Literature to FilmChallenges in adapting the book to filmA Christmas Carol, by Charles DickensThese notes and questions are made before viewing the film. I have seen the film but not since my childhood and although I am familiar with the plot, I do not remember the details that I am basing my questions/challenges on.1.How to visually portray Victorian London, in particular, the contrast between the very rich and the very poor and how they were living next door to each other? The horrible working conditions of the poor and the greed of the very rich.2.How to develop the story? Is it important to have a narrator? My idea is to have Dickens narrate.3.It is vital to the story to portray the symbolism of the characters properly, ...view middle of the document...
4. This is a novella, which makes for a short script if you dont add a bit of information. It could be to the film makers advantage to further develop Scrooges character. I would tell more of his story, more about what turned him into this greedy, grumpy, emotionally shut down old guy. At the same time, its important to not influence the audience to sympathize with him.London of the early 19th century. The homes of the upper and middle class exist is close proximity to areas of unbelievable poverty and filth. Rich and poor alike arethrown together in the crowded city streets. Street sweepers attempt to keep the streets clean of manure, the result of thousands of horse-drawn vehicles. The city's thousands of chimney pots are belching coal smoke, resulting in soot which seems to settle everywhere. In many parts of the city raw sewage flows in gutters that empty into the Thames. Street vendors peddling their wares add to the mixture of street noises. Pickpockets, prostitutes, drunks, beggars, and vagabonds of every description add to the colorful multitude.How would I portray this city in a film?Inside the problem is not much better. Personal cleanliness is not a big priority, nor is clean laundry. In close, crowded rooms the smell of unwashed bodies is stifling. It is unbearably hot by the fire, numbingly cold away from it.At night the major streets are lit with feeble gas lamps. Side and secondary streets may not be lit at all and link bearers are hired to guide the traveler to his destination. Inside, a candle or oil lamp struggles against the darkness and blacken the ceilings.In the city, rain develops foul stale smells, and has a sickly, lukewarm, dirt- stained, wretched addition to the gutters.
