BBC 1977 "A Christmas Carol" Sky Arts

[mattbarker]

Only spotted this at the last minute.  Sky Arts had Saturday 23 December the BBC "Christmas Carol" originally transmitted Christmas Eve 1977 BBC2 starring Michael Horden.

A rather brisk trot through the story, but as usual with the time, well cast.  Clive Merrison and Carol MacReady particularly good as Bob and Mrs Cratchit.

Dramatised by:Elaine Morgan
Music composed by:Herbert Chappell
Script Editor:Betty Willingale
Designer:Barry Newbery
Producer:Jonathan Powell
Director:Moira Armstrong
Ebeneezer Scrooge:Michael Hordern
Jacob Marley:John Le Mesurier
Ghost of Christmas Present:Bernard Lee
Narrator:Alvar Lidell
Bob Cratchit:Clive Merrison
Fred:Paul Copley
Charity gentleman:John Ringham
Carol-singer:David Corti
Ghost of Christmas Past:Patricia Quinn
Scrooge, as a young boy:Dorian Healy
Fan:Tracey Childs
Fezziwig:Will Stampe
Scrooge, as a young man:John Salthouse
Dick Wilkins:Nicholas John
Belle:Zoe Wanamaker
John:Stephen Churchett
Mrs Cratchit:Carol MacReady
Peter Cratchit:David Ronder
Belinda Cratchit:Claire McLellan
Martha Cratchit:Zelah Clarke
Tiny Tim:Timothy Chasin
Topper:Christopher Biggins
Little Blonde:Tricia George
Fred's wife:Maev Alexander
Ghost of Christmas Future:Michael Mulcaster
Businessman:Brian Hayes
Businessman:Roy Desmond
Undertaker's man:David Hatton
Mrs Dilber:June Brown
Caroline:Veronica Doran
Caroline's husband:John Grillo

[John Green]

I think the UK release-history of this is a bit unusual. It was on VHS, then was issued on its own as a part-work, and finally on the big Charles Dickens Collection set, but never an individual stand-alone DVD, Think I've got that right?

[markh]

I remember this clearly from transmission as it featured very heavy use of CSO backgrounds that was similar to the Doctor Who story Underworld. I seem to remember buying the VHS tape in a charity shop and upon playing it someone had recorded a Match of the Day over it! I seem to remember it was an excellent cast and very shonky FX.

[John Green]

Jan 24, 2024 19:38:33 GMT markh said:

I remember this clearly from transmission as it featured very heavy use of CSO backgrounds that was similar to the Doctor Who story Underworld. I seem to remember buying the VHS tape in a charity shop and upon playing it someone had recorded a Match of the Day over it! I seem to remember it was an excellent cast and very shonky FX.

A few years ago, it transpired that a lot of homemade videotapes sold in good faith by a charity-shop as off-air musicals-Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Calamity Jane etc. were actually pornography.