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A Christmas Carol (2000 film)

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A Christmas Carol
Genre
Based onA Christmas Carol
by Charles Dickens
Written byPeter Bowker
Directed byCatherine Morshead
Starring
ComposerSimon Lacey
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producersLaura Mackie
Jo Wright
ProducerJoshua St. Johnston
CinematographyDavid Higgs
EditorNick McPhee
Running time90 minutes
Production companyLondon Weekend Television
Original release
NetworkITV
Release20 December 2000 (2000-12-20)

A Christmas Carol is a 2000 British crime fantasy television film, written by Peter Bowker, that first broadcast on ITV on 20 December 2000.[1] The film is a modern adaptation of Charles Dickens' 1843 novella of the same name, and stars Ross Kemp in the role of Eddie Scrooge, a cruel and unscrupulous loan shark who brings misery to the residents of a poor housing estate until he is haunted by ghosts who place him in a time loop.

The film was one of a number of projects offered to Kemp as part of his "golden handcuffs" deal with ITV, following his departure from EastEnders.[2] 9.41 million viewers watched the film on its debut Wednesday night broadcast.[3] The film is also regularly repeated on ITV3 during the buildup to Christmas each year. The film has never been released on DVD.

Synopsis

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Jacob Marley, a criminal and associate of predatory loan shark Eddie Scrooge, is murdered. On Christmas Eve, Bob Cratchit, one of Scrooge's debtors, assists Scrooge on collecting debts from his miserable neighbours in an inner-city estate.

That evening, Scrooge is visited by the ghost of Jacob Marley, who is bound in chains forged by his sins, and warns Scrooge that he himself will endure the same fate unless he changes. Marley tells Scrooge to expect three more ghosts. The first ghost, Scrooge's late father James, shows him visions of his past; his troubled upbringing, his entry into crime and meeting his ex-girlfriend Bella, a nurse who split from Scrooge because of the misery he causes to his debtors.

Scrooge rudely dismisses his father and finds it is Christmas Eve again, and is able to predict the events of the day. Scrooge changes nothing about the day. That night, Marley's ghost reappears, this time standing in for the second ghost, and shows Scrooge the present Christmas, including the festivities of his debtors, who are nonetheless happy. Bob's son Tim spends the day in hospital, bedridden from cystic fibrosis. Two teenagers living rough on the estate die from hypothermia, and they both appear before Scrooge and Marley as ghosts.

Christmas Eve resets again, and Scrooge half-heartedly attempts to change events to impress Bella. Scrooge tries to save the teenagers, but fails because the ambulance required a police escort due to local crime. When confronted once again by Marley's ghost, Scrooge confesses to Marley that he is partially responsible for his murder: at the time of his murder, Marley was working in the territory of a crook named Stiles. Scrooge arranged a meeting between the two, not knowing Stiles' murderous intentions. Scrooge concedes that he does not enjoy his life and Marley vanishes.

Attempting to escape the haunting, Scrooge meets the third ghost, a child whom Scrooge recognizes but is unsure why, or who it is. The boy takes Scrooge to the near future, where Tim dies and the Cratchits split apart in grief. The future Scrooge is impliedly murdered and his belongings are claimed by his debtors. The present Scrooge vows to change his ways if he is allowed to return to the present, which he is.

Waking up on Christmas Eve for the last time, Scrooge saves the teenagers, cancels his debts and anonymously gives his money to those he tormented, including the Cratchits. He reveals the identity of Marley's killer and spends Christmas with his nephew Dave and his family. Scrooge tells Bella about his hauntings and, despite her disbelief, she takes him back. Years later, Scrooge and Bella are ice-skating with their son, who had previously appeared to Scrooge as the third ghost.

Cast

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "ITV Studios - A Christmas Carol". Archived from the original on 2 February 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  2. ^ "Xmas TV shows". the Guardian. 21 November 2000.
  3. ^ "Weekly top 30 programmes on TV sets (July 1998 – Sept 2018) | BARB".
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