A Flintstones Christmas Carol

Last updated
A Flintstones Christmas Carol
A Flintstones Christmas Carol.jpg
DVD cover
Based on A Christmas Carol
by Charles Dickens
Written by Glenn Leopold
Directed byJoanna Romersa
Voices of Henry Corden
Jean Vander Pyl
Frank Welker
B.J. Ward
Russi Taylor
Don Messick
John Stephenson
Howard Morris
Will Ryan
Marsha Clark
Joan Gerber
Music bySteven Bernstein
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producers William Hanna
Joseph Barbera
Buzz Potamkin
Running time70 minutes [1]
Production company Hanna-Barbera Cartoons
Original release
Network Syndication
ReleaseNovember 21, 1994 (1994-11-21)

A Flintstones Christmas Carol is a 1994 American animated made-for-television film featuring characters from The Flintstones franchise, and based on the 1843 novella A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Produced by Hanna-Barbera, it features the voices of Henry Corden, Jean Vander Pyl and Frank Welker. It first aired November 21, 1994, in syndication.

Contents

Plot

The Bedrock Community Players is mounting A Christmas Carol, and all of the town's citizens are either planning to attend or be involved in the production: Barney Rubble is playing Bob Cragit, with Betty as Mrs. Cragit and his son Bamm-Bamm as Tiny Tim; Mr. Slate is Jacob Marbley; Wilma Flintstone is serving as the stage manager, while her daughter Pebbles plays Martha Cragit; even Dino has a role, playing the Cragit's family pet. It is Fred, though, who has landed the leading role of Ebonezer Scrooge. Unfortunately, he has let his role go to his head, thinking himself a star and spending all of his time rehearsing his lines rather than focusing on his job or family. On Christmas Eve, in his rush to get to work and complete his Christmas shopping, Fred forgets that he must take Pebbles to "cave care", and later to pick her up from cave care. When Fred arrives at the theater, he discovers a furious Wilma, who breaks down in tears as she tells Fred about his mistake.

The play finally begins with narrator Charles Brickens reading the opening lines, and after a momentary bout of stage fright, Fred enters. The play proceeds as normal. As the second act opens, Wilma and Betty discover that Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm's teacher, Miss Feldspar, the woman playing the Ghost of Christmas Past, has contracted the "Bedrock Bug," a flu-like illness. As stage manager, Wilma is left to play the part herself. During the next scene, at Fezziwig's Christmas party, Betty informs Wilma that Maggie has come down with the Bedrock Bug as well; Wilma dons her costume and plays Belle. Fred realizes he forgot the presents and runs to the store, he is approached by the hooded figure of the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, revealing to be the actor Philo Quartz, he drives him back to the theater. The second act takes place. The third act begins with the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come appearing before Scrooge; he shows the elderly man an abandoned gravestone marked with the words "EBONEZER SCROOGE." The scene shifts to Scrooge's bedchamber—he is alive, and he discovers that it is Christmas morning. He recruits a passing boy (played by the same child who Fred entrusted with his presents) to purchase a prize "Turkeysaurus" and have it sent to the Cragits for a feast. Scrooge prepares to go out and explore the city on Christmas morning; along the way, he meets Wilma, who has taken on the role of one of the members of the Piltdown Charitable Foundation, as the original actor has caught the Bedrock Bug. Fred acts as if the woman is Belle (much to narrator Brickens's frustration, as the ad-libbing is not in his script), and begs for both her and Wilma's forgiveness, admitting his recent selfishness and promising that he has changed his attitudes. Wilma reluctantly plays along.

The play ends with the narrator informing the audience of the permanent change in the elderly man. Bamm-Bamm forgets his line "God bless us, everyone!," leaving Pebbles to make the declaration herself. When the curtain falls, the company drops Fred and scolds him "for being such a Scrooge." Fred apologizes, informing Wilma that he has finally realized that his friends and family, rather than his role in the production, are what matter most. As the company begins to depart, the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come takes off his hood, revealing himself as Dino, who took the part after Philo came down with the Bedrock Bug.

