An American Christmas Carol Blu-ray Review
Score: 19
from 2 reviewers
Review Date:
An American Christmas Carol features solid acting and production, but the Blu-ray release suffers from subpar video and audio, making it a conditional recommendation.
Disc Release Date
Video: 14
An American Christmas Carol's Blu-ray debut features a subpar 1080p transfer with heavy softness, rampant noise, scratches, and frequent banding. Retaining the 4x3 aspect ratio, the picture appears hazy and dim, offering only occasional clarity amidst generally murky visuals.
Audio: 19
An American Christmas Carol's LPCM 2.0 uncompressed soundtrack is disappointingly lackluster, with a tinny presentation and limited range, failing to create a robust audio environment while exhibiting occasional harshness and undefined effects, making it a difficult track to listen to.
Extra: 6
Shout! Factory's Blu-ray release of An American Christmas Carol includes a single extra: an 8-9 minute HD interview with Henry Winkler, where he reflects on his initial apprehensions, the makeup process, and the film’s enduring legacy.
Movie: 61
"An American Christmas Carol," featuring Henry Winkler, reimagines the timeless tale with strong performances and a heartfelt message. Although familiar and somewhat predictable, this Blu-ray release benefits from Shout! Factory’s quality presentation, bringing nostalgia and holiday cheer to the forefront despite minor technical and production constraints.
Video: 14
The Blu-ray release of "An American Christmas Carol" presents a 1080p transfer that retains the original 4x3 aspect ratio, resulting in vertical black bars on either side of the screen within a 1.78:1 high definition display. The image quality is generally satisfactory but fluctuates between acceptable and subpar. While some scenes showcase moderate detail, the overall presentation never reaches a truly crisp or razor-sharp finish. A consistent softness pervades the movie, and nuanced textures are infrequent. However, winter clothing details are rendered with a notable complexity, adding some depth to the visual experience.
Color reproduction is serviceable but falls short of vibrant. Natural greens and multicolored clothing appear balanced but slightly dim, contributing to a washed-out aesthetic. Blacks are generally noisy, and flesh tones come across as somewhat pale. The presence of random pops, vertical lines, and other distractions such as noise, scratches, and pockmarks are regular issues. These elements suggest minimal effort towards cleaning up the transfer or restoring the original footage.
Overall, the video presentation for "An American Christmas Carol" on Blu-ray is disappointing. Significant halos of light whenever backlighting is present and indistinct edges further detract from the viewing experience. Detail is often obscured, and fleeting moments of clarity do little to counteract the persistent haze that makes the film reminiscent of a VHS viewing. Despite the increased resolution Blu-ray offers for larger displays, this transfer fails to engage owing to its numerous visual shortcomings and a general lack of fidelity.
Audio: 19
The audio presentation of the Blu-ray for "An American Christmas Carol" relies on an LPCM 2.0 uncompressed soundtrack, and regrettably, it falls short of delivering a robust auditory experience. The mix is primarily characterized by its lack of range and fidelity, presenting a rather soft and tinny output. Key elements like dialogue are uneven and frequently lost within the limited spectrum, compelling listeners to adjust their volume settings higher than usual. Added to this, instances of hissing and crackling intermittently mar the clarity of the track.
Sound effects within the presentation often substitute volume for clarity, struggling to form a cohesive auditory environment. Notably, scenes involving a cold, blowing winter wind or a busy woodworking shop deliver walls of undistinguished sound rather than finely defined sonic elements. However, there are brief moments where basic sound effects, such as the rattle of Slade's old car or his collection truck, manage to pierce through with a bit more definition. Despite these instances, the overall audio experience is disappointing and underscores the aging source material's limitations. The mix's inability to create an immersive atmosphere is evident, making it a challenging listen.
Extras: 6
The Blu-ray release of "An American Christmas Carol" by Shout! Factory features a single but insightful extra that delves into various aspects of the production. In the interview, Henry Winkler reflects on his initial trepidations regarding the role, the extensive makeup process, character development, and the enduring impact of the film. The interview offers a concise yet comprehensive look into Winkler's personal experiences and professional challenges during the making of the movie, providing fans with a deeper understanding of his contributions.
Extras included in this disc:
- Interview with Henry Winkler: Winkler discusses his attachment to the project, initial fears, lengthy makeup procedures, character formation, and the film’s legacy.
Movie: 61
Set in Depression-era New Hampshire, "An American Christmas Carol" reimagines Charles Dickens' timeless tale. The story relocates its themes of generosity and human decency to the American Northeast, maintaining the core elements of transformation and redemption. Henry Winkler stars as Benedict Slade, a heartless businessman who revels in foreclosing on properties and repossessing goods just before Christmas. His curmudgeonly nature and disdain for others put him in a similar plight as Ebenezer Scrooge, making his journey through ghostly visitations both predictable and compelling.
