An American Christmas Carol (1979)
In Depression-era New England, a miserly businessman named Benedict Slade receives a long-overdue attitude adjustment one Christmas Eve when he is visited by three ghostly figures who resemble three of the people whose possessions Slade had seized to collect on unpaid loans. Assuming the roles of the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future from Charles Dickens' classic story, the three apparitions force Slade to face the consequences of his skinflint ways, and he becomes a caring, generous, amiable man.
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Horrible, fascist and poorly acted
Admirable film.
I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.
Henry Winkler was riding a wave of popularity when "An American Christmas Carol" was released in late 1979. He was still starring in the dumb 1970s sitcom "Happy Days" and had been the star in two theatrical movies in 1978. Given that I hated "Happy Days" and couldn't stand Winkler's "Fonzie" character, I was prepared to really hate this TV movie.I was surprised to find that "An American Christmas Carol" is really quite good. Winkler appears as the Scrooge-like character Benedict Slade, who reforms after visits from Christmas spirits during the Great Depression. The film has a very easygoing pace and has typical TV-style production values and direction, but it's really pretty good. I think that folks should watch it without any preconceptions about Winkler or the story...you'll be pleasantly surprised.
It takes a great movie "for me" to voice my opinion, but this is such a great version I had to speak out. Although there are other versions "and there are many" this is the one that puts a jump in my step, this is the one that I go out of my way to watch. I actually plan my TV viewing time around it every year, the President could be declaring war, and I'll change the channel on him. One year it was not playing on any of the station so I went out and bought a copy. Now I have it on file forever, and can watch it any time I choose "but seriously" it literary kills me to have to wait until Christmas time to watch it. One year "I couldn't wait" so I whipped out my disk "slid it in the player" and watched it in July. Be cool John, R.I.
This movie was excellent as a modern reminder that the Dicken's Classic, "A Christmas Carol" is still alive and well in this modern era. A heart- felt movie reminding us the joy of Christmas needs to be with us the whole year round. The acting is superb and traditional in every sense! This movie reaches to all, provoking the conscientious of human dignity and respect for our fellow man. One can simply tell the actors really got into their roles, ensuring this would be a great Christmas Classic. Bravo for the making of the "An American Christmas Carol". I can only assume Mr. Winkler who stared in this role feels this is one of his best works, defining the role as Ebenezer Scrooge.
Miserly businessman gives up the love of his life, the respect of his friends, and the ability to enjoy life for the lust of filthy lucre, the pride of ambition, and the euphoria of being the wealthiest man in town. Misery was his constant bedfellow until a vision of a lonely, unloved future is presented to him in all it's ugly wretchedness. Excellent re-make, almost as good as the George C. Scott version. What was the 70's hairstyle doing on a man living in the 20's?