A Christmas Carol (2009 film)

A Christmas Carol is a 2009 film about a Victorian-era miser taken on a journey of self-redemption, courtesy of several mysterious Christmas apparitions.

Directed by Robert Zemeckis. Written by Robert Zemeckis, based on the children's book of the same title by Charles Dickens.

Ebenezer Scrooge

• [first lines; looks at dead Marley] Yes. Quite dead...as a doornail.
• Stop! Back away, praddock! [removes two coins from Marley's eyes] Tuppence is tuppence.
• Bah! Humbug!
• [as Marley's ghost appears] How now! What do you want with me?!
• Let me hear one word out of you, Cratchit, and you can keep Christmas by losing your situation!
• [after Marley scared him from the knocker] Ha! Balderdash!
• Jacob, tell me no more. Speak comfort to me, Jacob.
• Leave me. Take me back. Haunt me no longer!
• [while the Ghost of Christmas Present is dying] Have they no refuge?! No resource?!
• There is nothing on this Earth more terrifying to me than a life doomed to poverty.
• I've, uh...come to dinner. [pause] If you'll have me.

Jacob Marley

• You will be haunted by three spirits.
• Expect the first tomorrow when the bell tolls one.
• Look to see me no more.

The Ghost of Christmas Past

• I am the Ghost of Christmas Past.
• Rise and walk with me.

The Ghost of Christmas Present

• Enter, Scrooge.
• You have never seen the likes of me before?
• Peace on Earth. Good will toward men.
• This boy is Ignorance. This girl is Want. Beware them both.

Dialogue

Tiny Tim: God bless us. Every one.

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Ebenezer Scrooge: Haunt me no longer!

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Ebenezer Scrooge: Spirit! Hear me! I'm not the man I was! Why show me this if I am past all hope?! [his death date appears on the stone] Spirit! Spirit, assure that I may yet change these shadows you've shown me! Change them by an altered life! [his death date comes] No, Spirit. NO! No, Spirit! [tries to move, but gets stuck, then slowly sinks in] Good spirit...Help me! Spirit! Help me, Spirit! [nearly falls in and holds onto a branch and looks down at the coffin, which opens the door. He yelps in surprise, and squeals in panic, but shouts in terror as the branch almost comes loose] Help, Spirit! [as the Spirit comes closer, the camera pans on him as he screams in horror at his face, which is a skull face to scare him] Spirit! I will honor Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all year. I will not shut out the lessons of the past, nor present, nor future. Oh, please, Spirit! Tell me I may sponge away the writing on that stone! [opens his eyes to see the branch turn into the Spirit's hand, screams in panic and falls into the coffin as the spirit lets him go and is gone. But wakes up, and sees that his foot is caught by the bed curtains. He falls to the floor, and realizes that it's his bedroom]

About A Christmas Carol (2009 film)

• Well yeah, my ambition was to stay true to the original piece, and I think horror is a dangerous word to use these days because it conjures up images of horror movies.

But I think what you're responding to is very classic dramatic storytelling devices like suspense and tension. And I think that to really make the story of redemption work, for Scrooge to actually see the light, he has to be plunged into the darkness.

• Robert Zemeckis [1]

Cast

• Jim Carrey - Ebenezer Scrooge and the 3 Christmas Spirits
• Gary Oldman - Bob Cratchit, Jacob Marley, and Tiny Tim (motion capture only; Ryan Ochoa provides the voice)
• Colin Firth - Fred
• Bob Hoskins - Mr. Fezziwig and Old Joe
• Robin Wright Penn - Belle, Fan Scrooge
• Cary Elwes - Dick Wilkins, Mad Fiddler, Businessman #1, Guest #2, Portly Gentleman #1, and Destitute Man #2
• Steve Valentine - Undertaker, Topper
• Julene Renee-Preciado - Adult Want
• Fionnulla Flanagan - Mrs. Dilber
• Kerry Hoyt - Adult Ignorance
• Molly C. Quinn - Belinda Cratchit
• Ryan Ochoa - Tattered Caroler, Beggar Boy, Young Cratchit Boy, Ignorance Boy, Young Boy with Sleigh, Tiny Tim
• Daryl Sabara - Undertaker's Apprentice, Tattered Caroler, Beggar Boy, Young Cratchit Girl, Want Girl
• Lesley Manville - Bob Cratchit's wife
• Fay Masterson - Martha Cratchit, Guest #1, Caroline
• Ron Bottitta - Tattered Caroler, Well-Dressed Caroler
• Jacquie Barnbrook - Mrs. Fezziwig, Fred's Sister-in-Law, Well-Dressed Caroler
• Paul Blackthorn - Guest #3, Businessman #2
• Julian Holloway - Fat Cook, Portly Gentleman #2, Businessman #3
• Michael Hyland - Guest #4
• Leslie Zemeckis - Fred's Wife

External Links

• A Christmas Carol (2009 film) quotes at the Internet Movie Database