Like eggnog and "Silent Night," A Christmas Carol is a holiday tradition most people take for granted. Creating yet another take that manages to be fresh and compelling requires skilled and a great deal of talent. The TNT-Hallmark effort has ample supplies of both.
"We have the hubris to think that this may be the defining Christmas Carol for the next decade," Patrick Stewart said in Parade.
Set aside a couple of hours to enjoy this new rendition of an old classic, and I think you'll agree his statement isn't hubris one little bit.
FILM CHRONOLOGY
1910 A Christmas Carol with Charles Ogle
1911 A Christmas Carol with William Bechtel; director, Charles Kent
1915 A Christmas Carol with Delmer Daves
1917 A Bit o' Heaven (AKAThe Birds' Christmas Carol) Director, Lule Warrenton; written by Kate Douglas Wiggin
1935 Scrooge with Seymour Hicks; director, Harry Edwards
1938 A Christmas Carol with Reginald Owen; director, Edward Marin
1951 A Christmas Carol with Alistair Sim; director, Richard Adinsell (NOTE: this version will be shown on American Movie Classics on December 24 at 4 PM and 10:30 PM Eastern time and on December 25 at 1 PM Eastern)
1954 A Christmas Carol (musical) with Fredric March; director, Ralph Levy; written by Maxwell Anderson
1962 Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol (animated) with the voice of Jim Backus
1964 Carol For Another Christmas with Sterling Hayden; director, Joseph L.Mankiewicz; written by Rod Serling
1970 Scrooge (musical) with Albert Finney; director, Ronald Neame; music by Leslie Bricusse. Finney received the 1970 Golden Globe Award for best actor in musical or comedy. The film was also nominated for Academy Awards for art direction/ set decoration, costume designer, best song ("Thank You Very Much") and best song score/ adaptation.
1979 An American Christmas Carol with Henry Winkler; director, Eric Till
1979 Bugs Bunny's Christmas Carol (animated)
1983 Mickey's Christmas Carol (animated) with the voice of Alan Young; director, Burny Mattinson
1984 A Christmas Carol (TV) with George C. Scott; director, Clive Donner
1988 Scrooged with Bill Murray; director, Richard Donner
1992 A Muppet Christmas Carol with Michael Caine; director, Brian Henson
A Christmas Carol (animated) with the voice of Alistair Sim; director, Richard Williams
1994 A Flintstones Christmas Carol (animated)
1997 A Christmas Carol (animated) with the voice of Tim Curry
1998 An All Dogs Christmas Carol (animated) Director, Paul Sabella
1999 A Christmas Carol with Patrick Stewart; director, David Jones. The production will encore on Thursday, December 9, at 10:30PM Eastern; Saturday, December 11, at 8 PM Eastern; Sunday, December 12, at 3:30 PM Eastern; Saturday, December 18, at 9 PM Eastern; Sunday, December 19, at 3:30 PM Eastern; and on Christmas Day at 8 PM.
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