Dickensblog

'Little Dorrit' group read

I'm a bit late with this announcement, but better late than never! Edward Pettit, who runs the Facebook page Reading Charles Dickens, has started a group read of Little Dorrit, reading it in the original monthly installments until June 2021, and you can still join in. Just e-mail him at readingcharlesdickens@gmail.com to receive the first PDF installment! (Remember, if you've already read it, no spoilers are allowed!)

'A Christmas Carol' on TV, 2019 edition

Time for our annual schedule of airings! This one includes the new version that will air on FX. (Note that the FX version is a three-parter.) As always, I'll be adding to the schedule as I become aware of new airings -- please feel free to alert me to these in the comments! All times are Eastern.

• A Christmas Carol (1938, starring Reginald Owen): December 8, 12 p.m., TCM 
• Scrooge, a.k.a. A Christmas Carol (1951, starring Alastair SIm): December 1, 8 p.m., TCM
• Scrooge (1970, starring Albert Finney): December 1, 12 p.m., Movies!
• The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992, starring Michael Caine): December 2, 7:30 a.m. Freeform
• A Christmas Carol (1999, starring Patrick Stewart): December 5, 8 p.m. and 10 p.m., TNT
• Disney's A Christmas Carol (2009, starring Jim Carrey): December 3, 2:33 a.m., 11:52 a.m., and 6:23 p.m., STARZ Kids & Family; December 7, 11:48 a.m., and December 8, 6:03 a.m., STARZ Comedy; December 9, 12:45 a.m., 2:55 p.m., and 9:43 p.m., STARZ Kids & Family; December 13, 4:53 a.m., 11:55 a.m., and 6:22 p.m., STARZ Comedy
• A Christmas Carol (2019, starring Guy Pearce): December 19, 7:30 p.m. ET/PT; December 22, 7:30 p.m. ET/PT; December 24, 8 p.m. ET/PT; December 25, 4 p.m. ET/PT, FX

Also of interest to Christmas Carol movie fans: The Wrap reports, "For fans of Ebenezer Scrooge and his redemption, the brand-new “Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol” (Summer Hill Films) features actor Martin Prest’s one-man version, and Kit Parker Films presents “A Christmas Carol”: Ultimate Collector’s Edition, featuring the beloved 1951 film starring Alastair Sim."

'A Christmas Carol' opens on Broadway

The new production with Campbell Scott opened on Wednesday. It sounds like a production that, while not always sticking to the original narrative, captures some of its liveliness and warmth. Playbill has helpfully collected the major reviews for those who'd like to read them. If any of you are in New York and able to go, let us know what you think!

'Dickens Confidential'

BBC Radio 4 is rerunning this series that apparently first ran in 2007, "imagining Charles Dickens as a campaigning newspaper editor." Episodes are available on their online player. I have not yet had a chance to listen, but I hope to give it a try. If you've heard it, we'd welcome your opinions in the comment section below!

'Copperfield' sets U.S. release date

The Personal History of David Copperfield is now set to release May 8 in the United States. Again, I don't understand why a film that's gotten plenty of award buzz would be released long after awards season is over and long before the next awards season starts. But alas, I don't get to make these decisions. 

Trailer for the BBC/FX 'Christmas Carol'

Thanks to Josh Sharpe for posting this in the Dickensblog Facebook group.

 

 

My first thought is that it looks dark. Very dark. Of course the original A Christmas Carol does go dark, but it also beautifully balances darkness with light. I hope this version will follow suit.

What do you think? 

A Halloween Carol?

Though Dickens is so often associated with Christmas, Professor Joel J. Brattin of Worcester Polytechnic Institute (currently running a special Dickens exhibit) suggests that the ghostly elements in his work should make us think of another holiday!

Awards season begins for 'Copperfield'

The British Independent Film Awards have announced their nominations. Armando Iannucci's David Copperfield adaptation leads the pack with 11, including Best British Independent Film, Best Screenplay, and acting nominations for Dev Patel, Tilda Swinton, and Hugh Laurie.

Musical 'Marley' coming to the big screen

I'm thinking seriously of changing this blog's name to Christmas Carol News, as reports of new adaptations of the book just keep coming and coming! This time it's writer/director Bill Condon (Chicago, Dreamgirls, Beauty and the Beast) and composer Stephen Schwartz (Pippin, Godspell, Wicked) creating a musical film version for Disney, titled Marley. The new project does have an impressive pedigree, but how about adapting something else for a change? (No, not Oliver Twist, either!)

'Christmas Carol' and 'Twist' images

Photos from both productions hit the Web today! Entertainment Weekly gives us our first official look at Guy Pearce as Scrooge, Andy Serkis as the Ghost of Christmas Past, and more from the upcoming miniseries, plus some short interviews. (Incidentally, it seems the Ghost of Christmas Future was recast; Jason Flemyng took over for Rutger Hauer shortly before the latter's death.)

Meanwhile, the Daily Mail has some lively set photos of Rita Ora as "Dodge" and Rafferty Law as Oliver in the Oliver Twist update I posted about the other day.