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“The most underrated Christmas movie of the 21st century” is based on professor’s book

“The most underrated Christmas movie of the 21st century” is based on professor’s book

December 19, 2024 at 9:00am


Want to get into the holiday mood? Then watch “The Man Who Invented Christmas.”

The 2017 film just landed at No. 15 on the Top Christmas Movies of All Times list, and a reporter the other day wrote that it is “the most underrated Christmas movie of the 21st century.”

Based on the book by creative writing professor Les Standiford, who also co-wrote the screenplay, it tells how Charles Dickens revitalized interest in the season of giving through his story “A Christmas Carol.”

The latter reigns as one of the most popular yuletide tales of all time and has itself been turned into at least 16 movie adaptations, per the Hollywood Reporter, not to mention hundreds (likely thousands) of stage productions over the past 180 years.

Published on Dec. 19, 1843, the story - of a selfish, grumpy miser warned by three ghosts to change his ways - continues to resonate across generations. Critics credit its longevity to the work’s “rich exploration of the human condition,” “emotional depth” and “commentary on social inequality.”

Standiford’s 2008 nonfiction volume explores the story behind the story: Dickens was left broke and distressed following three failed books and in just six weeks penned the tale of Tiny Tim and Scrooge in hopes it would keep his family financially afloat. When the manuscript was rejected by his publishers, Dickens paid to have it printed himself. Success and critical acclaim followed.

“A Christmas Carol” not only renewed Dicken’s career but revived a collective spirit of goodwill among his fellow Brits through references to nostalgia and old traditions at a time when Christmas was considered a mostly irrelevant holiday. From food and drink to the phrase “Merry Christmas,” it still influences how people celebrate today. Even Scrooge’s signature line, “Bah! Humbug!” is commemorated each year on national Bah Humbug Day - recognizing “the curmudgeons who suck the joy out of the holiday season” – on Dec. 21.

New York Times best-selling author Standiford, who has 25 books to his credit and founded FIU’s creative writing program in 1985, appreciates the ongoing interest in his own storytelling, especially during this time of year.

“Just the other day, I was thinking what a blessing it is to have somehow created something that seems to be a little part of Christmas culture,” he says. “I could have scarcely imagined doing such a thing when I was younger, but at this stage of the game, I thank my lucky stars.

“I can only wish that my mom and dad were still around. . .  I know that they did not know what to think when I told them that I was dropping out of law school and intending to be a writer. And being almost as much of a holiday guy as Charles Dickens was, that makes it doubly pleasing to me.”

The film adaptation of “The Man Who Invented Christmas” stars the late-great Christopher Plummer as Ebenezer Scrooge and Dan Stevens as Dickens. It is streaming on Amazon Prime, Apple TV and elsewhere.