The Man Who Invented Christmas (2017)
In 1843, four years after the success of Oliver Twist, Charles Dickens is suffering financial hardship from the failure of his last three books. Rejected by his publishers, he sets out to write a new book, and publish it himself, to restore his finances. Seeing inspiration around London, most notably a rich man’s funeral that is largely unattended and a mean-spirited old man who gives him the catchphrase “Humbug” and inspiration of a new character, he begins writing A Christmas Carol, due in six weeks in order to be published by Christmas, despite his friends and publishers telling him that the book will also be a failure as Christmas (at the time) was considered irrelevant and few people celebrated it. As Charles develops the story, he interacts with the characters that manifest in front of him, most notably Ebenezer Scrooge. Dickens is helped by one of his servants, Tara, a literate Irish nursemaid to his children, whom he discusses story elements with.
While writing his book, Charles is greeted by the unannounced arrival of his eccentric father, John Dickens, whom Charles views as immature and fiscally irresponsible. When Charles shows Tara the next draft, she is distraught that Scrooge would not save Tiny Tim. Tara believes that people can change and suggests instead that Scrooge saves Tiny Tim. However, Charles is unable to believe that a man as cruel and cold as Scrooge could change. He rejects the notion but it continues to haunt him in the form of writer’s block. Charles’ relationship with his family and friends increasingly strains as he struggles with Scrooge’s ending and his debts mount, until he sends both his parents and Tara out of the house in a fit of rage. The next morning, he regrets dismissing Tara, but is unable to find and rehire her. His wife, Catherine Dickens, tearfully confronts Charles over his recklessness and instability, and admits that she believes he puts his work before his own family.
Date of download: 2015-11-11T17:22:34+00:00
Cast:  Dan StevensCharles Dickens  Ely SolanYoung Charles  Christopher PlummerEbenezer Scrooge  Jonathan PryceMr. John Dickens  Simon CallowJohn Leech  Donald SumpterHaddock / Ghost of Marley  Miriam MargolyesMrs. Fisk  Morfydd ClarkKate Dickens  Ian McNeiceEdward Chapman  Miles JuppWilliam Makepeace Thackeray  Justin EdwardsJohn Forster / Ghost of Christmas Present  Anna MurphyTara / Ghost of Christmas Past  Bill PatersonMr Grimsby |
In 1843, four years after the success of Oliver Twist, Charles Dickens is suffering financial hardship from the failure of his last three books. Rejected by his publishers, he sets out to write a new book, and publish it himself, to restore his finances. Seeing inspiration around London, most notably a rich man’s funeral that is largely unattended and a mean-spirited old man who gives him the catchphrase “Humbug” and inspiration of a new character, he begins writing A Christmas Carol, due in six weeks in order to be published by Christmas, despite his friends and publishers telling him that the book will also be a failure as Christmas (at the time) was considered irrelevant and few people celebrated it. As Charles develops the story, he interacts with the characters that manifest in front of him, most notably Ebenezer Scrooge. Dickens is helped by one of his servants, Tara, a literate Irish nursemaid to his children, whom he discusses story elements with.
While writing his book, Charles is greeted by the unannounced arrival of his eccentric father, John Dickens, whom Charles views as immature and fiscally irresponsible. When Charles shows Tara the next draft, she is distraught that Scrooge would not save Tiny Tim. Tara believes that people can change and suggests instead that Scrooge saves Tiny Tim. However, Charles is unable to believe that a man as cruel and cold as Scrooge could change. He rejects the notion but it continues to haunt him in the form of writer’s block. Charles’ relationship with his family and friends increasingly strains as he struggles with Scrooge’s ending and his debts mount, until he sends both his parents and Tara out of the house in a fit of rage. The next morning, he regrets dismissing Tara, but is unable to find and rehire her. His wife, Catherine Dickens, tearfully confronts Charles over his recklessness and instability, and admits that she believes he puts his work before his own family.
