A Christmas Carol and Its Adaptations : A Critical Examination of Dickens' Story and Its Productions on Screen and Television

Rating:
Summary: Very Well Done
Review: Dickens dose a great job introducing this book. He has very high vocabulary and his words are sometimes very confusing. However, that should not cloud over the book because it is a great read. In my opinion it is a must read. I think if any Christmas hater reads this book they will love it. It certainly was interesting.

Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Treat
Review: Everyone has a favorite film or television version of Dickens beloved "A Christmas Carol." But few of us have any idea how very many adaptations there have been. Mr. Guida's wonderful book examines first the written "Carol," then goes on to detail some of the hundreds of adaptations and variations, from the early stage versions and magic lantern slides to modern made-for-television Carols. Mr. Guida discusses the major Carols with wit and humor as well as rare discernment: his love for his subject is evident. Minor Carols and variations are also covered, albeit more briefly. If you cannot find your favorite version in the text, you are sure to find it in the superb and very thorough filmography. The filmography is worth browsing in and of itself; did you know that there have been Western, country-western, rock-and-roll, and even science-fiction variations on "A Christmas Carol"? Or that actors as disparate as Cicely Tyson, Basil Rathbone, and Mr. Magoo have played Scrooge? If you love "A Christmas Carol" or simply dote on film trivia, I promise you will enjoy this book.

Rating:
Summary: A Treat for "Carol" Lovers
Review: Everyone has a favorite film or television version of Dickens beloved "A Christmas Carol." But few of us have any idea how very many adaptations there have been. Mr. Guida's wonderful book examines first the written "Carol," then goes on to detail some of the hundreds of adaptations and variations, from the early stage versions and magic lantern slides to modern made-for-television Carols. Mr. Guida discusses the major Carols with wit and humor as well as rare discernment: his love for his subject is evident. Minor Carols and variations are also covered, albeit more briefly. If you cannot find your favorite version in the text, you are sure to find it in the superb and very thorough filmography. The filmography is worth browsing in and of itself; did you know that there have been Western, country-western, rock-and-roll, and even science-fiction variations on "A Christmas Carol"? Or that actors as disparate as Cicely Tyson, Basil Rathbone, and Mr. Magoo have played Scrooge? If you love "A Christmas Carol" or simply dote on film trivia, I promise you will enjoy this book.

Rating:
Summary: A comprehensive study of the Carol and its adaptations.
Review: For almost as long as I can remember, A Christmas Carol has been my favorite story. In fact, as I mention in my book, and as many others have noted before me, it is far more than just a story or work of fiction. It is an indescribably special, and vitally important, part of our popular culture and collective consciousness. If you have read the book, or, for that matter, seen any of its better film or television adaptations, then you know what I mean. As its title suggests, A Christmas Carol and its Adaptations is largely concerned with the many film and television versions of the Carol that have been produced over the years. We all have our favorites, and December just would not be the same without them; I am particularly fond of the films starring Alastair Sim and Albert Finney, as well as the wonderful animated version with Mr. Magoo. And I think it is important to note that even the lesser versions -- there have been some real stinkers over the years -- can still be worth a look; one way or another, the sheer brilliance of the original work always manages to survive even the most dismal adaptation. As far as these film and television adaptations are concerned, the book functions on one level as a reference book in that it features an annotated list of over 150 versions, by far the most extensive and complete ever published; in this context, it is also thoroughly indexed. However, I much prefer to think of the book as an informal conversation between friends -- if you like Dickens and his Ghostly little book, and care about its long history of adaptation, then you are a friend of mine! You will find chapters on all types of productions ranging from the earliest silent films to recent video releases; stage adaptations are also discussed, as are magic lantern versions that predate the cinema. (I am particularly pleased to note that two lost film versions of the Carol turned up during the course of my research.) However, in addition to its specific treatment of these film and television versions, the book includes what might be termed an eclectic blend of information on a variety of other subjects. The origins and roots of the Carol are discussed, as are other Christmas-related writings by Dickens. You will also find information on the origins of the various audiovisual media that have been used to interpret Dickens over the years. This latter point is both interesting and important in that the history of the Carol over the past 100 or so years is absolutely inseparable from the history of film and television. I guess that is about it. I sincerely hope that the book will, in some small way, enhance your enjoyment of the Carol. Merry Christmas always, and, as Tiny Tim observed...

Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Treat
Review: Fred Guida has presented an incredibly well researched and beautifully written book that blends the literary history of this story along with the history of its various screen presentations. Thank you for this unique presentation.

Rating:
Summary: Very Well Done
Review: I've been a fan of the 1953 version of a the Carol for as long as I remember. It was family tradition every Christmas eve to watch it. I've looked at as many possible versions and have yet to find it's match. This book is an amazing resource of all the various interpretations of the Dicken's classic has gone through from early lantern projected pictures, through the silent era, talking films, television, and animated specials. The early version were fascinating and I found it a special bonus that the author made note of various television shows which featured a special Christmas episode inspired by A Christmas Carol. Who could ever forget the "Six Million Dollar Man" Christmas special using the ideas from the novel. This brought back a lot of great television special memories. I was even able to track down two hard to find T.V. animated specials shown in the early 1970's but not seen since. (I found them on Amazon). All in all a great read, especially for fans. I did not agree with all of the criticisms, and the text is a rather dry read, maybe a little too academic. But still great stuff!!

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Reference Material
Review: I've been a fan of the 1953 version of a the Carol for as long as I remember. It was family tradition every Christmas eve to watch it. I've looked at as many possible versions and have yet to find it's match. This book is an amazing resource of all the various interpretations of the Dicken's classic has gone through from early lantern projected pictures, through the silent era, talking films, television, and animated specials. The early version were fascinating and I found it a special bonus that the author made note of various television shows which featured a special Christmas episode inspired by A Christmas Carol. Who could ever forget the "Six Million Dollar Man" Christmas special using the ideas from the novel. This brought back a lot of great television special memories. I was even able to track down two hard to find T.V. animated specials shown in the early 1970's but not seen since. (I found them on Amazon). All in all a great read, especially for fans. I did not agree with all of the criticisms, and the text is a rather dry read, maybe a little too academic. But still great stuff!!

Rating:
Summary: EXCELLENT NEW BOOK
Review: This is not just a meticulously researched film historian's delight. It is thoughtfully written, and chock-full of information related to Dickens and A CHRISTMAS CAROL. Excellent!