British actor Colin Firth features in the 3D adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol as Fred, Ebenezer Scrooge’s nephew who is the complete opposite of his uncle, played by Jim Carrey.
The most recent incarnation is the 21st time the film has been in cinemas and Firth believes that Dickens’ mastery is the reason behind its enduring appeal.
“Every illustration of this story has tried to give as extreme an interpretation as possible,” explains Firth. “Dickens’ writing was very stylised and quite sensational in a way. It was there for maximum impact.
“The way he tries to frighten us with Jacob Marley and the ghosts of Christmas yet-to-come. That’s challenged everyone ever since to try to take it further, to try to maximise it.
“There’s always been an attempt to reinvent it. So by the standards of what we have available today, this goes as far as we can go.”
The story of A Christmas Carol tells the story of the greedy and miserable Ebenezer Scrooge, who is visited by the ghost of his former business partner, Jacob Marley, on Christmas Eve. Marley warns Scrooge that he has to change and three ghosts from Christmas past, present and future visit Scrooge during the course of the night.
The journey undertaken is intended as a harrowing eye-opener in to how Scrooge’s behaviour affects the lives of all he comes into contact with and Firth admits it’s a harsh lesson for the character to learn.
“This is a time journey I would not want to take,” said Firth. “Here are all your mistakes; here’s where you went wrong; here’s where you screwed it all up. Now in the present; here’s all the people who hate you; here’s all the people who are having a good time without you. Then in the future, here’s the damage you’ve done. You actually do believe that this would transform a person, even him [Scrooge].”
This new version of A Christmas Carol seems to be even scarier than previous attempts, with rumours that the film’s PG certificate was only earned after various scenes were toned down.
Firth though believes that the essence of the movie lies in being frightening and says it is that factor that draws in the young audience even more.
“They’ll want to see it again and again,” he explains. “Kids just love it. Take them to a terrifying fairground ride and make them get off, they say ‘why did you make me do that, that was terrible…can we go back on?’”
Last updated: 07 November 2009, 22:22
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