Can you even remember her name?
No last name.)
She has more to do in this story than be a distant, happy memory.
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Shes the hero who actively helps save this scrooges soul.
But Claire still sees the good man she calls Lumpy.
You just find the relationship.
Murray was notoriously prickly on the set of this movie, and famously clashed with Donner.
But Allen says she warmed him up just as Claire thaws Frank.
Allen believes Claire came to see him after his desperate phone call because shes curious.
Isnt Claire a little too good for Frank, though?
Claire never gives up on anything that easily, even after so many years.
Claire also helpsScroogedestablish higher stakes for the story than just Franks well-being.
In addition to being part of his past and present, she also haunts his future.
Claire, theyre just children, one of her friends whispers.
Dont tellme, Mean Claire snaps back.
I wasted twenty years of my life on pathetic little creatures like those.
Finally, thank God, a friend of mine said to me: Scrape em off, Claire.
You want to save someone?
Frank can barely speak as he watches.
Im sorry, Claire … his whispers.
If everything had gone wrong, that was who Claire would have become.
Its like Claires version of Frank Cross.
This is her as the ladies who lunch, the evil women at the Fifth Avenue restaurant.
It was unusual for me because I love to rehearse, but Bill didnt really like to rehearse.
He never wanted to rehearse scenes, he wanted just to plow right into it.
Hes a bit of an unstoppable force.
In a way, thats what happens to every Scrooge, isnt it?
You lose your way, but gradually find your way back.
Youre fortunate if you have a Claire (or a Belle) to guide you.
