An American Christmas Carol

Just as others have written, Henry Winkler is fabulous playing the miserly lead character that we all know and love. This version honours the original while putting its own spin on the story. This is a great retelling of the original "A Christmas Carol" and I rank it second (along with Bill Murray's Scrooged) to Alastair Sim's version which is #1 of course.

My only disappointment is that it doesn't get shown anymore. I remember seeing this every year for the first few years after it first aired but I haven't seen it in decades (on network tv) and I don't know why. This version deserves to be dusted off and brought back into the line-up of shows that are featured every year!

This is definitely a "must see" if you come across it.

Total 1970's TV movie greatness! This is how we used to do it! I've never seen this before but I was around back then and I can imagine watching it on our tiny home back then.

This movie is meant for big boxy television sets that were heavier than any 2024 electric vehicle on the road today.

Henry Winkler is an icon.

In 1979, there weren't many stars much bigger or brighter.

The man could do anything he wanted back then and millions of eyes would gather.

And so here he was back then.

Out of Fonzi's leather jacket and into heavy, almost Frankenstein-like makeup to play a stateside Scrooge-type early 20th Century character.

And believe it or not, he's as charismatic here as he is on Happy Days and even The Waterboy.

Such a legend. Such a great actor.

This is just an enjoyable, timeless, and fun family holiday film.

You know the story, but have you seen this version?

It's worth a look. A Seventies tv version of Dickens starring one of the coolest cats to ever do it.

Exactly what the title states. A more modern version of the Charles Dickens classic takes place in New England during the Great Depression. Winkler portrays the "Scrooge" character, but does not display the harshness and cruelty as the actors did in other versions. It's a good movie to watch around the holidays, but definitely the other versions are better. Made for TV movie.

Not enough people ever gave this one a chance, but it should be considered one of the better versions of "A Christmas Carol" out there.

Why did it fail? Well, who wanted to see "Fonzie" play Scrooge back in 1979? I must admit that I did not like this movie the first time I saw it either, but it grew on me, as any good movie does. Henry Winkler plays Depression era "Bennidict Slade" (what an inventive American equivalent for "Ebenezer Scrooge"!), a rich businessman that started out as a delinquent orphan that was adopted by a kind man he unwittingly ends up putting out of business in his pursuit of greed. The "Depression Era" skin put on this movie makes it all the more gray, bleak and believable.

One thing that hurt this movie was that it doesn't have as much of a "feel good" ending as the usual "Scrooge" versions, but I rank this one high because it has my absolute favorite ending of any version of the "Scrooge" genre.

Naturally, I can't spoil the ending, only to say that Slade has more fun surprising people with his new found attitude, knowing just how shocked everyone will be, than any Scrooge movie I've seen. It makes a fun difference. And his surprise for "Tiny Tim", very well done.

One annoying distraction, the "Ghost of Christmas Future" is portrayed by a black man wearing gold chains, dressed in 1979 fashions and listens to disco music. Their "Ghost of the Future" jumped a little too far ahead, and is comical by todays standards.

But this is a great version, and if you are bored to death with endless variations of "A Christmas Carol" where you know the story blindfolded, then I highly recommend you give this one a chance. You'll like it as long as you don't try and compare it to A.C.C., looking for places where they changed the story.

I have to admit that this is my personal favorite when it comes to all the "Christmas Carol" films. I try to watch it every year now. I actually really enjoyed Henry Winkler as "Scrooge" and found his portrayal memorable. I am not sure if it is noted in the credits but the majority of this film was shot on location in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. This film does break some of the traditions of the original Charles Dickens tale but it is a very good version of the original with all the same good spirit.