A Christmas Carol (1908)

Drama | 9 December 1908

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HISTORY

This appears to be the first American production of A Christmas Carol.
       The Jan 1909 Nickelodeon called A Christmas Carol a “serious-comic Christmas story in ten elaborate scenes.”
       Two reviews in the Moving Picture World contradict each other. The first, dated 12 Dec 1908, stated the following: “An effort at some high-class work, but in which the details lack some care. In many scenes the actions are too precipitated, consequently giving exaggerated and confused motions. This was not the fault of the operator, as he worked his machine with the proper speed. The manufacturers of this film should foster the comic, in which line they seem to have mastered the talent of creating laughing spells.” However, a second review in the 2 Jan 1909 Moving Picture World was more favorable: “It is impossible to praise this film too highly. It reproduces the story as closely as it is possible to do in a film and the technical excellence of the work cannot be questioned. The photography, the staging and the acting are all of the best, and the story told is always impressive. The scene where the little girl is the only one who will love the old man is touching and brought the tears to more than one pair of eyes in the audience. Such films cannot be too highly commended. They are a welcome relief from the riot of bloodshed which has marred the moving picture shows of New York and other cities far too long. Even though it costs a fortune almost to prepare such a film, it is quite likely that the public will patronize ...

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This appears to be the first American production of A Christmas Carol.
       The Jan 1909 Nickelodeon called A Christmas Carol a “serious-comic Christmas story in ten elaborate scenes.”
       Two reviews in the Moving Picture World contradict each other. The first, dated 12 Dec 1908, stated the following: “An effort at some high-class work, but in which the details lack some care. In many scenes the actions are too precipitated, consequently giving exaggerated and confused motions. This was not the fault of the operator, as he worked his machine with the proper speed. The manufacturers of this film should foster the comic, in which line they seem to have mastered the talent of creating laughing spells.” However, a second review in the 2 Jan 1909 Moving Picture World was more favorable: “It is impossible to praise this film too highly. It reproduces the story as closely as it is possible to do in a film and the technical excellence of the work cannot be questioned. The photography, the staging and the acting are all of the best, and the story told is always impressive. The scene where the little girl is the only one who will love the old man is touching and brought the tears to more than one pair of eyes in the audience. Such films cannot be too highly commended. They are a welcome relief from the riot of bloodshed which has marred the moving picture shows of New York and other cities far too long. Even though it costs a fortune almost to prepare such a film, it is quite likely that the public will patronize it sufficiently to make good the extraordinary outlay.”

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GEOGRAPHIC LOCATIONS
SOURCE CITATIONS
SOURCE
DATE
PAGE
Film Index
12 Dec 1908
p. 7
Moving Picture World
28 Nov 1908
p. 424r, 431tn, 439tl
Moving Picture World
5 Dec 1908
pp. 457ta, 458-459ts
Moving Picture World
12 Dec 1908
p. 467
Moving Picture World
2 Jan 1909
p. 11tr
Nickelodeon
Jan 1909
p. 31
CAST
NAME
CREDITED AS
CREDIT
Thomas Ricketts

NAME
CREDITED AS
CREDIT
Thomas Ricketts
+ −
PRODUCTION CREDITS
NAME
PARENT COMPANY
PRODUCTION COMPANY
DISTRIBUTION COMPANY
NAME
CREDITED AS
CREDIT
DIRECTOR
Thomas Ricketts
Dir
SOURCES
LITERARY
Based on the novel A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (London, 1843).
LITERARY SOURCE AUTHOR
DETAILS
Release Date:
9 December 1908
Production Date:

Physical Properties:
Silent
Black and White
Length(in feet):
1,000
Country:
United States
Language:
English
SYNOPSIS

