Carol for Another Christmas

• Directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz
• December 28, 1964
• ABC
• Based on the 1843 novella A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Cast

• Daniel Grudge-Sterling Hayden
• Fred-Ben Gazzara
• Ghost of Christmas Past-Steve Lawrence
• Ghost of Christmas Present-Pat Hingle
• Ghost of Christmas Future-Robert Shaw
• Charles-Percy Rodriguez
• Ruby-Barbara Ann Teer
• WAVE Lt. Gibson-Eva Marie Saint
• Doctor-James Shigeta
• Imperial Me-Peter Sellers
• Mother-Britt Ekland

A wealthy industrialist and fierce isolationist angry over the loss of his son in World War II is visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve who cause him to reconsider his attitudes.

A Carol for Another Christmas was born in a very different era which was replete with still fresh memories of World War II and its immediate aftermath. Conceived of as the first in a series of specials to promote the United Nations and educate viewers about its mission, A Carol for Another Christmas may sound like it should be pure propaganda but it is not that ntirely. Though heavy with saying we need to keep talking, it never says directly that the UN is the way to do than nor mentions the organization. Having seen war himself Rod Serling who wrote this gave it a definite antiwar tilt.

Thus the story isn’t so much about re-capturing the Spirit of Christmas for someone who has lost it but that humanity must avoid war. Keep talking. Cross the divides to come to an understanding. An admirable message for then as well as now.

As a modern take on A Christmas Carol Marley goes from being a business partner to Scrooge to being Mr. Grudge’s son. The story begins with Fred confronting his uncle (Grudge) over blocking a bit of cultural exchange on fears of bringing anti-American ideas back to this country. There is a political message to get across and via the pen of Rod Serling and the directorial guidance of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania native Joseph L. Mankiewicz it does get across.

A Carol for Another Christmas is stacked with talent of the time. Some of the names may no longer resonate with the public, but these were very well-known, very talented people. If you’re old enough you’ll recognize many of the people. Percy Rodriguez as Charles, Sterling Hayden, Ben Gazzara, Steve Lawrence as the Ghost of Christmas Past, Eva Marie Saint as WAVE Lt. Gibson, James Shigeta as Doctor, Pat ‘Commissioner Gordon in Tim Burton’s Batman’ Hingle as the Ghost of Christmas Present, Robert ‘Jaws’ Shaw as the Ghost of Christmas Future, Peter Sellers as Imperial Me, and Britt Ekland as Mother.

Even though it certainly has a point of view it examines all the views presented. It’s not trying to force the horse to drink. Rather it is leading that horse to water. This gets its message past any preconceived notions and into the mind of the viewer. Serling was certainly a gifted storyteller. Most if not all of his work had a viewpoint and he knew how to get it across without making the presentation a lecture. 

I understand that by the end Grudge has changed his view, but I don’t see in the film the point where he actually changed his view. He just watches the horror and he just watches the wrongs from his past and the possible insanity of the future where one side refused to talk. Having been unfazed by it for a long time there needed to be a moment or line that said “I was wrong.”

Another effective element in previous iterations was the appearance of Marley. That moment served as a primer for Scrooge to begin accepting other ghosts showing up. Scrooge was not consciously a believer but the weirdness of the Marley moment unsettled him enough to be open to the following three ghosts that caused the change. Here there is no such moment. Just some strange sounds only Grudge can hear and next he just believes what he’s seeing.

There are some flaws and I do take issue with the political nature over the personal betterment message it does more right than wrong. It gets in some social commentary for the time and gets its point across smoothly. The present talent smooths the rough spots over by the gifts of their skill.

There are physical copies of A Carol for Another Christmas available and you can find it in one form or another on YouTube and maybe even some streaming service depending on when this actually gets posted. Not too Christmasy. It is very worthwhile watch for Serling fans but maybe a little tough for those looking simply for a good holiday film.