Carol for Another Christmas, an updating of Dickens by screenwriter Rod Serling and director Joseph H. Mankiewicz, missing in action for 47 years, makes a welcome and timely return by way of TCM this Christmas. It's a fascinating piece, possibly major Serling, though its placement in Mankiewicz's career is a little trickier. As befits the marriage of Dickens and Serling, it's a preachy allegory that relies on sentiment and humanism rather than urging any specific political course. Mankiewicz was rarely an advocate for anything in his movies, but he orchestrates this affair with typical elegance.
Take the phrase "Peace On Earth" as its watchword, the scenario makes Scrooge a wealthy recluse advocating the stockpiling of nuclear weapons and a foreign policy that combines isolationism with "get our retaliation in first" belligerence. The casting of Sterling Hayden in this role, very satisfactory in itself, has the additional effect of evoking memories of Dr. Strangelove,...
Take the phrase "Peace On Earth" as its watchword, the scenario makes Scrooge a wealthy recluse advocating the stockpiling of nuclear weapons and a foreign policy that combines isolationism with "get our retaliation in first" belligerence. The casting of Sterling Hayden in this role, very satisfactory in itself, has the additional effect of evoking memories of Dr. Strangelove,...
- 12/20/2012
- by David Cairns
- MUBI
Similar News
Black Mirror, One of the Smartest Show on TV, Got Dragged Down by Monster Cliches
- 5/13/2024
- by Michael Arangua
- TVfanatic
The Most Underrated Twilight Zone Episodes
- 5/11/2024
- by Matthew Byrd
- Den of Geek
A Classic Doctor Who Reference Just Opened Up A World Of Possibilities
- 5/11/2024
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
A Decade-Old Robert Downey Jr. Drama Is Flying High On Netflix Right Now
- 5/6/2024
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
The Only Major Actors Still Alive From The Wicker Man
- 5/4/2024
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
Jeff Daniels Knows How to Go Big: In ‘A Man in Full,’ He Explodes
- 5/2/2024
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
The Twilight Zone Creator Rod Serling Wrote A Classic 60s Political Thriller
- 5/12/2024
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
Inside the Prosthetics for Robert Downey Jr.’s Multiple ‘The Sympathizer’ Roles
- 5/6/2024
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
How the Beijing Film Fest Played a Crucial Role in the Career of Acclaimed Director Gu Xiaogang
- 4/18/2024
- by Mathew Scott
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.
More to explore
Edgar Wright in Talks to Direct ‘Barbarella’ Starring Sydney Sweeney
- 5/13/2024
- by Katcy Stephan
- Variety - Film News
Third ‘Downton Abbey’ Movie Set With Paul Giamatti
- 5/13/2024
- by Mia Galuppo
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ Swings to $72 Million at Overseas Box Office, Mighty $131 Million Globally
- 5/12/2024
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety - Film News
Claudia Costafreda on ‘Dressed in Blue’ Success, Netflix’s Upcoming ‘Superestar’ and Making Her Feature Debut Under Los Javis’s Suma Content
- 5/14/2024
- by Rafa Sales Ross
- Variety - TV News
The Buzziest Films and Packages for Sale at Cannes 2024: ‘The Apprentice,’ Pamela Anderson’s ‘Last Showgirl’ and ‘Emilia Perez’ Starring Selena Gomez
- 5/14/2024
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety - Film News
Aida Rodriguez: Unpacking My Childhood Traumas Through Comedy Is Cathartic
- 5/6/2024
- by Aida Rodriguez
- Popsugar.com
How Erik Rivera Uses Comedy to Heal and Help Others
- 5/6/2024
- by Miguel Machado
- Popsugar.com
Ian Lara: Comedy Gave Me the Strength to Overcome My Mother's Death
- 5/6/2024
- by Ian Lara
- Popsugar.com
Sasha Merci: How Comedy Has Helped Me Navigate Depression
- 5/6/2024
- by Sasha Merci
- Popsugar.com
Gina Brillon: The Loss of My Grandmother Pushed Me to Pursue Comedy
- 5/6/2024
- by Gina Brillon
- Popsugar.com
Would Adding ‘Apes’ Character Koba Make Other Movies Better? Social Media Seems to Think So
- 5/14/2024
- by Harrison Richlin
- Indiewire
Roger Corman’s Greatest Films: ‘Little Shop of Horrors,’ ‘The Masque of the Red Death,’ ‘The Wild Angels,’ and More
- 5/14/2024
- by Wilson Chapman
- Indiewire
Critic’s Notebook: Monica Sorelle’s Miami-Set Debut, Mountains
- 5/14/2024
- by Monica Uszerowicz
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Critic’s Notebook: Monica Sorelle’s Miami-Set Debut, Mountains
- 5/14/2024
- by Monica Uszerowicz
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
“How Do I Capture the Storytelling That is Quintessential to South America, and Marry It to the Experience of Living Here in Florida?”: Director Kevin Contento on His Vimeo Staff Pick, From Fish to Moon
- 5/14/2024
- by Monica Uszerowicz
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Edgar Wright in Talks to Direct ‘Barbarella’ Starring Sydney Sweeney
- 5/13/2024
- by Katcy Stephan
- Variety - Film News
‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ Swings to $72 Million at Overseas Box Office, Mighty $131 Million Globally
- 5/12/2024
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety - Film News
Paramount Tried To Combine Movie Theaters With TV - And It Failed Spectacularly
- 5/14/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Would Adding ‘Apes’ Character Koba Make Other Movies Better? Social Media Seems to Think So
- 5/14/2024
- by Harrison Richlin
- Indiewire
French producer Alain Sarde accused of sexual assault by nine women
- 5/14/2024
- ScreenDaily
Carrie-Anne Moss Joins Arnold Schwarzenegger in Season 2 of FUBAR
- 5/13/2024
- by IMDb News
- IMDb News
Third ‘Downton Abbey’ Movie Set With Paul Giamatti
- 5/13/2024
- by Mia Galuppo
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Maya Rudolph / Vampire Weekend SNL Roundtable – S49 E19
- 5/14/2024
- by Saturday Night Network
- LateNighter
Claudia Costafreda on ‘Dressed in Blue’ Success, Netflix’s Upcoming ‘Superestar’ and Making Her Feature Debut Under Los Javis’s Suma Content
- 5/14/2024
- by Rafa Sales Ross
- Variety - TV News
Dani de La Torre on Capturing the Spanish Criminal Underbelly in Blood-Pumping Series ‘Marbella’: ‘The Mafia Turned Marbella Into Their Headquarters’
- 5/14/2024
- by Rafa Sales Ross
- Variety - TV News