Mickey's Christmas Carol
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| Mickey's Christmas Carol
Mickey Mouse series |
|
|---|---|
 Original theatrical poster w/The Rescuers |
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| Directed by | Burny Mattinson |
| Produced by | Burny Mattinson |
| Story by | Charles Dickens (novel, A Christmas Carol) Burny Mattinson Tony L. Marino Ed Gombert Don Griffith Alan Young Alan Dinehart |
| Voices by | Wayne Allwine Clarence Nash Hal Smith Alan Young Will Ryan Eddie Carroll |
| Music by | Irwin Kostal |
| Animation by | Dale Baer David Block Randy Cartwright Ed Gombert Glen Keane Kathy Zielinski Don Bluth |
| Studio | Walt Disney Pictures |
| Distributed by | Buena Vista Distribution |
| Release date(s) | UK: October 20, 1983 USA: December 16, 1983 |
| Color process | Technicolor |
| Running time | 24 min |
| Preceded by | The Simple Things (1953) |
| Followed by | The Prince and the Pauper (1990) |
| IMDb profile | |
Mickey's Christmas Carol is a twenty-four minute animated short film produced by Walt Disney Productions and originally released in the United Kingdom on October 20, 1983 by Buena Vista Distribution[1]. The film was released in the United States on December 16, 1983 as an accompaniment to a re-release of The Rescuers.
It is an adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic A Christmas Carol, featuring Scrooge McDuck as his namesake and inspiration Ebenezer Scrooge and Mickey Mouse as Bob Cratchit. This film was based on a 1972 audio musical entitled Disney's A Christmas Carol.[2]
Mickey's Christmas Carol was the first new Mickey Mouse cartoon made in 30 years after The Simple Things. It was also broadcast on TV on NBC from 1984-1990, CBS from 1991-1998, and ABC in 2000 and 2003 and PBS in 2004 - Present
The short is also featured, without its opening credits, in the direct-to-home release, Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed In at the House of Mouse. It is also available on the ninth volume of the Walt Disney Classic Cartoon Favorites DVD collection, as well as in the Walt Disney Treasures set Mickey Mouse in Living Color - Volume 2; however, the latter is the only DVD release to retain the film's widescreen aspect ratio.
Contents |
[edit] Synopsis
While all of Victorian England is in the merry spirit of Christmas, along with collecting for the poor, all on the mind of Ebenezer Scrooge (Scrooge McDuck, voiced for the first time by Alan Young) is all his money he makes in the town counting house and making more of it for himself (apparently, Scrooge charges people 80% interest, compounded daily). While Scrooge's selfish and greedy thoughts cascade in his head, Bob Cratchit (Mickey Mouse, voiced for the first time by Wayne Allwine) continues to work long and hard for him, though he is overworked and underpaid (a mere two shillings and a hay penny a day), and collectors Mr. Mole and Mr. Rat, along with other beggars on the streets, are kindly asking of a simple donation to the poor. Scrooge insists however, that he should not make a donation as he tries to convince Mr. Mole and Mr. Rat that if he does, the poor won't be poor anymore and they will be out of work.
Even his cheery nephew Fred (Donald Duck, voiced for the last time by Clarence Nash, making Donald the only character voiced by his original actor) invites him for a wonderful Christmas dinner, but Scrooge rejects the invitation. However, the night before Christmas, the ghost of Jacob Marley (Goofy), Scrooge's once-greedy-and-cruel counting house partner, enters Scrooge's home and warns him that if his greedy and selfish behaviour continues, he will be forced to carry heavy chains for all eternity when he dies, just as has happened to Jacob himself as punishment for the way he treated people when he was alive. (In Scrooge's case they would be seven times heavier than Marley's chains!)
Horror-stricken, Scrooge pleads him for assistance, and he learns from the ghost that three spirits would visit him later that night and he must do everything they say, or his chains would be heavier than Jacob's. At the end, as Marley is still Goofy, he prevents himself from tripping on Scrooge's cane, which is on the floor, but falls down the stairs after going on a busted step.
That night, while Scrooge is asleep, the Ghost of Christmas Past (Jiminy Cricket) arrives in Scrooge's bedroom and takes him back in time to his early adult years, when he enjoyed Christmas, had many friends and a girlfriend named Isabelle (Daisy Duck). However, after ten years, Scrooge had become more caring towards his money than Isabelle. When she asks if he was still willing to marry her after waiting for many years in a honeymoon cottage, Scrooge's greed breaks her heart and her relationship with him with, "Your last payment on the honeymoon cottage was an hour late! I'm foreclosing the mortgage!" Shortly after, Jiminy Cricket takes Scrooge home, leaving him feeling dreadful for his actions after saying "Remember, Scrooge, you fashioned these memories yourself".
