Ebenezer Scrooge is a miserly, cold man who wants nothing to do with Christmas. But when he’s faced with a fate similar to that of his doomed departed partner, Jacob Marley, he’s visited by three spirits who try to change his feelings about the Christmas spirit and those who try to celebrate it with him. Here are a few movie mistakes to look for while watching the 1984 version of the Charles Dickens classic “A Christmas Carol”.

• Scrooge meets Mr. Poole and Mr. Hacking at the Exchange. In the wider view of the three of them, Poole and Hacking are standing side by side. But when the scene cuts to the close-up of Poole and Hacking, Poole is in front. It cuts back to the wider view after Scrooge asks if they want money from him and they’re side by side again.

• When the Ghost of Christmas Past arrives and Scrooge asks “what business brings you here”, she takes away her right hand from the cap. The cap wobbles and the string holding it in the air can be seen.

• Scrooge is watching the Cratchit family with the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come. Bob and Mrs. Cratchit are standing in front of the fireplace and talking about remembering Tiny Tim. In the front, close-up view of the two of them, Bob puts his left hand on her left shoulder. It cuts to a wider view of the entire family and his hand is still there until Mrs. Cratchit says “I’m sure that we will not easily quarrel among ourselves” and moves away from him to touch two of the children. His hand is no longer around her shoulder then. But when the scene cuts back to the close-up view of Bob and Mrs. Cratchit when he says “I’m a happy man”, they’re side by side again and his hand is back on her shoulder.

“A Christmas Carol” (1984) is based on the story by Charles Dickens and stars George C. Scott, Frank Finlay, Angela Pleasence, Edward Woodward, Michael Carter, David Warner, Susannah York, Anthony Walters, Joanne Whalley and Michael Gough. It runs 100 minutes and is rated PG for some frightening scenes.


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