A Christmas Carol
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A Christmas Carol

Year:
Duration:
95 min
Genres:
Drama | Fantasy
IMDB rate:
7.4
Director:
David Hugh Jones
Awards:
Nominated for Primetime Emmy. Another 3 nominations
Details
Country: USA
Release Date: 1999-12-05
Filming Locations: Kirby Hall, Corby, Northamptonshire, England, UK
Cast
Actor
Character
Richard E. Grant
Richard E. Grant
A Christmas Carol
Patrick Stewart
Mr. Ebenezer Scrooge
Joel Grey
The Ghost of Christmas Past
Ian McNeice
Mr. Albert Fezziwig
Saskia Reeves
Mrs. Cratchit
Desmond Barrit
The Ghost of Christmas Present
Bernard Lloyd
Marley's Ghost
Dominic West
Fred (Scrooge's nephew)
Trevor Peacock
Old Joe
Liz Smith
Mrs. Dilber
Elizabeth Spriggs
Mrs. Riggs
Kenny Doughty
Young Scrooge
Laura Fraser
Belle
Celia Imrie
Mrs. Bennett
John Franklyn-Robbins
Crump
Roger Frost
Clergyman
Edward Petherbridge
Foster
Leagh Conwell
Boy Caroller
Rowland Stirling
Child Scrooge
Josh Maguire
Boy Scrooge
Rosie Wiggins
Fran Scrooge
Matthew Cottle
Dick Wilkins
Annette Badland
Mrs. Fezziwig
Michael Green
Eli Fezziwig
Charlotte Brittain
Marigold Fezziwig
Lynn Ferris
Daisy Fezziwig
Holly Hutchings
Lily Fezziwig
Tom Towndrow
Peter Cratchit
Zoe Timmins
Belinda Cratchit
Tabitha Francis
Young Girl Cratchit
Barnaby Francis
Young Boy Cratchit
Claire Slater
Martha Cratchit
Ben Tibber
Tiny Tim
Bruce Alexander
Mr. Bennett
Crispin Letts
Topper Haines
Annabel Mullion
Emily Bowley
Helen Coker
Betsy
Pooky Quesnel
Maude
Leanne Howard-Williams
Want
Daniel Booroff
Ignorance
Tim Potter
The Third Spirit
Gawn Grainger
First Broker
Roger Hammond
Second Broker
Stephen Moore
Third Broker
Claire Adamson
Caroline
Joe Jones
Caroline's Husband
Billy Seymour
Turkey Boy
Jack Chissick
Poulterer
Debbie Chazen
Fred's Maid
Will Howes
Boy on Carriage (uncredited)
Eric Jorrin
Sailor (uncredited)
Did you know?
Trivia
The word "humbug" is misunderstood by many people, which is a pity since the word provides a key insight into Scrooge's hatred of Christmas. The word "humbug" describes deceitful efforts to fool people by pretending to a fake loftiness or false sincerity. So when Scrooge calls Christmas a humbug, he is claiming that people only pretend to charity and kindness in an scoundrel effort to delude him, each other, and themselves. In Scrooge's eyes, he is the one man honest enough to admit that no one really cares about anyone else, so for him, every wish for a Merry Christmas is one more deceitful effort to fool him and take advantage of him. This is a man who has turned to profit because he honestly believes everyone else will someday betray him or abandon him the moment he trusts them.
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Liz Smith played Mrs. Dilber in both the 1984 version of A Christmas Carol (1984) starring George C. Scott, and the 1999 version of A Christmas Carol (1999) starring Patrick Stewart.
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When Scrooge sees his classmates in the past he calls out "There's Toby Veck!" This is a reference to the character Toby Veck, the protagonist in the Dickens story 'The Chimes'.
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Goofs
In the snow scenes outside Scrooge's old school, swifts are heard but these migratory birds arrive in May and leave in August.
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Marley died in 1836, and the story takes place seven Christmas Eves later in 1843. The caroler at Scrooge's door sings Good King Wenceslas, but the lyrics for that song were not written until 1853.
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At the end of Scrooge's visit to the Cratchit's during Christmas Present, Tiny Tim starts singing "Silent Night" which is then taken up by others in various scenes. Originally a German-language hymn written in Austria, it was not translated into English until 1863, a full 20 years after Dickens wrote "A Christmas Carol".
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Quotes
Mr. Ebenezer Scrooge: You find my nephew amusing, Cratchit.
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Tiny Tim: God bless us, every one!
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Mr. Ebenezer Scrooge: Is there no chance that boy will be spared?
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Faq
Q
Why does Marley have his chin in a sling?
A
Back in Dickens' time, undertakers would tie a bandage under the chin to keep the mouth from springing open. A dead person's jaw will hang open after a while because the muscles do not hold tension and the tongue swells forcing the jaw wide open. Nowadays, undertakers will sew or wire the mouth shut for the same reason.
Q
What kind of 'pudding' was Mrs Cratchit making?
A
Non-Brits often ask that question when Mrs Cratchit pulls a cheesecloth wrapped 'pudding' out of a pot of boiling water and then sets it aflame. To the English, however, Christmas or plum pudding has been a traditional favorite in Christmas dinners since medieval times. More like a fruitcake spiked with brandy, wine, or cognac, plum pudding should be made weeks, months, or even a year in advance in order to let it cure. A recipe for English plum pudding can be found here.
Q
A Note Regarding Spoilers
A
The following FAQ entries may contain spoilers. Only the biggest ones (if any) will be covered with spoiler tags. Spoiler tags have been used sparingly in order to make the page more readable.
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Photos from cast
Richard E. Grant Jeremy Swift
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