Introduction
Mickey’s Christmas Carol is the Academy Award-nominated, animated classic from 1983. Directed and produced by Burny Mattinson, it is, of course, the adaptation of Charles Dickens’s 1843 novella A Christmas Carol. The story follows an old man who transforms his miserly ways after four ghostly visits on Christmas Eve.
The featurette stars a pre-Duck Tales’ Scrooge McDuck as Ebenezer Scrooge with support from many residents of The House of Mouse. What many fans do not know is that Mickey’s Christmas Carol was largely adapted from the 1974 Disneyland Records audio musical An Adaptation of Dickens’ Christmas Carol. Performed by ‘The Disney Players,’ this featured similar dialogue and a similar cast of characters, before going on to become a holiday staple.
Mickey’s Christmas Carol was the first original Mickey Mouse theatrical cartoon produced in over thirty years with Mickey not appearing in movie theatres since the short film The Simple Things in 1953. The film was also one of the final times Clarence Nash voiced Donald Duck before he died in 1985. Nash was the only original Disney voice actor in the film.
Mickey’s Version
“What’s this world coming to Cratchit? You work all your life to get money…then people want you to give it away.”
His overworked and underpaid employee, Bob Cratchit (Mickey Mouse, in a supporting role but displaying his full range), reasonably requests to have ‘half’ of Christmas Day off. Scrooge reluctantly accepts on the condition that Cratchit is docked half a day’s pay. Being the last person in town to leave his office, Scrooge arrives at his home only to be welcomed by the visage of his former partner who appears as his door knocker. Spooked, then dismissive, Scrooge enters his house but is visited by the ghost of his partner Jacob Marley (Goofy, on fine form in a cameo, trademark Holler included).
Marley informs Scrooge that as punishment for his years of greed, robbing widows and swindling the poor, he is doomed to carry chains for eternity (“maybe even longer…”). Marley warns that the same thing will happen to Scrooge unless he changes his ways. Before leaving, Marley tells Scrooge that he will be visited by three spirits during the night and that he should listen to them and do what they say. Lest his chains be heavier than Marley’s.
The Three Spirits
At one o’clock, Scrooge is visited by the Ghost of Christmas Past (Jiminy Cricket, replacing Merlin from the audio version). The ghost takes Scrooge back to his young adulthood when he was an employee of the kind Mr. Fezzywig (Wind in the Willows’ Mr. Toad. Badger controversially left out of the adaptation..?). Fezzywig is throwing the Christmas Party where the young Scrooge dances with the love of his life, Isabelle (Daisy Duck, jarring that she’s not married to Donald in this version).
However, the Ghost shows Scrooge how he came to love gold more than Isabelle and lost her forever. As Scrooge laments his past foolishness, he’s visited by the Ghost of Christmas Present (Mickey and the Beanstalk’s Willie the Giant). Scrooge is next taken to Bob Cratchit’s house and when he sees how little food they have, he becomes concerned. He sees Bob’s youngest son Tiny Tim (played by Morty Mouse, heartbreaking), and the Ghost infers that if things do not change for Bob and his family; Tiny Tim’s chair will be empty in the future.
A Second Chance
Overjoyed that the spirits have given him another chance, Scrooge makes plans to do good to all the people he had mistreated – including Bob’s family. He donates a large amount of money to Water Rat and Mole and accepts Fred’s Christmas Dinner invitation. He then heads to the Cratchit house. After playing at being overly stern, Scrooge reveals he has brought food and presents for all and intends on making Bob his new business partner. With a hug for Scrooge, Tiny Tim announces:
‘And God bless us, every one.’
Conclusion
With a 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and legendary film critic Leonard Maltin stating that rather than being “a pale attempt to imitate the past”, the film is “cleverly written, well-staged, and animated with real spirit and a sense of fun”, Mickey’s Christmas Carol has a very special place in the heart of many cinema fans. The original story is unbreakable but the Disney animators and cast bring life, warmth, nuance, and so much heart to this adaptation. As a ‘short film,’ it does not outstay its welcome for younger viewers and is a joy for the 8 – 80 age bracket.
After repeated viewings, moments remain laugh-out-loud funny. Willie the Giant failing to pronounce ‘pistachio’ correctly comes to mind. Other moments never fail to draw a tear, including the future vision of Bob mourning Tiny Tim. Mickey’s Christmas Carol is a hybrid piece of Disney and Christmas magic. It deserves a revisit and to be shared with new generations.
Mickey’s Christmas Carol is available to stream on Disney+ now.
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