The Christmas Carol is a 1949 low-budget, black and white television special narrated by Vincent Price. Compressing Charles Dickens' classic 1843 story into a half-hour, it is stated to be "the oldest extant straight adaptation of the story" for television.Fred Guida, A Christmas Carol and Its Adaptations: A Critical Examination of Dickens's Story and Its Productions On Screen and Television, McFarland & Company, 2000, , p. 179. Excerpt available at Google Books. It was originally produced as a syndicated production for airing on 22 stations across the United States on Christmas Day in 1949. It was sponsored by Magnavox and represented that company's first use of television advertising."Magnavox Christmas TV on 22 stations", Billboard, December 24, 1949, p. 15. In 1952, the show was acquired by Consolidated Television Sales for further syndication."Consolidated Handles 'Carol'", Billboard, December 6, 1952, p. 8.
The production is considered primitive by modern standards; it is also noted for misspelling Ebenezer Scrooge's name as "Ebeneezer" in the opening credits and on the headstone of his grave. The cast is led by Taylor Holmes as Scrooge and includes an early appearance by Jill St. John, then age 9 and billed as Jill Oppenheim, who plays one of the Cratchit daughters."The Christmas Carol (1949): Review", Encyclopedia of Fantastic Film and Television (accessed 2012-01-21).
Plot
Cast Taylor Holmes as Ebeneezer Scrooge Patrick Whyte as Bob Cratchit (as Pat White) Robert Clarke as Fred Earl Lee as Ghost of Marley Nelson Leigh as Ghost of Christmas Past Joe Battista as Boy Scrooge George James as Ghost of Christmas Present Queenie Leonard as Mrs. Cratchit Mike Miller as Peter Cratchit Karen Kester as Belinda Cratchit Jill St. John as Missie Cratchit (as Jill Oppenheim) Robert Hyatt as Tiny Tim (as Bobby Hyatt) Constance Cavendish as Martha (as Connie Cavendish) Jack Nestle as Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come Paul Maxey as Fat Gentleman Leonard Carey as Thin Gentleman Ann Howard as Caroline
See also Adaptations of A Christmas Carol List of Christmas films
References
External links
The Christmas Carol at AllMovie