Christmas Carol: The Musical (2004)
- Starring:
- Kelsey Grammer, Jesse L. Martin, (more)
- Director(s):
- Arthur A. Seidelman
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- NR
- Format(s):
- DVD
| Digital SD
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Synopsis of Christmas Carol: The Musical
Differentiating this TV-movie version of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol from the hundreds of other adaptations of the same Yuletide classic is its tongue-in-cheek ambience and a bundle of memorable tunes by perennial Disney composer Alan Menken and former Schoolhouse Rock lyricist Lynn Ahrens. Inspired by a stage musical which used to be presented annually at New York's Madison Square Garden, this Christmas Carol stars Kelsey Grammer as tight-fisted Ebenezer Scrooge, who sees the errors of his ways just in time to oversee the "best Christmas ever" for his long-suffering clerk Bob Cratchit (Edward Gower) and "God Bless Us Everyone" Tiny Tim (Jacob Moriarty). On this occasion, the spirits materializing for Scrooge's benefit include Jason Alexander as a neurotic Jacob Marley, Jesse L. Martin as a laid-back Ghost of Christmas Present, Jane Krakowski as a sexy Ghost of Christmas Past, and Geraldine Chaplin as a spooky Ghost of Christmas Future (in Wizard of Oz tradition, three of these four actors also appear as "real" people in Scrooge's everyday life). Highlights include the song "Link by Link," wherein the ghostly Marley and a chorus of wraiths perform a lively ball-and-chain dance number, and the outsized Christmas celebration in the home of Scrooge's first boss, Mr. Fezziwig (Brian Bedford), which features among other things a "pole dance" by the Ghost of Christmas Past! Filmed on-location in Budapest (which sort of looks like Dickensian London if you squint real hard), A Christmas Carol: The Musical won an Emmy award for musical director Michael Kosarin -- and, alas, tanked in the ratings when first telecast by NBC on November 28, 2004. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 97 mins
Complete Cast of Christmas Carol: The Musical
- Kelsey Grammer - Ebenezer Scrooge
- Jane Krakowski - Ghost of Christmas Past/Lamplighter
- Jennifer Love Hewitt - Emily
- Brian Bedford - Mr. Fezziwig
- Linzi Hateley - Mrs. Cratchit
- Steven Miller - Young Ebenezer Scrooge
- Julian Ovenden - Fred Anderson
- Claire Moore - Mrs. Fezziwig
- Gus Corrado - Mr. Hawkins
- Mike Kelly - Scrooge's Father
- Sheila Reid - Mrs. Mops
- Jesse L. Martin - Ghost of Christmas Present/Sandwich Board Man
- Jason Alexander - Marley's Ghost/Middle-aged Marley
- Geraldine Chaplin - Ghost of Christmas Future/Blind Old Hag
- Edward Gower - Bob Cratchit
- Jacob Moriarty - Tiny Tim Cratchit
- Emily Deamer - Grace Smythe
- Julie Alannagh-Brighten - Sally Anderson
- Joseph Tremain - Jonathan
- Ruthie Henshall - Young Scrooge's Mother
- Ian McLarnon - Mr. Smythe
- Josh Wilmott - Scrooge (10 years old)
- Director(s):
- Arthur A. Seidelman
- Writer(s):
- Mike Ockrent, Lynn Ahrens
- Producer(s):
- Steven North, Howard Ellis
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- NR
- Categories:
- Music & Performing Arts
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