Everybody knows the story of “A Christmas Carol.” Charles Dickens’ 1843 novella has become as ingrained a part of Christmas lore as Santa Claus delivering presents or the nativity scene itself. That familiarity makes it tough for filmmakers to find new angles on the story, which first came to the screen in a 1901 silent short film.
Since then, the story of miserly Ebenezer Scrooge being visited by three spirits on Christmas Eve has provided the source material for dozens of movies and TV shows, some sticking faithfully to Dickens’ plot and characters, and others using the basic structure for modern social commentary or shaping it around pre-existing characters.
