A Christmas Carol

A Christmas Carol is a novella written by Charles Dickens. First published on December 17, 1843, the book was an instant success. Thousands of copies were sold within weeks. Originally written as a potboiler to enable Dickens to pay off a debt, this story has become one of the most popular and enduring Christmas stories of all time.

Adaptations

A Christmas Carol has been adapted to theatre, film, radio, and television countless times. According to the Internet Movie Database, various movie adaptations of the story were filmed as early as 1910.

Related Topics:
Theatre - Film - Radio - Television - Internet Movie Database - 1910

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On December 23, 1938, CBS broadcast a radio adaptation by Orson Welles' Mercury Theatre company, in the series The Campbell Playhouse.

Related Topics:
December 23 - 1938 - CBS - Orson Welles - Mercury Theatre - The Campbell Playhouse

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CBS broadcast a similar adaptation in 1939, as well as a reading before a live studio audience.

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The story has also been used by successive generations of movie-makers and television directors to make their own points. In particular, many sitcoms have had episodes adapting or parodying the story for their Christmas episodes or specials.

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Perhaps the most popular and critically-acclaimed film adaptation of the story was made in Great Britain in 1951. Originally titled Scrooge (and renamed A Christmas Carol for its American release), it starred Alastair Sim as Scrooge, and was directed by Brian Desmond-Hurst with a screenplay by Noel Langley.

Related Topics:
Great Britain - 1951 - Scrooge - American - Alastair Sim - Brian Desmond-Hurst - Noel Langley

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Other noteworthy adaptations of the story include:

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• A Christmas Carol (1935) starring Sir Seymour Hicks as Scrooge.
• A Christmas Carol (1938) starring Reginald Owen as Scrooge and Gene and Kathleen Lockhart as the Cratchits.
• Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol (1962), an animated television special featuring the UPA character voiced by Jim Backus.
• Scrooge (1970), a musical film adaptation starring Albert Finney as Scrooge and Alec Guinness as Marley's Ghost.
• A Christmas Carol (1971), an Oscar-winning animated short film by Richard Williams, with Alastair Sim reprising the role of Scrooge.
• Bugs Bunny's Christmas Carol (1979), an animated television special featuring the various Looney Tunes characters.
• Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983), an animated short film featuring the various Walt Disney characters.
• A Christmas Carol (1984), a television movie version starring George C. Scott.
• X-mas Marks The Spot (1987) was an episode of the animated series, "The Real Ghostbusters" that spoofed the Dickens classic, depicting the heroes accidentally capturing the three spirits and ruining Christmas for the future.
• Scrooged (1988): a remake in a contemporary setting with Bill Murray being a misanthropic TV producer who is haunted by the ghosts of Christmas. Directed by Richard Donner.
• Blackadder's Christmas Carol (1988): a parody where philanthropist Ebenezer Blackadder becomes a bad guy after a visit by the Spirit of Christmas.
• The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992): featuring the various Muppet characters, with Michael Caine as Scrooge.
• Scrooge: The Musical (1992), a British stage musical adapted from the 1970 film and starring Anthony Newley.
• A Christmas Carol (1999), a television movie starring Patrick Stewart.
• A Diva's Christmas Carol (2000), a humorous adaptation starring Vanessa Williams as a bitchy diva who is transformed into a kind-hearted soul.
• Steve Nallon's Christmas Carol (2003) theatrical adaptation starring the noted impressionist, as a number of famous people.
• An Easter Carol (2004): featuring the various computer animated Veggie Tales characters in a unique adaptation that changed the holiday to Easter.
• ' (2004), starring Kelsey Grammer
• Karoll's Christmas (2004), in which modern versions of the three spirits visit the wrong man's house on Christmas Eve.