An Alternative Christmas Carol

Carol For Another Christmas was directed by Joseph L. Manckiewics for the United Nations and was written by the inimitable Rod Serling. The unusual 1964 television special was presented without commercial interruptions. It was the first of a series of Xerox specials promoting the UN. Director Joseph Mankiewicz’s first work for television, the 90-minute ABC drama was publicized as having an all-star cast. In Rod Serling’s update of Charles Dickens, industrial tycoon Daniel Grudge (Sterling Hayden) has never recovered from the loss of his 22-year-old son Marley (Peter Fonda), killed in action during Christmas Eve of 1944. The embittered Grudge has only scorn for any American involvement in international affairs. But then the Ghost of Christmas Past (Steve Lawrence) takes him back through time to a World War I troopship. Grudge also is visited by the Ghost of Christmas Present (Pat Hingle), and the Ghost of Christmas Future (Robert Shaw) gives him a tour across a desolate landscape where he sees the ruins of a once-great civilization. Others in the cast were Peter Sellers, Percy Rodriguez, Eva Marie Saint, Ben Gazzara, Barbara Ann Teer, James Shigeta and Britt Ekland. Henry Mancini wrote the theme music.

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1 Response to An Alternative Christmas Carol

  1. Merry Christmas 🎄

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