The movie, helmed by Eric Till, doesn’t shy away from the classic structure of the original story. Slade's transformative journey begins when he is visited by apparitions—individuals whose lives he negatively impacted, bringing a personal touch to the familiar narrative framework. This adaptation retains the emotional weight of Dickens' work while tweaking elements to fit its American setting and period. The film successfully captures the essence of Dickens’ message about the virtues of compassion and the spirit of Christmas, even if it feels redundant at times due to its well-trodden storyline.
Henry Winkler's performance stands out as a remarkable element of the film. His nuanced portrayal of Benedict Slade brings depth and authenticity to the character, convincingly illustrating his transformation. Winkler’s makeup and physical acting, especially under prosthetics to age his character, are also commendable. Supporting roles, particularly from Dorian Harewood and R.H. Thomson, contribute to the film's period authenticity, alongside strong production design reflective of the Depression era. Despite its made-for-TV limitations, "An American Christmas Carol" remains a heartfelt retelling that resonates with Dickensian warmth and holiday spirit.
Total: 19
"An American Christmas Carol" is an earnest adaptation of the classic Dickens' tale, providing a fresh twist by setting the story in Depression-era America. Starring Henry Winkler, this version retains the emotional gravity and crucial narrative elements from the original while adapting names and places for a more localized storytelling approach. Winkler's performance stands out, delivering a convincing portrayal of a hardened miser experiencing redemption. The production values are commendable for a television movie, with solid acting and well-executed period-appropriate set designs that add an authentic touch to the film.
Despite its engaging story and strong performances, the Blu-ray release by Shout! Factory fails to impress on a technical level. The video quality is lackluster, plagued with issues like inconsistent sharpness, and digital anomalies such as banding and telecine judder. The audio does not fare much better, offering a rudimentary mix that lacks clarity and depth, detracting from the overall viewing experience. The release also includes a single, brief extra feature, which does little to enhance the value of the package.
Conclusively, "An American Christmas Carol" remains a worthwhile rendition of the timeless story due to its faithful adherence to the essential elements of Dickens' work and strong performance, particularly by Winkler. However, given the subpar technical presentation, this Blu-ray release is best suited for ardent fans or those with sentimental attachments to the film. It is advisable to wait for a price drop to match the technical quality of the release before purchasing.
Blu-ray.com review by Martin LiebmanRead review here
Video: 40
The picture is never exactly crisp or razor-sharp; heavy softness permeates a few scenes but the transfer generally finds an acceptable middle ground....
Audio: 50
A cold, blowing winter wind plays as if a wall of undefined sound, and the din of a busy woodworking shop heard in chapter three also fails to create a sonically robust atmosphere, the scene only throwing...
Extras: 10
In Interview with Henry Winkler (1080p, 8:41), the actor discusses his attachment to the project, his initial fear of taking on the role, accepting the part, the lengthy makeup application and removal...
Movie: 70
The picture moves a little slow at times but proves its worth in a number of ways, not the least of which is the agreeable air about it, the effortless retelling and adherence to the fundamental core themes...
Total: 50
It's honest to the source, changing up only names and places but leaving the core elements intact, and those elements to this day and through this edition prove as worthwhile as ever....
High-Def DigestRead review here
Video: 20
Edges are indistinct, detail is barely there (although there are times where you can see the dreadful shortcomings of Winkler's old guy make-up), and the whole experience feels like you're watching something...
Audio: 20
Accompanied with an LPCM 2.0 uncompressed mix 'An American Christmas Carol' fails to deliver a decent audio experience too....
Extras: 0
— Winkler discusses the part and why he was attracted to doing the movie in the first place....
Movie: 60
The names of the principle characters are changed and the movie even finds time to throw in a reference to the original novel....
Total: 40
Dickens' story is an absolute classic so if you follow it closely enough you're going to come away with a movie with some emotion....
Director: Eric Till
Actors: Henry Winkler, David Wayne, Chris Wiggins
PlotDuring the Great Depression in New England, miserly businessman Benedict Slade spends most of his time seizing property from debtors who cannot meet his relentless financial demands. Slade, whose successful empire is built on the misfortunes of others, cares little for the people he ruins, particularly around Christmastime. His lack of empathy and joy stems from a self-centered and hardened heart that sees no value in generosity or fellowship. On Christmas Eve, alone in his stark living quarters, he dismisses the season's festive spirit, focusing instead on his business and keeping his ledgers meticulously balanced, unconcerned about the lives he disrupts.
As the cold night settles, Slade encounters a series of ghostly apparitions, beginning with Jonathan, a former colleague who tragically ended his life. Jonathan’s spirit warns Slade that he is headed towards a grim fate unless he amends his ways and he will be visited by three more spirits. Each spirit arrives to show Slade a different perspective: one revisits his past, highlighting lost opportunities and the events that shaped his current demeanor; another reveals the harsh realities and suffering of those currently affected by his ruthless policies; and the third spirit offers a haunting glimpse of what might come if he remains unchanged. These supernatural visits provide Slade with a profound insight into his life choices, compelling him to reflect deeply on his actions and their impact on others.
Writers: Charles Dickens, Jerome Coopersmith
Release Date: 16 Dec 1979
Runtime: 98 min
Rating: Not Rated
Country: Canada, United States
Language: English