Scrooge (1951)

Director:

Brian Desmond Hurst

Writers:

Charles Dickens (story)
Noel Langley (adaptation)

Release Date:

31 October 1951 (UK)

Genre:

Fantasy | Drama

Tagline:

Now! The story that has brought joy to millions! A new screen triumph!

Plot:

An old bitter miser is given a chance for redemption when he is haunted by ghosts on Christmas Eve.

Plot Keywords:

Christmas | Ghost | Scrooge | Miser | Redemption

Cast

Alastair Sim	...	Ebenezer Scrooge
Kathleen Harrison	...	Mrs. Dilber
Mervyn Johns	...	Bob Cratchit
Hermione Baddeley	...	Mrs. Cratchit
Michael Hordern	...	Jacob Marley / Marley's Ghost
George Cole	...	Young Ebenezer Scrooge
John Charlesworth	...	Peter Cratchit
Francis De Wolff	...	Spirit of Christmas Present (as Francis de Wolff)
Rona Anderson	...	Alice
Carol Marsh	...	Fan Scrooge
Brian Worth	...	Fred
Miles Malleson	...	Old Joe
Ernest Thesiger	...	The Undertaker
Glyn Dearman	...	Tiny Tim
Michael Dolan	...	Spirit of Christmas Past

Also Known As:

A Christmas Carol (USA)

Runtime:

86 min | Germany:74 min (video version)

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (tinted)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #15238) | Finland:K-8 | UK:U | West Germany:6

Filming Locations:

Nettlefold Studios, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, England, UK

Company:

George Minter Productions

Trivia:

Although this film is widely regarded as the best film version of the story, it is the only one which omits Scrooge's famous line: "If I had my way, every fool who goes about with 'Merry Christmas' on his lips should be boiled in his own pudding and buried with a stake of holly through his heart".

Goofs:

Continuity: Early in the movie, Scrooge is complaining about having to give Bob Cratchit Christmas day off with pay. Scrooge puts his scarf on and then Cratchit helps him put his coat on, over the scarf. In the next shot, Scrooge is seen walking outside with the scarf wrapped over his mouth, outside of his of coat.

Quotes:

Ebenezer: Who is that? The doctor?
Mrs. Dilber: The undertaker.
Ebenezer: You don't believe in letting the grass grow under your feet, do you?
The Undertaker: Ours is a very competitive profession, sir.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "The Sopranos: The Test Dream (#5.11)" (2004)

Soundtrack:

Barbara Allen

the classic version

I have not seen Albert Finney's nor George C. Scott's portrayal of Scrooge, so I cannot say definitively that Alastair Sim 'owns' this role, but I sure have trouble imagining anyone topping him; he is superb, the nitpicking comments of TinMan-5 notwithstanding. This version will always have a special place in my affections, and I am glad to see I'm not alone in holding this opinion.