Ghost of Dickens Past

Rating:
Summary: Dickens Comes To Life
Review: I came across this movie quite by accident and I'm sure glad I did! Being a student of Dickens and Victorian England in general, this film has to be one of the most accurate portrayals of 1840's London that I have seen. It's as if someone took a camera and found a portal into the past! The clothing and hair styles are perfect for the time period represented (1843), as is the old time dialogue spoken. Also, the actors portraying Charles and Catherine Dickens have done their homework. Compare old paintings of the two to their filmed counterparts here. Quite astounding!
The storyline itself is rather entertaining, although only having partial truth. It is more of a ghostly little tale built around a spirit-like mature young girl guiding Dickens through experiences (memories) that eventually gives the author the idea of writing his famed "A Christmas Carol" story. It shows the period when his latest novel, Martin Chuzzlewit, was not selling so well and, because of this frustration, words seemingly do not come to him for the writing of a new novel. But, through a series of almost other worldly circumstances, the girl shows Mr. Dickens how to search himself and the world about him to find the premise for his next story. The fact that Dickens was down on his financial luck before writing "Carol" is true. And, I know that his idea of the story line did not come about in quite the way this movie tells it. But that's fine - the movie itself doesn't claim to be a biography. But there are many factual biographical scenes here, such as the long walks through London at night, the way he spoke to himself as he wrote, and how he laughed out loud and cried as he completed each chapter to 'A Christmas Carol.'
Lots of truth - lots of fiction. Very enjoyable.
Since it's not truly a Christmas film per se, it's an excellent movie to watch in late October or early November, when it's too early to pull out your Holiday movies. It's a very enjoyable family flick that not only entertains, but has the values that seem to be missing in so many of today's films without being overly preachy.
If I had to pick one inaccuracy it would be the Christmas time snow falling with trees full of leaves!
By the way, this movie was filmed not in Merry Old England, but in Canada! I would never have known.