A changed Fred says that when the Flintstones get home, he's going to make dinner and invite Wilma's mother. Unfortunately, after he says this, he comes down with the flu, and Wilma decides to make dinner with her mother's help, since the Bedrock Bug "only lasts for a day".

Voice cast

Performer The Flintstones character(s) A Christmas Carol character(s)
Henry Corden Fred Flintstone Ebonezer Scrooge
Jean Vander Pyl Wilma Flintstone Ghost of Christmas Past
Belle
Frank Welker Barney Rubble Bob Cragit
Mr. Fezziwig
Dino Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come
B.J. Ward Betty Rubble Mrs. Cragit
Russi Taylor Pebbles Flintstone Martha Cragit
Birdy
Don Messick Bamm-Bamm Rubble Tiny Tim
Joe Rockhead
John Stephenson Mr. Slate Jacob Marbley
Marsha Clark MaggieBelle (originally cast)
Miss Garnet Feldspar Ghost of Christmas Past (originally cast)
Will Ryan NedFred
Brian Cummings Erwin Ghost of Christmas Present
René LeVantPhilo Quartz Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come (originally cast)
John Rhys-Davies Charles Brickens Charles Dickens

Production

The special came after three Christmas-themed episodes and specials in The Flintstones franchise, namely "Christmas Flintstone" (1964), A Flintstone Christmas (1977) and A Flintstone Family Christmas (1993). [2] It was produced by Hanna-Barbera in Los Angeles, California and directed by Joanna Romersa. [3]

The teleplay was written by Glenn Leopold, based on A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. The music was composed by Steve Bernstein. [4] Jean Vander Pyl returned as the voice of Wilma Flintstone, a role she performed since first chosen by Bill Hanna and Joe Barbera to voice the character in 1960. [5] The special was animated by Fil-Cartoons in Manila, Philippines [6] [ additional citation(s) needed ]

Broadcast and release

The special premiered in syndication on November 21, 1994. [4] It has been rebroadcast in later years, by Boomerang and Canada's YTV. [7] [8] In recent years, Boomerang's broadcasts of the special have aired as part of Warner Bros. Discovery's All I Watch for Christmas holiday campaign. In 2024, MeTV Toons aired the film as part of the network's "Tis' the Season for Toons" event. [9]

On September 26, 1995, Turner Home Entertainment initially released A Flintstones Christmas Carol on VHS in their Turner Family Showcase collection, debuting 24th among children's video rentals in the United States in October of the same year. [10] Warner Home Video released it on DVD in Region 1 on October 2, 2007. An included bonus was "Christmas Flintstone", an episode from Season 5 of The Flintstones . [11]

Reception

The special received a Film Advisory Board award. [3] TV Guide gave it two stars, saying the story within a story is challenged by "the continual cutting away to backstage incidents that turn the careful momentum of Dickens' narrative into jagged stops and starts," adding "how can these prehistoric folk be celebrating the birth of a messiah not due for several millenia?[ sic ]" [12]

See also

Related Research Articles

The Flintstones is an American animated sitcom produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions, which takes place in a romanticized Stone Age setting and follows the titular family, the Flintstones, and their next-door neighbors, the Rubbles. It was originally broadcast on ABC from September 30, 1960, to April 1, 1966, and was the first animated series with a prime-time slot on television.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pebbles Flintstone</span> Fictional character in The Flintstones

Pebbles Flintstone-Rubble is a fictional character in the Flintstones franchise. The red-haired daughter of Fred and Wilma Flintstone, Pebbles was born near the end of the third season. She is most famous in her infant form on The Flintstones, but has also appeared at various other ages, including as a teenager on the early 1970s spin-off The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show and as an adult in three television films. She spent most of her time with Bamm-Bamm Rubble, her childhood best friend whom she eventually marries.

