While it's not my favorite version of the Dickens classic, it is worth watching. I love Henry Winkler, however watching him play the role of Scrooge doesn't really work for me. That is my only drawback with this 1979 classic. Playing a mean, grumpy man just does not suite what I'm use to. However I do like the subtle changes in the story line.

The attractions of setting an adaptation of A Christmas Carol during the Great Depression are obvious as it allows the messages behind the immediate storyline to be driven home in the same direct way as Dickens managed when attempting to mitigate the harshness of Victorian utilitarian philosophy.However, the success of this film doesn't lie in capitalising on this parallel.For me, it comes more in the excellent script, characterisations and great moments.I believe a really good adaptation should contain moments to take you to the very bottom of your soul - maybe to even question what you're not doing more of that you could be. In this, the film succeeds very well.There are some genuinely dark moments - eg the Ghost of Christmas Future's pointing at Scrooge's forgotten headstone and telling Scrooge that no one even remembers him "That is the only real death" Indeed that ghost, given a rare speaking part, never seems convinced that he will give Scrooge another chance after all and that uncertainty adds weight to the performance. (It can also be comic - what would the miser think at being confronted with a spirit dressed in a seventies disco outfit. That is truly scary !) All the scenes with the Cratchit family (the Thatchers as they are called here) are much more understated than the original and this makes the whole thing easier to accept.Henry Winkler makes a good jump from his role of The Fonz. Like Finney, one of the few other younger men to take the older role as well, he overdoes the tottering about a bit but generally its an assured performance.This isn't the greatest film adaptation but it joins a select group of others that does justice to the original concept in adapting it for another era.

An American Christmas Carol takes place during the Depression, with Henry Winkler portraying the elderly miser Benedict Slade, a man who loves money and forsakes all else in pursuit of it. R.H. Thomson plays Thatcher, his kindhearted loyal assistant.While the story itself is a wonderful idea, especially by having it take place during the Depression, it's hard to watch Henry Winkler convincingly try to play a mean old man. His "Scrooge" (Slade) is harsh, but not harsh enough. He never yells, and even when he gets upset he doesn't become angry and explosive. His voice doesn't sound like that of an older man either but more like Fonzie with a slight case of laryngitis which doesn't help the believability. His makeup job is good but instead of looking worn, wrinkled and haggard, it looks more like he has a case of wind burn.Aside from that, the story is a very good adaptation and "modern-day" retelling, choosing not to mimic the Dickens characters but instead create new ones based upon them. Definitely worth watching in spite of the flaws noted.

When asked recently what my favourite version of A Christmas Carol was, I had to respond with this movie. Henry Winkler provides a character in this adaptation that is the most believable amongst other perennial favorites in the role of Scrooge (Mr. Slate in this case).It has been a while since I have seen the film and I am disappointed not to find it on TV again this year. I could use the refreshing view this film provided to the tired Allister Sims or Gorge C. Scott versions.