《圣诞颂歌》是英国作家查尔斯·狄更斯的小说名篇,主人公史高哲(Scrooge,又译“斯克鲁奇”)是个远近驰名的小气鬼,他苛刻、冷淡而又视财如命的形象让人记忆深入。史高哲经营者一家账房,可是,有一天,他那死去的生意伙伴雅各布的幽灵呈现,转变了一切。 InthisadaptationoftheChristmasstorynarratedbyCharlesDickenshimself(playedbyGonzotheGreat)withtheoccasionalcommentaryofRizzotheRat,itisChristmasEvein19thcenturyLondon.ThemerrimentisnotsharedbyEbenezerScrooge(MichaelCaine),asurlymoney-lenderwhoismoreinterestedinprofitthancelebration.Socoldtotheseasonofgivingishethathisbook-keepingstaff,includingloyalemployeeBobCratchit(KermittheFrog),hastopleadwithhimjusttohavethedayoffworkduringChristmasbypointingoutthatScroogewouldhavenocustomersontheholidayandthatitwouldwastecoaltositaloneintheoffice.Scrooge'snephew,Fred,arrivestoinvitehisuncletoChristmasdinnerandtwogentlemenalsocometoScrooge'soffices,collectingmoneyinthespiritoftheseason.Scroogerebuffshisnephewandcomplainsthatitisn'tworthlookingafterthepoor,astheirdeathswilldecreasethesurpluspopulation.Fredisshockedathisuncle'suncharitableandcoldnature,butrepeatshisinvitation,makeshisowndonationanddeparts. Laterthatevening,Scroogefindshimselffacetofacewiththespiritsofhisformerbusinesspartners,JacobandRobertMarley(StatlerandWaldorf)whohavebeencondemnedtoshacklesintheafterlifeaspaymentforthehorribledeedstheycommittedinlife.Theywarnhimthathewillsharethesamefate,onlyworse,ifhedoesn'tchangehisways,andforetellthecomingofthreespiritsthroughoutthenight. Mr.ScroogeisfirstvisitedbytheGhostofChristmasPast,achild-likespectrewhotakesScroogeonajourneybackthroughtimetohisyouth.Herecallshisearlyschooldays,duringwhichhefocusedonhisstudies;themeetingofayoungwomannamedBelle(MeredithBraun),withwhomhewouldlaterfallinlove;andthefinalpartingbetweenBelleandScrooge,despiteScrooge'sproteststhathewouldmarryherassoonashehadenoughmoney.Later,ScroogemeetstheGhostofChristmasPresent,alarge,festivecreaturewithaboomingvoicewholivesonlyforthehereandnow.HegivesScroogeaglimpseintotheholidaycelebrationofothers,includingBobCratchitandhisfamilywho,althoughpoor,areenjoyingChristmastogetherandrevelingintheanticipationoftheChristmasgoose.TheSpiritalsoshowsScrooge'sownfamily,whoaren'tabovecrackingjokesatScrooge'sexpense.Later,ScroogemeetstheGhostofChristmasYettoCome,asilententity,whorevealsthechillingrevelationthatyoungTinyTim(RobintheFrog)willnotsurvivethecomingyear,thanksinnosmallparttotheimpoverishedexistenceoftheCratchitfamily.Furthermore,itisrevealedthatwhenScrooge'sowntimehaspassed,otherswillcertainlydelightinhisabsencefromtheworld,withlocalbusinessmenattendinghisfuneralonlyforthefreefoodandScrooge'sservantsstealingtheveryclotheshewastohavebeenburiedin.ItisthisfinalepiphanythatjoltsScroogebackintohumanity,andmakeshimvowtocelebratewithhisfellowman.Scroogegoesaboutthetownspreadinggooddeedsandcharity,plansafeastforBobCratchitandhiskin,andlearnstoadoptthespiritofChristmasthroughouttheyear.