The American Spectator

Special Report

The Woman Behind "An American Carol"

By Anita Crane on 10.3.08 @ 12:08AM

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Thus, another one of her favorite scenes is Michael Malone's encounter with George Washington, who tells him, "When you meet the Almighty, only truth will do."

"We always had the whole scene in there," said Sokoloff. "It's a serious scene, there's no way around it and David always had a problem with having this serious scene in a comedy. So we agonized over how to make it work. Actually, Jon Voight loved the scene and he added his own lines -- the ones about freedom of speech and religion. When Washington takes Malone to St. Paul's Chapel, it sets up Malone for the fact that he will face his own death... And unless you believe in your own death, you have no chance of redeeming yourself."

I have a few reservations about An American Carol, most importantly the point where the ghost of Patton tells Malone that we have to give up some freedom for safety. I discussed this with Sokoloff, explaining that various acts of Congress and executive orders unconstitutionally license the U.S. government to invade our privacy, and arrest and prosecute individuals without cause. Related creepy developments include widespread video cameras and airport photo scanners that penetrate travelers' clothing.

Sokoloff replied, "It is a concern, but in this time when things are dangerous -- during the times when we were at war, under Lincoln, under Roosevelt, rights were curtailed for the safety of everyone -- and I don't mind being searched if it's going to catch somebody with a bomb who would get on a plane with me and 300 other people."

All things considered, An American Carol is thoroughly entertaining, just when we need some good laughs -- and reason for hope.

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