A Christmas Carol and Its Adaptations : A Critical Examination of Dickens' Story and Its Productions on Screen and Television [Hardcover]

Edward Wagenknecht (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 25, 1999

Over 150 years after its original composition, Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol continues to delight readers. The figure of Ebenezer Scrooge has become a cultural icon, and Tiny Tim's "God Bless Us Every One" is as familiar as "Merry Christmas." It is not surprising that Dickens' "ghostly little book," as he called it, has proven a popular choice for adaptation by playwrights and screenwriters. In everything from elegant literary treatments to animated musicals, the role of Scrooge has been essayed by actors from George C. Scott to Mr. Magoo. This critical account of the story's history and its various adaptations examines first, the original writing of the story, including its political, economic, and historical context. The major Carol interpretations are analyzed within their various media: stage, silent film, talkies, and television. Dickens' other, lesser known Christmas stories, like "The Cricket on the Hearth," are also examined and compared to the immortal Carol. Finally, a complete annotated filmography of all film and television productions based on A Christmas Carol is included, with commentary on each version's loyalty to the original text. The text includes a foreword by noted Dickensian scholar Edward Wagenknecht, and a bibliography and index.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"“Excellent...intelligently written and painstaking in its detail"” --Interzone

"“An engaging and informative text...detailed filmography"” --Classic Images

"“A labor of love and a work of serious scholarship...valuable"” --Dickens Quarterly

"Delightful...a scholarly work crammed with facts, credits, opinion and general humbuggery." --Film Review

"An unusual and ambitious subject." --Newsletter of The Magic Lantern Society

"Definitive" --The Slide Area

"An unusual and ambitious subject." --Newsletter of The Magic Lantern Society --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

Fred Guida is a film programmer and consultant at Yale University's Film Study Center and the Center for British Art. He teaches film and television studies as adjunct faculty and has written a number of journal articles. He lives in Branford, Connecticut.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 276 pages
• Publisher: McFarland & Company (November 25, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786407387
• ISBN-13: 978-0786407385
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 7.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,534,140 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Treat for "Carol" Lovers, January 15, 2000

By 

Larksong (Virginia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Christmas Carol and Its Adaptations : A Critical Examination of Dickens' Story and Its Productions on Screen and Television (Hardcover)

Everyone has a favorite film or television version of Dickens beloved "A Christmas Carol." But few of us have any idea how very many adaptations there have been. Mr. Guida's wonderful book examines first the written "Carol," then goes on to detail some of the hundreds of adaptations and variations, from the early stage versions and magic lantern slides to modern made-for-television Carols. Mr. Guida discusses the major Carols with wit and humor as well as rare discernment: his love for his subject is evident. Minor Carols and variations are also covered, albeit more briefly. If you cannot find your favorite version in the text, you are sure to find it in the superb and very thorough filmography. The filmography is worth browsing in and of itself; did you know that there have been Western, country-western, rock-and-roll, and even science-fiction variations on "A Christmas Carol"? Or that actors as disparate as Cicely Tyson, Basil Rathbone, and Mr. Magoo have played Scrooge? If you love "A Christmas Carol" or simply dote on film trivia, I promise you will enjoy this book.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Reference Material, December 17, 2001

By 

Bradley LaForme (Hamilton, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Christmas Carol and Its Adaptations : A Critical Examination of Dickens' Story and Its Productions on Screen and Television (Hardcover)

I've been a fan of the 1953 version of a the Carol for as long as I remember. It was family tradition every Christmas eve to watch it. I've looked at as many possible versions and have yet to find it's match. This book is an amazing resource of all the various interpretations of the Dicken's classic has gone through from early lantern projected pictures, through the silent era, talking films, television, and animated specials. The early version were fascinating and I found it a special bonus that the author made note of various television shows which featured a special Christmas episode inspired by A Christmas Carol. Who could ever forget the "Six Million Dollar Man" Christmas special using the ideas from the novel. This brought back a lot of great television special memories. I was even able to track down two hard to find T.V. animated specials shown in the early 1970's but not seen since. (I found them on Amazon). All in all a great read, especially for fans. I did not agree with all of the criticisms, and the text is a rather dry read, maybe a little too academic. But still great stuff!!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars EXCELLENT NEW BOOK, December 18, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: A Christmas Carol and Its Adaptations : A Critical Examination of Dickens' Story and Its Productions on Screen and Television (Hardcover)

This is not just a meticulously researched film historian's delight. It is thoughtfully written, and chock-full of information related to Dickens and A CHRISTMAS CAROL. Excellent!