<i>The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show</i> U.S. animated television series (1971–72)

The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show is an American animated television series produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions that originally aired for one season on CBS Saturday morning from September 11, 1971, to January 1, 1972. With an ensemble voice cast of Sally Struthers, Jay North, Mitzi McCall, Gay Hartwig, Carl Esser and Lennie Weinrib, the show follows teenage Pebbles Flintstone and Bamm-Bamm Rubble as they encounter problems growing up in the fictional town of Bedrock. The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show is the first spin-off series of The Flintstones. For the 1972–73 season, the show was revamped as The Flintstone Comedy Hour, with more time given to the original Flintstones cast alongside both reruns and newly produced segments of Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fred Flintstone</span> Character from The Flintstones

Fred Flintstone is the main character of the animated sitcom The Flintstones, which aired during prime-time on ABC during the original series' run from 1960 to 1966. Fred is the husband of Wilma Flintstone and father of Pebbles Flintstone and together the family live in their homely cave in the town of Bedrock. His best friend is his next door neighbor, Barney, who has a wife named Betty.

<i>I Yabba-Dabba Do!</i> 1993 American TV series or program

I Yabba-Dabba Do! is a 1993 American animated made-for-television film based on the 1960s animated series, The Flintstones and is a continuation of the series’ spin-off, The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show. It premiered on ABC on February 7, 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jean Vander Pyl</span> American voice actress (1919–1999)

Jean Thurston Vander Pyl was an American voice actress. Although her career spanned many decades, she is best known as the voice of Wilma Flintstone for the Hanna-Barbera cartoon The Flintstones. In addition to Wilma Flintstone, she also provided the voices of Pebbles Flintstone; Rosie the robot maid on The Jetsons; Goldie, Lola Glamour, Nurse LaRue, and other characters in Top Cat; Winsome Witch on The Secret Squirrel Show; and Ogee on The Magilla Gorilla Show.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wilma Flintstone</span> Fictional character in the animated TV series The Flintstones

Wilma Flintstone is a fictional character in the television animated series The Flintstones. Wilma is the wife of Fred Flintstone, daughter of Pearl Slaghoople, and mother of Pebbles Flintstone. Her best friend is her next door neighbor, Betty Rubble.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barney Rubble</span> Fictional character in the television animated series The Flintstones

Barney Rubble is a fictional character who appears in the television animated series The Flintstones. He is the diminutive, blond-haired caveman husband of Betty Rubble and adoptive father of Bamm-Bamm Rubble. His best friend is his next door neighbor, Fred Flintstone.

The Flintstones Meet Rockula and Frankenstone is a 1979 animated Halloween television special featuring The Flintstones. It was produced by Hanna-Barbera and first aired on Tuesday, October 30, 1979 on NBC.

Tiny Tim (<i>A Christmas Carol</i>) Fictional character from Dickens novella "A Christmas Carol"

Tiny Tim Cratchit is a fictional character from the 1843 novella A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Although seen only briefly, he is a major character, and serves as an important symbol of the consequences of the protagonist's choices.

<i>Hollyrock-a-Bye Baby</i> 1993 American TV series or program

Hollyrock-a-Bye Baby is a 1993 American animated made-for-television film based on the 1960s series classic, The Flintstones. It first aired on ABC on December 5, 1993. It is the sequel to I Yabba-Dabba Do! and is followed by A Flintstone Family Christmas, which aired less than two weeks later on the same network.

<i>A Flintstone Christmas</i> 1977 animated Christmas special

A Flintstone Christmas is a 1977 animated Christmas television special featuring characters from The Flintstones franchise. It was produced by Hanna-Barbera and is the second Christmas-themed animated work in the franchise, after the 1964 episode "Christmas Flintstone." Both feature the character Fred Flintstone taking on the role of Santa Claus. The special first aired on NBC on December 7, 1977.

