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''The Muppet Christmas Carol'' is a 1992 American musical fantasy-comedy film and an adaptation of Charles Dickens's 1843 novel ''A Christmas Carol''. It is the fourth in a series of live-action musical films featuring The Muppets, with Michael Caine starring as Ebenezer Scrooge. Although it is a comedic film with contemporary songs, ''The Muppet Christmas Carol'' otherwise follows Dickens's original story closely. The film was produced and directed by Brian Henson for Jim Henson Productions, and released by Walt Disney Pictures. ''The Muppet Christmas Carol'' was dedicated to Muppets creator Jim Henson and fellow puppeteer Richard Hunt, who died in 1990 and 1992, respectively. Principal photography began two years after Henson's death. ==Plot== In this adaptation of the Christmas story narrated by Charles Dickens himself with the occasional commentary of Rizzo the Rat, it is Christmas Eve in 19th century London. The merriment is not shared by Ebenezer Scrooge, a surly money-lender who is more interested in profit than celebration. So cold to the season of giving is he that his bookkeeping staff, including loyal employee Bob Cratchit, have to plead with him just to have a day off work for Christmas by pointing out that Scrooge would have no customers on the holiday and that it would be a waste of coal to sit alone in the office. Scrooge's nephew Fred arrives to invite his uncle to Christmas dinner with him and two gentlemen also come to Scrooge's offices collecting money in the spirit of the season to provide a Christmas dinner for the poor. Scrooge declines and complains that it is not worth looking after the poor, as their deaths will decrease the surplus population. Fred is shocked at his uncle's ruthless nature, but repeats his invitation, makes his own donation, and departs. Bean Bunny shows up asking for a penny to hear his song, but Scrooge throws a wreath at him in response. Later that evening, Scrooge finds himself face to face with the still mean-spirited ghosts of his former business partners, Jacob and Robert Marley (Statler and Waldorf) who have been condemned to shackles in the afterlife as punishment for the horrible deeds they committed in life. However, they warn him that he will share the same fate, only worse, if he does not change his ways, and foretell the arrival of three spirits throughout the night. Scrooge is first visited by the Ghost of Christmas Past, a childlike specter who takes Scrooge on a journey back through time to his youth. He recalls his early school days, during which he focused on his studies under the Schoolmaster (Sam Eagle). At a later life working at a rubber chicken factory called Fozziwig and Ma Ltd. owned by Fozziwig where he attends Fozziwig's party. Then Scrooge meets a young woman named Belle (Meredith Braun), with whom he would later fall in love and become engaged to. Eventually, Belle ends their relationship as she knows, despite Scrooge's protests that he would marry her as soon as he feels he has enough money to provide for them, he will most likely never have enough. Scrooge then meets the Ghost of Christmas Present a large, festive spirit with a booming voice who lives only for the here and now. He gives Scrooge a glimpse into the holiday celebration of others. The Spirit shows Scrooge his nephew Fred's party where he, his wife Clara, and their guests are not above cracking jokes at Scrooge's expense. Then Scrooge is taken to the house of Bob Cratchit and his family, who, although poor, are enjoying Christmas together and reveling in the anticipation of the Christmas goose. He even sees young Tiny Tim who has an illness. When Scrooge asks if Tiny Tim will live, the Ghost of Christmas Present states that he will not survive to next Christmas as the Ghost of Christmas Present begins to expire. Finally, Scrooge meets the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come as the narrators leave, a silent entity who reveals the chilling revelation that Tiny Tim will not survive the coming year, thanks in no small part to the impoverished existence of the Cratchit family. Furthermore, it is revealed that when Scrooge's own time has passed, others will certainly delight in his absence from the world where four local pig businessmen are planning to attend his funeral only if lunch is provided, Scrooge's charwoman Mrs. Dilber, Scrooge's laundress, and the local undertaker steal Scrooge's possessions and selling them to a spider fence named Old Joe. Upon seeing his headstone in the cemetery, it is the final epiphany that convinces Scrooge to change his ways, and makes him vow to celebrate with his fellow man. He returns to his bedroom on Christmas Day along with the narrators, and goes about the town spreading good deeds and charity. He enlists the help of Bean Bunny and the two travel around the town gathering items for a Christmas feast and giving gifts to characters who had previously been wronged by Scrooge, as well as gifts to Fred and a visit to the retirement home where Fozziwig and the Schoolmaster currently reside. Later arriving at the Cratchits' home, Scrooge tricks Bob by admonishing him for not being at work that morning, despite having reluctantly granted him leave the previous day. To the amazement and delight of Bob and his family, Scrooge then jovially announces that he is actually going to raise Bob's salary and pay their house's mortgage. He also plans a feast for the family, and learns to adopt the spirit of Christmas throughout the year as he and the Cratchits are joined in the feast with the rest of the town. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「The Muppet Christmas Carol」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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