A Christmas Carol - The night before Christmas

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Movie
German title A Christmas Carol - The night before Christmas
Original title A Christmas Carol
Country of production United States
original language English
Publishing year 1999
length 95 minutes
Age rating FSK 6
Rod
Director David Hugh Jones
script Peter Barnes
production Dyson Lovell
music Stephen Warbeck
camera Ian Wilson
cut David Martín
occupation

A Christmas Carol - The night before Christmas (German alternative title: A Christmas Carol - Die drei Weihnachtsgeister , DVD release: A Christmas story ) is a fantasy film by David Hugh Jones from 1999. The plot of the film is based on the story A , published in 1843 Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens .

action

The somewhat older businessman Ebenezer Scrooge lives in London in the 1840s, he is stingy and emotionally cold towards other people. He sees the Christmas season as pure nonsense. His hard-working employee, Bob Cratchit, asks Scrooge for a day off to celebrate Christmas with his family. But Scrooge is reluctant to let him go. On the night before Christmas Day, Scrooge receives a visit from the ghost of his dead business partner Jacob Marley, who was just as stingy as Scrooge himself is. As a punishment, Jacob Marley has to carry around heavy chains with him even in death, which he forged himself through his way of life. Jacob comes to warn Ebenezer and show him what future he will face if he doesn't change.

The spirit announces the visit of three more spirits who are to help Ebenezer on his recovery: the spirit of Christmas past, the spirit of Christmas present, and the spirit of Christmas to come. Each ghost takes Scrooge on a journey and shows him significant impressions from this phase of life. The ghost of Christmas past shows him how Scrooge celebrated Christmas before he got stingy. Scrooge sees himself celebrating Christmas with friends. But he also sees how the germ of avarice has already denatured these joys because they cost money and time, and how his greed and greed scared off his great love. The Christmas spirit of the past brings him back to his house, where the Christmas spirit of the present will not be long in coming. This leads Scrooge into the house of the Cratchit family, who have a very modest but happy Christmas and, at Bob's request, even toast Scrooge. Then Scrooge experiences his nephew's joyous Christmas party. He would like to be there and to reveal himself, but he is only present as a spirit and has no physicality.

But before he can really enjoy the present Christmas, the third and last ghost arrives at Scrooge. That is mute and completely veiled. The spirit of Christmas to come leads the old curmudgeon into the house of the poor Cratchit family. The family mourns Bob's little son Tim, who recently passed away.

Then Scrooge is led into the street by the ghost, where they overhear a conversation between some Londoners. They talk about someone having passed away, but just make fun of it and show no trace of pity or sadness. On the contrary: They are still fighting over the deceased's belongings. Scrooge doesn't understand what he's seeing there. Finally he asks the ghost who this deceased was, but without words the ghost leads him to a cemetery and points to a tombstone. Scrooge bends down to read the name. It's his own: Ebenezer Scrooge.

Scrooge, shaped by the many impressions he has gathered that night, throws himself on the ground in front of the ghost. He begs for forgiveness and wants to change. He closes his eyes, tears the robe of the spirit and it falls on him. Scrooge now finds himself in his bed again, on top of which lies the curtain of his four-poster bed. At first he doesn't think he's still alive. But suddenly the joy of life overcomes him, he runs to the window and calls out to a little boy what day it is today. Scrooge learns that Christmas morning has come. He then instructs the boy to buy the largest turkey and promises him money if he delivers the turkey to Bob Cratchit without giving his name. In addition, Scrooge raised Bob's salary. The Cratchits can hardly believe this sudden change. By changing his attitude, Scrooge makes many friends and becomes a happier person.

Reviews

  • The lexicon of international films wrote that the film was produced “solidly”, but had no “special ambitions”.
  • Diane Selkirk praised the portrayal of Patrick Stewart in the "Apollo Guide". The script is true to the narrative. The backdrops of old London would not look real, which was due to the film budget.

Awards

DVD release

In December 2004, the German version of this film appeared for the first time under the title A Christmas Carol - The Night Before Christmas on Paramount Home Entertainment.

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ A Christmas Carol - The Night Before Christmas. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed March 2, 2017 .Template: LdiF / Maintenance / Access used 
  2. ↑ Apollo Movie Guide's Review of Christmas Carol, A (1999) ( Memento October 10, 2007 in the Internet Archive )

Web links