"The Honeymooners Christmas Carol"
November 28, 1977
Director: Jackie Gleason
Scrooge: "Ed Norton"
From 1977 comes one of a number of specials featuring Jackie Gleason's "The Honeymooners," this time featuring a version of "A Christmas Carol" as staged by Ralph Kramden!
I'm a big fan of "The Honeymooners" and watched reruns of the "Classic 39" all the time back in the day, so I was excited when they had these specials reuniting Jackie Gleason as Ralph and Art Carney as Ed Norton along with classic Alice Kramden played by Audrey Meadows. Also along was Jane Kean, the Trixie Norton of the later musical episodes.
I hadn't thought of these specials in years and probably wouldn't have expected ever to see them again, but the four of them showed up on DVD last year, so I grabbed a set!
Watching the "Christmas Carol" episode again, I thought it was good fun. Dated to be sure, with then-topical references to everyone from Anita Bryant to Billy Carter, but fun.
The framing story has Ralph volunteering to direct the bus company's charity performance of "A Christmas Carol" to get in good with his boss. Hilarity ensues with Norton playing both Tiny Tim and Ebenezer Scrooge!
Ralph's boss, Mr. Marshall, is played by sitcom vet Gale Gordon and he easily fits in!
I won't spoil anything else, but it's a fun, nostalgic watch!
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