“A CHRISTMAS CAROL”
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BOOTLEG FILES 212: “A Christmas Carol” (1971 Oscar-winning animated short). LAST SEEN: Available on several Net sites. AMERICAN HOME VIDEO: Available on VHS video during the 1980s and early 1990s. REASON FOR BOOTLEG STATUS: The film, for no clear reason, has been out of commercial release for many years. CHANCES OF SEEING A COMMERCIAL DVD RELEASE: It is possible, though one has to question why it is taking so long.
Yes, it is that time of the year for the usual round-up of holiday films to be dusted off. For my tastes, the best of the year-end flicks is Richard Williams’ 1971 animated short “A Christmas Carol.” Yes, I know what you are thinking – not Ebenezer Scrooge again! However, this version of “A Christmas Carol” is perhaps the definitive screen adaptation of the Dickens landmark.
This production eschews the icky sentimentality and lame humor that permeates too many screen versions of the tale. Instead, it plays upon the fears of emotional isolation and visceral horror, creating “A Christmas Carol” that stands out from the pack. “A Christmas Carol” was the first major triumph for the Canadian-born, British-based Williams.
Prior to this film, he was primarily known for his stylish credit sequences for such diverse films as “What’s New, Pussycat?” and “Casino Royale.” Around 1970, he came to the attention of American animation icon Chuck Jones, who was embarking on a new career phase as the vice president of children’s programming for ABC.
Posted by Kristmas Santa on December 21st, 2007 at 7:17 pm
Filed under: Christmas poems |
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The script of the play is taken from Charles Dickens’s novella of the same name, forcing it to rely heavily on narration. Actor Edward Reichert plays the role of storyteller well, getting plenty of help from other cast members, who trade the narration among themselves to create an overarching voice that represents the entire group.
To effectively accomplish their shared story thread, members of the ensemble arrange themselves tastefully across the small stage, managing both festive parties and lonely deathbed scenes in a manner that is always aesthetically pleasing. It is the main characters, however, that keep the show fresh. The characters that appear in “A Christmas Carol” are not especially complex figures, yet Portland Stage Company’s actors fill them out as far as is possible without going beyond Dickens’s story.
Christine McMurdo-Wallis, for instance, convincingly plays the ghosts of Christmases Past, Present, and Yet To Come, distinguishing each by emphasizing particular character traits over others the Ghost of Christmas Past is played with girlish gaiety, the Ghost of Christmas Present with a generous bountifulness, and the eerie Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come with the solemnity its black robe demands.
Throughout all of these roles, McMurdo maintains a knowing, sometimes stern demeanor that connects all of the ghosts and ties together the phases of Scrooge’s transformation into a purposeful journey. Mark Honan’s energetic actions as Bob Cratchit, Scrooge’s poor, overworked clerk, are another example of brilliant acting.
Posted by Kristmas Santa on December 7th, 2007 at 5:33 pm
Filed under: Christmas carol |
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