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:

Revealing mistakes: When Scrooge and the Spirit of Christmas Future are looking through Bob Cratchit's window, the face of the actor playing the spirit can almost visibly be seen through the hood.

Quotes:

Mrs. Dilber: Merry Christmas, Mr. Scrooge! In keeping with the situation!

Movie Connections:

Featured in A Hollywood Christmas (1996) (V)

Soundtrack:

Hark! the Herald Angels Sing

Wonderful perennial holiday movie.

Most people know this story by now, but I'll just sum it up briefly here: it's a story of one old man's redemption on Christmas eve in 19th century London, thanks to the intervention of several ghostly visitors.

Intelligent, emotionally rewarding picture with nothing but the utmost respect for the source material. Every role receives a worthy performance, with leading actor Alastair Sim in the role he'll probably always be most remembered for.

"A Christmas Carol" (or "Scrooge", as it is also known) is subtle and has atmosphere to spare. It's hard to watch and not be entertained, although I appreciated the subtitle option on my DVD because sometimes I couldn't understand what the actors were saying.

Perhaps most indicative of this picture's simple ability to tell a good story and hold viewer interest is that it holds up after repeat viewings. I must confess, I only just watched it in its entirety for the first time tonight, but I enjoyed the heck out of it.

Perfect if you want to get your family together for a quiet evening of holiday movie viewing. Over a half century later, "A Christmas Carol" is still working its little magic.

10/10