Dark Christmas Carols: FX's A Christmas Carol (2019) vs. Carol for Another Christmas (1964)

Elysia and Luke's A Christmas Carol discussion takes a darker turn in this lore-down between the Guy Pearce-starring, BBC co-produced 2019 version – which adds some grimer touches to Scrooge's tale – and the 1964 Twilight Zone-like variation created to advertise the importance of the UN at a time when the US and world in general were on the brink of one war and fully entering another. They'll give you all the history, psychology, and sociology you need to get more out of these two tales of existential dread.Note: Apologies for the mic issues in this episode, but we hope you enjoy the history and psychology deep dives!Films discussed this episode: FX's A Christmas Carol (2019) Carol for Another Christmas (1964)The promised links:Explore "hopepunk" with Elysia and Nevermind the MusicLuke's book: The Powell Doctrine and US Foreign Policy (Military Strategy and Operational Art) (Amazon)Abigail Thorn reads A Christmas Carol for charityThis year's Christmas Carol classics (already released): Scrooge (1913), Scrooge (1935), The Stingiest Man in Town (1956), The Stingiest Man in Town (1975), Disney's A Christmas Carol (2009) This season's final episode: More Christmas Carol Twists – Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol (1962), An American Christmas Carol (1979), Ebenezer (1998), Christmas Above the Clouds (2025), Christmas Karma (2025)Catch up on the "five staves" of last year's Dickens specials...I – It all begins with the short opening notes episode, which sets the stage for all our Dickens Christmas coverageII – The Dickens novella A Christmas Carol, and an audio drama of his short story "The Goblins Who Stole a Sexton" (Supercast, Patreon)III – Many of the most classic classic Christmas Carol adaptationsIV – An intermezzo on Dickens' life and the creation of this taleV – Finally, our first round-up of cinematic twists on the classic tale2023 holiday special: The It's a Wonderful Life / Knife multiverseJoin