Ebenezer

Sure, this was not the best adaptation of Dickens' classic tale- but for a made-for-TV movie, this western theme story was not bad.

We all know the details of Charles Dickens work but in this version it takes place in a rural western 1800's town where Ebenezer Scrooge runs a saloon and cheats people out of money. And like in all the writings, Scrooge is a miserable miser that controls the money and people in the town. And as the story goes, Scrooge will meet up with three ghosts that will show him the way his life is heading. It will be up to Ebenezer to take the information and change his ways.

There are a few changes that differs from the usual tale but overall the theme of the story rings out very clear. Jack Palace does a nice job of playing the villain in this show and actually makes the movie much better with his performance. With the small budget for the film, there are a few rough spots during the production. However, these take nothing away from the story and the true spirit of the classic novel comes through in the end.

This movie can not compare to the larger budget films that most remember of 'A Christmas Carol'. But in the end, the film got it's point across and the viewer was entertained. That is why this film was made.

Although Dickens' tale is "Westernized" (it's hard to imagine Scrooge getting into fistfights and high noon shootouts as he does in this movie), it works here, thanks to the performance of Jack Palance. He also does a decent tale of playing the redeemed and transformed Scrooge. Some versions have Scrooge convert too readily, or the folks he previously screwed over accepting him too easily.

Palance's Scrooge "converts" just slowly enough that it's believable. Also, the townsfolk are at least initially reluctant to accept his transformed version.

There are also some interesting variations. Scrooge actually gets to see his future self's last few actions in life (most versions just kill him off-screen, leaving Scrooge to face his corpse or hear people talk about how he died).

Weak spots include some really bad dialogue ("You're my favorite nephew" - "I'm your only nephew!") and mediocre casting of the first two Spirits. There's also a subplot with the last person Scrooge ripped off, Sam Benson, which awkwardly interrupts the Spirits' visits.

Overall, though, the movie's strength lies in Palance's performance, and it's a great one. I'd say he's the best Scrooge (albeit an American/Western one) since Sim.

I have a feeling that people who trash this movie are doing so out of a deep seeded love for the Alistair Sim classic, and a refusal to enjoy any other version. This is an interesting adaptation and worth watching.

I especially enjoy the fact that the story continues after Scrooges transformation, showing how people deal with an overnight change in someone they have long feared and stopped trusting.

Hey, I like the 1951 version too, watch them both for Christmas!

Do not compare this with any of the "traditional" "Christmas Carol" movies. This one stand all alone and is unique in that it is the same story, character names etc., but from an old western type aspect. Jack Palance (Ebenezer Scrooge) is quite convincing as the greedy miser who gets "redeemed" by the visit of three ghosts. What's cute is they use an Indian for the past, a Canadian Mounty for the present and a different take on the future guy, you'll have to see it to know who that is. It is well done, great acting and western sets. Nothing questionable, no nudity, no foul language at all. Great for the whole family if you want a totally "different" approach to the Dickens Classic. Enjoy.

If it wasn't for Jack Palance I'd probably only rate this a 2* Instead of Victorian England the setting is the Old West and Ebenezer (Jack Palance) is a lying cheating card shark and money lender, the story feels watered down and the performances from Ricky Schroder and Amy Locaine are as wooden as my dining room table However Jack Palance is actually a great Ebenezer and his transformation is a more believable than a lot of other Actors who have played Scrooge.

It's worth watching for Palance's performance but it's far from the best retelling of a Christmas Carol.