A Christmas Carol is a ABC animated primetime special that is a adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic story of the same name, executive produced by Chuck Jones , and directed by Richard Williams. It premiered on December 21, 1971.
As the special's animation style said to have been inspired by 19th Century wopd-carving images, it starred Alastair Sim as the voice of Ebenezer Scrooge (a role Sim had previously performed in the 1951 live-action film Scrooge). Likewise, Michael Hordern reprised his 1951 performance as Marley's Ghost. The animation style was said to have been inspired by 19th Century wood-carving images.
Cast
Voice actor/actress | Character(s) |
---|---|
Alastair Sim | Ebenezer Scrooge |
Michael Redgrave | Narrator |
Michael Hordern | Jacob Marley's Ghost |
Diana Quick | Ghost of Christmas Past |
Joan Sims | Mrs. Cratchit |
Paul Whitsun-Jones | Ragpicker Fezziwig |
David Tate | Fred Charity Man |
Felix Felton | Ghost of Christmas Present |
Annie West | Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come |
Melvyn Hayes | Bob Cratchit |
Mary Ellen Ray | Mrs. Dilber |
Alexander Williams (uncredited) | Tiny Tim |
Awards
A Christmas Carol won an Academy Award for best animated short subject in 1973; it remains the only film adaptation of the story to date to be so honored. Many industry insiders were unhappy that a short originally shown on TV was awarded the Academy Award, which led to the Academy changing its policy, disqualifying any shorts that were shown on television first.