<i>Fred Flintstone and Friends</i> American animated television series

Fred Flintstone and Friends is an American animated anthology wheel series and a spin-off of The Flintstones produced by Hanna-Barbera and Columbia Pictures Television that aired in daily first-run syndication from September 12, 1977, to September 1, 1978. The series was packaged by Columbia Pictures Television during the 1977–78 television season and was available for barter syndication through Claster Television through the mid-1980s.

The Flintstones: Little Big League is a 1978 animated television special featuring characters from The Flintstones franchise. It was produced by the Australian division of Hanna-Barbera and aired on NBC on April 6, 1978. It was an hour-long primetime special, as part of The Flintstone Primetime Specials.

<i>A Flintstone Family Christmas</i> 1993 animated Christmas special

A Flintstone Family Christmas is a 1993 animated Christmas television special featuring characters from The Flintstones franchise. It was produced by Hanna-Barbera and aired on ABC on December 18, 1993. The special was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in 1994 for Outstanding Animated Program. This is the only appearance of the character called Stoney and the final appearance of Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm in their adult forms along with their children, Chip and Roxy. Hanna-Barbera continued doing the series but with the original timeline.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bamm-Bamm Rubble</span> Fictional character and adopted son of Barney and Betty Rubble

Bamm-Bamm Rubble is a fictional character in the Flintstones franchise, the adopted son of Barney and Betty Rubble. He is most famous in his toddler form on the animated series, but has also appeared at various other ages, including as a teenager on the early 1970s spin-off The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show and as an adult in three television films. Cartoonist Gene Hazelton contributed to the original model sheets for the character, and he has said that he based Bamm-Bamm's design on his own son, Wes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christmas Flintstone</span> 15th episode of the 5th season of The Flintstones

"Christmas Flintstone" is a Christmas episode from season 5 of the animated television series The Flintstones, which aired on ABC on December 25, 1964. The episode is about Fred Flintstone taking over the role of Santa Claus.

The Flintstone Primetime Specials is a four-episode limited-run prime time television revival of The Flintstones produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions which aired on NBC from September 26, 1980 to October 11, 1981.

<i>The Flintstone Comedy Hour</i> U.S. animated television series (1972–74)

The Flintstone Comedy Hour is an American animated television series and a spin-off of The Flintstones and The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show, produced by Hanna-Barbera, which aired on CBS from September 9, 1972, to September 1, 1973. It was re-titled The Flintstone Comedy Show for a second season of reruns as a half-hour show from September 8, 1973, to January 26, 1974.

References

  1. ↑ "A Flintstones Christmas Carol". British Board of Film Classification. Archived from the original on 2 March 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  2. ↑ Crump 2013, p. 185.
  3. 1 2 Crump 2013, p. 186.
  4. 1 2 Terrace 2013, p. 154.
  5. ↑ Rice, Lynnette (27 May 1994). "She Has Never Stopped Being Wilma". Orlando Sentinel . Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  6. ↑ Ressa, Maria (14 October 1995). "Filipino animators in 'toon' with the times". CNN . Manila, Philippines: Cable News Network, Inc. Archived from the original on 11 March 2017. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  7. ↑ TV News Desk (9 December 2013). "Boomerang Holiday Programming to Kick Off 12/15". Wisdom Digital Media. Archived from the original on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  8. ↑ Collins, Leah (5 December 2007). "Tinsel on the tube: A holiday TV guide". Saskatoon StarPhoenix .
  9. ↑ "Enjoy classic holiday cartoons on MeTV Toons with 'Tis the Season for Toons!". MeTVToons. 2024-11-01. Retrieved 2024-12-07.
  10. ↑ "Top Kid Video". Billboard . 28 October 1995. p. 76.
  11. ↑ "A Flintstones Christmas Carol". DVD Talk . Archived from the original on 1 August 2012. Retrieved 10 September 2010.
  12. ↑ "A Flintstones Christmas Carol". TV Guide . Archived from the original on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 11 December 2016.

Bibliography

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.