Not long after the first visit, the Ghost of Christmas Present (Willie the Giant) pulls Scrooge in his hand. He arrives with wonderful things to eat, like Turkey, Mince Pies, and Suckling Pigs. The giant tries to convince Scrooge that despite his stingy manner,[3] there are still people he knew that have hearts kind enough to continue to respect him. Scrooge tries to deny it, but then spirit takes Scrooge to the house of Bob Cratchit and his family. Scrooge sees that Bob and his family are living in poverty, and that Bob's young son, Tiny Tim, is ill and that if this hapless life of the Cratchit family does not change, Tiny Tim will not live to see another Christmas. However, just when Scrooge is desperate to know the truth, the Ghost of Christmas Present leaves him alone, and Cratchit's house vanishes.
Within seconds, however, the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come (Black Pete) appears and takes Scrooge to a cemetery, revealing that Tiny Tim has died. Scrooge then realizes he can no longer treat others around him with a heartless disposition. Along with Tim's death, the ghost also reveals Scrooge's grave, which has just been dug and is soon to be filled. When it seems Scrooge is already about to die by being thrown in his soon-to-be-grave (at that moment the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come reveals himself to the viewers as Pete), he pleads for his life, and promises he will change his ways while hanging on the rope that is on the edge of the grave and looking down into his soon-to-be-coffin that looks like the gateway to Hell. Then as the rope snapped, he apparently falls into the coffin.
The next thing he knows, he's back in his house, opens the windows and sees that it is Christmas morning, believing the spirits have given him another chance. He hugs a pigeon that was at the window, gets dressed (with his pajamas underneath) and cheerfully goes about town generously donating money to the collectors for the poor (100 gold pieces to be exact after twice thinking what he just donated was not enough), and greeting all with a friendly disposition. As well as telling Fred that he will go to his Christmas Dinner after all. At first, when he visits the Cratchits, he tries to psych them out that he hadn't changed at all, but then offers toys for Bob's children, and gives Bob a raise and a promotion in the counting house. The entire Cratchit family is overjoyed, "God bless us, everyone!" (Famous quote from Tiny Tim), including Scrooge. At that rate, Scrooge becomes Tiny Tim's second father and treats him well.
[edit] Characters and roles
- Scrooge McDuck as Ebenezer Scrooge
- Mickey Mouse as Bob Cratchit
- Donald Duck as Fred Honeywell (Ebenezer's nephew)
- Mr. Rat and Mr. Mole as Collectors for the Poor
- Goofy as Jacob Marley
- Jiminy Cricket as Ghost of Christmas Past
- Daisy Duck as Isabelle
- Willie the Giant as Ghost of Christmas Present
- Minnie Mouse as Mrs. Cratchit
- Morty Fieldmouse as Tiny Tim
- Ferdie Fieldmouse as Peter Cratchit
- Minnie Mouse as Martha Cratchit
- Black Pete as Ghost of Christmas Future
- Mr. Toad as Mr. Fezziwig
- Extra Characters
- Huey Dewey and Louie
- Horace Horsecollar
- Clarabelle Cow
- Grandma Duck
- Chip 'n Dale
- Gus Goose
- Clara Cluck
- Big Bad Wolf
- Three Little Pigs
- Skippy, Sis,and Mother Rabbit (from Robin Hood)*
- Toby Turtle (from Robin Hood)*
- Lady Cluck*
- Naboombu secretary bird (from Bedknobs and Broomsticks)
- Toby Tortoise
- Tod & Copper (from The Fox and the Hound)*
- Max Hare
- Peter Pig
- Paddy Pig
- Uncle Waldo (from The Aristocats)
- Cyril Proudbottom (from The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad)
Many Disney characters from past films can be seen in small, non-speaking roles. For instance, the Three Little Pigs can be seen singing carols in the beginning of the film. Cyril Proudbottom, who was J. Thaddeus Toad's horse, is owned by Donald Duck in the film. The Robin Hood characters depicted in the special are possibly their descendants because the film Robin Hood takes place in 12th century England, and this special takes place in Victorian England.
[edit] Reception
Mickey's Christmas Carol was nominated for an Academy Award as Best Animated Short Subject of 1983.
[edit] Other References
A clip of this film in Spanish was shown on Donald Duck's 50th Birthday to illustrate Donald's international appeal.
