An American Christmas Carol (ТВ) (1979)

Сюжет кино: Henry Winkler stars as Benedict Slade, a ruthless, miserly and opulently wealthy businessman in this American twist on the Charles Dickens classic!
In a small New England town during the Depression Era, heartless Benjamin Slade sees no reason for compassion if debtors can’t pay their balances. No sob story will he hear! Even the joy of the Christmas season can’t melt this greedy man’s ice-hard heart. In fact, he delights in the fact that he has a warehouse full of repossessed items he will resell—furniture, a piano, wine glasses, books and more—previously cherished by their owners, people Mr. Slade might call neighbors, if were inclined to do so.
A staunch believer that one must work hard to achieve success in life, he’s has no pity for beggars. When a hungry orphan asks him for money or food, Slade hands the youngster a pamphlet on self-realization and offers the child advice on how to build wealth.
Even on Christmas Eve, Slade is out and about with his kind, loyal and dependable assistant, Thatcher, reclaiming the much-needed belongings of a farm family and an orphanage for lack of payment. Thatcher can do nothing but feel sadness.
Later that night, Thatcher asks Slade to reopen an old quarry. The business would be a boon to the area and would offer many unemployed townspeople good jobs and decent pay, but Slade refuses. Doing so would cut into his business of repossessing the belongings. After all, if the people of the town make money, they would be able to pay for the items they buy outright, or make their payments on time, and Slade would lose money. Not surprisingly, Slade is outraged, not only at the “foolishness” of the suggestion, but that Thatcher, a subordinate, had the gall to speak up in the first place. He fires Thatcher on the spot.
Now alone in his apartment, when everyone else in town is celebrating Christmas with joyous hearts, in spite of their meager existences, Slade comes face-to-face with his own life choices in the forms of three ghosts. As we travel to Slade’s past, we learn where he came from and how he got to be the person he is. Then the Ghost of Christmas Present opens Slade’s eyes to how he affects the lives of everyone around him. Finally, Slade gets a terrifying glimpse of his future. Now, he has a choice, a gift rarely given, to change the future Benedict Slade for the better.
Reviewers acclaim Henry Winkler’s portrayal of Slade as outstanding.