圣诞欢歌The Muppet Christmas Carol

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闻名的吝啬鬼，他刻薄冷漠而又视财如命的形象让人记忆深刻。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鬼魂出现，改变了一切。InthisadaptationoftheChristmasstorynarratedbyCharlesDickenshimself(playedbyGonzotheGreat)withtheoccasionalcommentaryofRizzotheRat,itisChristmasEveinthcenturyLondon.ThemerrimentisnotsharedbyEbenezerScrooge(MichaelCaine),asurlymoneylenderwhoismoreinterestedinprofitthancelebration.Socoldtotheseasonofgivingishethathisbookkeepingstaff,includingloyalemployeeBobCratchit(KermittheFrog),hastopleadwithhimjusttohavethedayoffworkduringChristmasbypointingoutthatScroogewouldhavenocustomersontheholidayandthatitwouldwastecoaltositaloneintheoffice.Scroogesnephew,Fred,arrivestoinvitehisuncletoChristmasdinnerandtwogentlemenalsocometoScroogesoffices,collectingmoneyinthespiritoftheseason.Scroogerebuffshisnephewandcomplainsthatitisntworthlookingafterthepoor,astheirdeathswilldecreasethesurpluspopulation.Fredisshockedathisunclesuncharitableandcoldnature,butrepeatshisinvitation,makeshisowndonationanddeparts.Laterthatevening,Scroogefindshimselffacetofacewiththespiritsofhisformerbusinesspartners,JacobandRobertMarley(StatlerandWaldorf)whohavebeencondemnedtoshacklesintheafterlifeaspaymentforthehorribledeedstheycommittedinlife.Theywarnhimthathewillsharethesamefate,onlyworse,ifhedoesntchangehisways,andforetellthecomingofthreespiritsthroughoutthenight.Mr.ScroogeisfirstvisitedbytheGhostofChristmasPast,achildlikespectrewhotakesScroogeonajourneybackthroughtimetohisyouth.Herecallshisearlyschooldays,duringwhichhefocusedonhisstudiesthemeetingofayoungwomannamedBelle(MeredithBraun),withwhomhewouldlaterfallinloveandthefinalpartingbetweenBelleandScrooge,despiteScroogesproteststhathewouldmarryherassoonashehadenoughmoney.Later,ScroogemeetstheGhostofChristmasPresent,alarge,festivecreaturewithaboomingvoicewholivesonlyforthehereandnow.HegivesScroogeaglimpseintotheholidaycelebrationofothers,includingBobCratchitandhisfamilywho,althoughpoor,areenjoyingChristmastogetherandrevelingintheanticipationoftheChristmasgoose.TheSpiritalsoshowsScroogesownfamily,whoarentabovecrackingjokesatScroogesexpense.Later,ScroogemeetstheGhostofChristmasYettoCome,asilententity,whorevealsthechillingrevelationthatyoungTinyTim(RobintheFrog)willnotsurvivethecomingyear,thanksinnosmallparttotheimpoverishedexistenceoftheCratchitfamily.Furthermore,itisrevealedthatwhenScroogesowntimehaspassed,otherswillcertainlydelightinhisabsencefromtheworld,withlocalbusinessmenattendinghisfuneralonlyforthefreefoodandScroogesservantsstealingtheveryclotheshewastohavebeenburiedin.ItisthisfinalepiphanythatjoltsScroogebackintohumanity,andmakeshimvowtocelebratewithhisfellowman.Scroogegoesaboutthetownspreadinggooddeedsandcharity,plansafeastforBobCratchitandhiskin,andlearnstoadoptthespiritofChristmasthroughouttheyear.