuffling gait.

At the end Scrooge imagines being welcomed to the Cratchit house for dinner. There is quite a bit of stage business with this.

There are two loves scenes–one between Fred and his wife, and one between Fred’s wife’s sister and their friend Topper. When I imagine love scenes from silent movies, they look like this. The exaggerated pointing, leaning back and lunging forward by the man, The coy rebuke then surrender by the woman.

I marvel that this movie was made almost 100 years ago. It doesn’t have the depth of some of the other versions I write about, but there is something wonderful about seeing an actor who knew the role well reinventing it for a new medium.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL 1923

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When I was a little girl silent movies freaked me out. The makeup, the jerkiness of the filming (which is corrected if they are screened at the right speed), the overacting, etc. In 1980 something I watched a series on PBS narrated by James Mason about silent movies. It helped me appreciate the form more. And I also have to appreciate what a huge leap film must have been during the silent era. Light and shadows, and live music. Magic.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL from 1923 starred Russell Thorndike, Nina Vanna, Jack Denton, and Forbes Dawson. It is short, with limited exposition (aka title cards). I do wonder if there was an expected familiarity with the story so that the audiences were going to see the film to see what they did with it. And the ghosts were semi transparent. And while all four ghosts visit, there isn’t any of the depth of the story. The Past only shows Belle’s goodbye scene.

The Present says that he will be spending the day at Scrooge’s nephew and clerk and all who love Christmas. Scrooge begs him to stay, but he says no. Then Scrooge says he is not the man he was. So is the transformation because he didn’t want to miss a good time? When Scrooge goes to leave and the Ghost of Christmas Future comes in and beckons Scrooge forward where he ends up on his own grave.

Missing is the Tiny Tim story line, the Fezziwig past, etc. But again, I wonder if it was more about showing the film and less about tell the familiar story. Tomorrow I will report on another silent version I watched, which made different choices in its adaptation.

MRS. SCROOGE

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I love podcasts. One of my favorites is “Front Row Highlights” on the BBC. It is about an hour long, and covers the arts. I have discovered many different people/books/music/theater by listening to this podcast. And last year I discovered a version of A CHRISTMAS CAROL in a new medium.

“Mrs. Scrooge” is a poem by Carol Ann Duffy, who was made the UK Poet Laureate in 2009. Just hearing that a serious poet had tackled my favorite story made me seek out a copy, which I found in the guise of a small hardcover.

Mrs. Scrooge is Ebenezer’s widow. She is an environmentalist who pickets Marley’s grocery store to bring attention to the inhumane treatment of turkeys. She wears layers and uses candles (“darkness is cheap and Mrs. Scrooge liked it”, almost a direct quote from Dickens.) Her cat is named Cratchit. One night she is visited by three ghosts. The Ghost of Christmas Past shows her her courtship with Scrooge. The Ghost of Christmas Present. . .

I’m not going to tell you. Read this lovely poem here. What do you think? Does this modern homage hit you the way it hit me? Don’t you love the ending? The poem could live on its own, but the Dickensian characters and allusions add a layer of depth. I love this version.

A CAROL CHRISTMAS

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Starring Tori Spelling. Yes folks, this is an example of my dedication to this challenge. Watching and blogging A CAROL CHRISTMAS.

Actually, this is a fun update. Tori Spelling plays a Carol Cartman, a talk show host (think female Jerry Springer) who drives her staff hard, including her good hearted assistant Roberta. She is doing a live show on Christmas Eve, and takes a nap before the taping. Her Aunt  Marla (aka her Mama Rose in the guise of Jacob Marley) visits her and tells her to expect three ghosts. And they visit in the guise of Gary Coleman (the Ghost of Christmas Past) and William Shatner (the Ghost of Christmas Present). Given all of this casting, this show has its tongue firmly planted in its cheek. But it still tells the story.

Tori/Carol’s “Belle” is a homeless advocate named John. Since this was a Hallmark movie originally, you know it has a Belle happy ending. Gotta admit, I love those Belle happy endings.

The movie ends with Carol and her family (sister and her family and refound John) reading A CHRISTMAS CAROL while the ghosts look in from the window. A little schlocky, but I’ll take it. A fun update.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yIyoIh3BqA

A CHRISTMAS CAROL 1997

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A CHRISTMAS CAROL (1997) is an animated tale. I love this cast. Tim Curry as Scrooge, Michael York as Cratchit, Whoopi Goldberg as the Ghost of Christmas Present, Ed Asner as Marley.  Sort of inspired casting.

But this version doesn’t work for me. Maybe it is because it is geared for children, and (in my opinion) dumbed down a little in the process. The flowery prose of Dickens is replaced with plainer language. While I miss the language, children likely appreciate the explanation of what “the power for good” means, and that every nuance is explained. But THE MUPPETS CHRISTMAS CAROL is for children as well, and still has the Dickensian tone.

This CHRISTMAS CAROL isn’t scary. At all. And call me crazy, but a ghost story should be a little scary. Even a cartoon can be scary. This is also a musical. As I’ve mentioned, I don’t have issues with musical versions. However these musical numbers aren’t toe tapping, with the exception of “Sooty Santa”.

The ending is different (Fred and his wife show up at the Cratchits) and it ties everything up in a neat bow. Which is fine, but I like my CHRISTMAS CAROLS with a little grime.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVI37GAUl1Q