“Scene 1 shows the miser Scrooge passing down a London street the morning before Christmas, on his way to his counting house. So much is he detested that no one speaks to him until a beggar approaches, asks for alms, and is angrily stricken to the ground. A spirit appears and tells the miser that the beggar will again appear that night. Scene 2 shows Scrooge approaching his counting house, and as he is entering, the beggar again appears before him. He places his hands before his eyes to shut out the apparition, and when he looks again the figure has vanished. Scene 3 shows the interior of the counting house with Bob Cratchett, the clerk, and Fred, the nephew of Scrooge, attending to their duties. Fred announces that he has just been married. His bride, together with the crippled boy, Tiny Tim, enter the office. Looking out the window, they discover the approach of Scrooge and, at the advice of Fred, conceal themselves. Scrooge enters and is told of Fred’s marriage. He kisses the bride, but immediately regretting his action, orders them out of the office. They plead for a Christmas holiday, to which Scrooge eventually consents. The spirit appears and leads Scrooge from the office. Scene 4 shows a merry throng on a London street, with a stranger scattering money to the children who gather about him. The spirit leads Scrooge to the throng, who shun him as he endeavors to speak to them at the command of the spirit. Scene 5 shows the cripple at the lodgings of Scrooge, and the latter entering, still led by the spirit. Scene 6 shows the beggar warming himself by ...

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“Scene 1 shows the miser Scrooge passing down a London street the morning before Christmas, on his way to his counting house. So much is he detested that no one speaks to him until a beggar approaches, asks for alms, and is angrily stricken to the ground. A spirit appears and tells the miser that the beggar will again appear that night. Scene 2 shows Scrooge approaching his counting house, and as he is entering, the beggar again appears before him. He places his hands before his eyes to shut out the apparition, and when he looks again the figure has vanished. Scene 3 shows the interior of the counting house with Bob Cratchett, the clerk, and Fred, the nephew of Scrooge, attending to their duties. Fred announces that he has just been married. His bride, together with the crippled boy, Tiny Tim, enter the office. Looking out the window, they discover the approach of Scrooge and, at the advice of Fred, conceal themselves. Scrooge enters and is told of Fred’s marriage. He kisses the bride, but immediately regretting his action, orders them out of the office. They plead for a Christmas holiday, to which Scrooge eventually consents. The spirit appears and leads Scrooge from the office. Scene 4 shows a merry throng on a London street, with a stranger scattering money to the children who gather about him. The spirit leads Scrooge to the throng, who shun him as he endeavors to speak to them at the command of the spirit. Scene 5 shows the cripple at the lodgings of Scrooge, and the latter entering, still led by the spirit. Scene 6 shows the beggar warming himself by the fireplace, while Scrooge in anger attempts to strike him, when he is transformed into the image of the dead partner of the miser. Horror-stricken, Scrooge sinks into a chair, and looking into the fireplace seeks a vision of his boyhood days. With a cry he sinks to the floor. The spirit again compels him to look into the fireplace, where he sees a vision of his forsaken sweetheart, as well as that of himself as a young business man. Thoroughly overcome, he falls to the floor exhausted, but the spirit again raises him with a command to follow him from the office. Scene 7 shows the meager home of the Cratchetts, where, at the command of the spirit, he showers money upon the ill-paid clerk and his happy family and is again led away. Scene 8 shows the Christmas festivities at the home of Fred, the nephew of Scrooge, Fred toasts his uncle, but the company refuse to drink to the toast. Scrooge, concealed in the recess of the window, notices this, and coming forward, showers them with money, promising that hereafter he will lead a different life. Scene 9 shows the spirit and Scrooge in the lodgings of the latter, where Scrooge falls upon his knees in prayer. Scene 10 in Christmas Day. Scrooge gives a banquet to all his house can hold, including Fred, the Cratchetts, and his friends, where he promises that in the future he will live to achieve the happiness of others.”—5 Dec 1908 Moving Picture World

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Legend
Viewed by AFI
Partially Viewed
Offscreen Credit
Name Occurs Before Title
AFI Life Achievement Award

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