圣诞欢歌

《圣诞颂歌》是英国作家查尔斯·狄更斯的小说名篇，主人公史高哲（Scrooge,又译“斯克鲁奇”）是个远近闻名的吝啬鬼，他刻薄、冷漠而又视财如命的形象让人记忆深刻。史高哲经营者一家账房，可是，有一天，他那死去的生意伙伴雅各布的鬼魂出现，改变了一切。InthisadaptationoftheChristmasstorynarratedbyCharlesDickenshimself(playedbyGonzotheGreat)withtheoccasionalcommentaryofRizzotheRat,itisChristmasEvein19thcenturyLondon.ThemerrimentisnotsharedbyEbenezerScrooge(MichaelCaine),asurlymoney-lenderwhoismoreinterestedinprofitthancelebration.Socoldtotheseasonofgivingishethathisbook-keepingstaff,includingloyalemployeeBobCratchit(KermittheFrog),hastopleadwithhimjusttohavethedayoffworkduringChristmasbypointingoutthatScroogewouldhavenocustomersontheholidayandthatitwouldwastecoaltositaloneintheoffice.Scrooge’snephew,Fred,arrivestoinvitehisuncletoChristmasdinnerandtwogentlemenalsocometoScrooge’soffices,collectingmoneyinthespiritoftheseason.Scroogerebuffshisnephewandcomplainsthatitisn’tworthlookingafterthepoor,astheirdeathswilldecreasethesurpluspopulation.Fredisshockedathisuncle’suncharitableandcoldnature,butrepeatshisinvitation,makeshisowndonationanddeparts.Laterthatevening,Scroogefindshimselffacetofacewiththespiritsofhisformerbusinesspartners,JacobandRobertMarley(StatlerandWaldorf)whohavebeencondemnedtoshacklesintheafterlifeaspaymentforthehorribledeedstheycommittedinlife.Theywarnhimthathewillsharethesamefate,onlyworse,ifhedoesn’tchangehisways,andforetellthecomingofthreespiritsthroughoutthenight.Mr.ScroogeisfirstvisitedbytheGhostofChristmasPast,achild-likespectrewhotakesScroogeonajourneybackthroughtimetohisyouth.Herecallshisearlyschooldays,duringwhichhefocusedonhisstudies;themeetingofayoungwomannamedBelle(MeredithBraun),withwhomhewouldlaterfallinlove;andthefinalpartingbetweenBelleandScrooge,despiteScrooge’sproteststhathewouldmarryherassoonashehadenoughmoney.Later,ScroogemeetstheGhostofChristmasPresent,alarge,festivecreaturewithaboomingvoicewholivesonlyforthehereandnow.HegivesScroogeaglimpseintotheholidaycelebrationofothers,includingBobCratchitandhisfamilywho,althoughpoor,areenjoyingChristmastogetherandrevelingintheanticipationoftheChristmasgoose.TheSpiritalsoshowsScrooge’sownfamily,whoaren’tabovecrackingjokesatScrooge’sexpense.Later,ScroogemeetstheGhostofChristmasYettoCome,asilententity,whorevealsthechillingrevelationthatyoungTinyTim(RobintheFrog)willnotsurvivethecomingyear,thanksinnosmallparttotheimpoverishedexistenceoftheCratchitfamily.Furthermore,itisrevealedthatwhenScrooge’sowntimehaspassed,otherswillcertainlydelightinhisabsencefromtheworld,withlocalbusinessmenattendinghisfuneralonlyforthefreefoodandScrooge’sservantsstealingtheveryclotheshewastohavebeenburiedin.ItisthisfinalepiphanythatjoltsScroogebackintohumanity,andmakeshimvowtocelebratewithhisfellowman.Scroogegoesaboutthetownspreadinggooddeedsandcharity,plansafeastforBobCratchitandhiskin,andlearnstoadoptthespiritofChristmasthroughouttheyear.