November 3, 2009 (London)
November 6, 2009 (United States)
A Christmas Carol (also known as Disney's A Christmas Carol) is a 2009 American animated Christmas fantasy film based on the 1843 novel of the same name by Charles Dickens. Co-produced, written for the screen and directed by Robert Zemeckis, it is Disney's third adaptation of the novel, following Mickey's Christmas Carol and The Muppet Christmas Carol. Produced by Walt Disney Pictures and ImageMovers Digital (a joint venture between Zemeckis's ImageMovers and The Walt Disney Company) and released by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, the film stars an ensemble voice cast including Jim Carrey, Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Bob Hoskins, Robin Wright Penn, and Cary Elwes.
The film was animated through the process of motion-capture, a technique used in ImageMovers' previous animated films including The Polar Express, Monster House, and Beowulf. Like the previous film Zemeckis has directed, Alan Silvestri returned to compose the score. A Christmas Carol was the first film produced by ImageMovers Digital, and also was, along with Mars Needs Moms, the only ImageMovers Digital projects made, before the studio was shut down by The Walt Disney Company for unsatisfactory box office results.
A Christmas Carol had its world premiere in London on November 3, 2009, which coincided with the switching-on of the annual Oxford Street and Regent Street Christmas lights; it was later released in Disney Digital 3D, RealD 3D, and IMAX 3D formats in the United States on November 6. It grossed 325.3 million worldwide against a $175–200 million production budget, and received mixed reviews from critics, who criticized its dark tone and script, but praised its visuals, Silvestri's score, and the performances of Carrey and Oldman. Despite the mixed reception, the film was nominated for Favorite Animated Movie and Carrey won Favorite Voice From an Animated Movie at the 2010 Kids' Choice Awards.
Skywalker Sound provided Post Production Sound Services. Randy Thom served as Sound Designer, Dennis Leonard as Supervising Sound Editor, Leff Lefferts as Assistant Sound Designer, Sue Fox as the Supervising Foley Editor, Dennie Thorpe & Jana Vance as the foley artists, and Sean England as the foley recordist. Angie Yesson & Nia Hansen served as Production Interns and uncredited Sound Recordists.
Storyline
Ebenezer Scrooge is a surly moneylender living in Victorian London who refuses to partake in the merriment of Christmas. On Christmas Eve in 1843, he declines an invitation to his nephew Fred's Christmas dinner and dismisses two gentlemen who are collecting donations for the poor. That night, Scrooge is visited by the ghost of his deceased business partner Jacob Marley, who is bound in chains. Marley informs Scrooge that three spirits will visit him over the course of three nights, and he must heed their warnings or suffer a similar fate to his.
At one o'clock, Scrooge is visited by the Ghost of Christmas Past, who shows him visions of his early life, such as his lonely days in boarding school, his relationship with his younger sister Fan, and his time as an apprentice under the benevolent Mr. Fezziwig. The young Scrooge met a young woman named Belle, with whom he fell in love, but his focus on accruing wealth drove them apart. Overwhelmed, Scrooge extinguishes the Ghost's flame and returns home.
Scrooge next meets the merry Ghost of Christmas Present, who shows how others find joy on Christmas Day. Scrooge and the Ghost visit the house of Scrooge's employee, Bob Cratchit, learning his family is content with their small dinner and meagre home. Scrooge takes pity on Bob's ill son Tiny Tim, whom the Ghost reveals might not survive until next Christmas. They next visit Fred's house, where Fred insists the guests raise a toast to Scrooge in spite of his stinginess. Before the Ghost dies, he shows Scrooge the evils of "Ignorance" and "Want".
The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come appears to Scrooge and shows him a hypothetical future where people respond to an unknown man's death with apathy and even satisfaction. Faced with the man's covered body, Scrooge asks to see tenderness associated with death, and the Ghost shows him the Cratchit family mourning the death of Tiny Tim. Finally, the Ghost takes Scrooge to a cemetery and points out a tombstone bearing Scrooge's name, revealing that he is the deceased; the stone further indicates that his death will fall on Christmas Day of an undisclosed year. Horrified, Scrooge vows to change his ways before finding himself back in his bedroom.
Discovering it is Christmas Day, a gleeful Scrooge begins spreading happiness and joy around London, anonymously sending the Cratchits a turkey, providing charity to one of the gentleman, and attending Fred's Christmas dinner. The next day, Scrooge raises Bob's salary and pledges his support for the Cratchits. Scrooge becomes a father figure to Tiny Tim, who overcomes his ailments and is restored to health, treating everyone with kindness, generosity, and compassion, thus embodying the Christmas spirit.
Also See
Sound Effects Used
- Hollywoodedge, Bell Tower ClassicT PE191201 (Can be heard mixed with another bell tower sound.)
- Hollywoodedge, Bell Tower High Pitch PE191601 (1st half; heard multiple times during the song "Hark The Herald Angels Sing".)
- Hollywoodedge, Bell Tower Single Low PE191001
- Hollywoodedge, Hinge Squeaks ThreeS PE285805 (1st and 3rd squeaks, mixed with other sound effects.)
- Hollywoodedge, Horses 1 High Pitched TE016301/Horses Several Whinn PE025201/Horse Whinnies Group AT045501
- Hollywoodedge, Lightning 08 CloseG SIG012601
- Hollywoodedge, Thunder Crack Impac PE1006401
- Hollywoodedge, Wood Door OC Bounce PE180501 (open sound)
- Hollywoodedge, Wood Door OCSqueak PE180401 (Used once when Bob Cratchit opens the door during Tiny Tim's death.)
- SKYWALKER, CRUNCH - CRUNCHING CHOKE
- SKYWALKER EXPLOSION 01 (Heard once preceded by CREAK, WOOD - LARGE WOODEN DOOR CREAK 01 when Scrooge's coffin's door finishing opening, probably to suggest the sound of hellfire.)
- SKYWALKER, EXPLOSION - THERMAL DETONATOR: CHARGE 01
- SKYWALKER HIGH-PITCHED POW SOUND (Heard in a slightly lower volume.)
- SKYWALKER, MOVEMENT - BED SHEETS RUSTLING, VARIOUS
- SKYWALKER, WHOOSH - INDY'S WHIP CRACKS
- Sound Ideas, BELL, CHURCH - SINGLE CHURCH BELL TOLLING
- Sound Ideas, CREAK, WOOD - LARGE WOODEN DOOR CREAK 01 (1st half; used once followed by SKYWALKER EXPLOSION 01, for the sound of Hellfire.)
- Sound Ideas, Quill Writing Movement - Movement of antique, quill pen on parchment (Heard once at the beginning.)
- Sound Ideas, WOOD, DOOR - LARGE INTERIOR WOOD DOOR: OPEN WITH SHORT SQUEAK 01