A Christmas Carol (1938)

This was MGM's big budget take on the Charles Dickens short story that everybody seems to know by heart but in case you don't Ebenezer Scrooge a miserable old miser is visited by the ghost of his old business partner Jacob Marley (Leo G Carroll) who introduces him to a series of three ghosts that show him the error of his ways just in time to mend them for the holidays.

This film deserves your careful consideration as it was made during the golden era of MGM, the most prestigious Hollywood movie studio that made the superior period dramas like Dickens' Tale of Two Cities and David Copperfield as well as many more exceptionally fine versions of popular stories that still hold up today despite the frequent remakes and the lapse of 70 odd years.

The story is told in a succinct 69 minutes and pretty well, actually.  While the 1951 version is probably the most popular to all who have seen the multiple versions, this 1938 version holds up and will become a favorite as well.  Reginald Owen makes a good Ebenezer Scrooge and Gene Lockhart is the other character Bob Cratchit, Scrooge's clerk who is used to show the meanness of Scrooge's behavior when he fires Cratchit outright for knocking his stovepipe hat off with a snowball.  Cratchit, of course, is the father of favorite Tiny Tim (Terry Kilbourn) the crippled boy who Scrooge learns is not long for this world.  Scrooge also bounces his contempt for Christmas off his nephew a happy go lucky guy (Barry Mackay)

After a heavy meal Scrooge is visited in his sleep by the ghost of his partner Marley (Leo G Carroll) who says he has three more ghosts following.  Marley is concerned with Scrooge's spiritual health which judging from his chains and encumbrances is not good.  In fact Scrooge's bindings were just as big as Marley's seven years ago and they've been a growing.

As the story unwinds Scrooge gets an earful and eyeful of his coming fate and apparently that is enough to unhinge him from his miserly ways.  He eventually wakes up and becomes a model citizen bringing Christmas cheer to his clerk Bob Cratchit and family and his nephew, too. 

In keeping with MGM's tradition of excellence, the sets and costuming are beyond reproach and the character actors portraying the bit parts are superior.  I watched this version many times through the years and can say it is very memorable and can easily become your favorite.

Warner Bros has made a nice holiday package of the 1938 movie which includes a beautifully clear copy of the 69 minute black and white feature, a short feature with Judy Garland singing Silent Night, a beautiful color cartoon, and the theatrical trailer with Lionel Barrymore who was originally scheduled to play Scrooge but got ill and recommended Owen as his replacement.

This is a great movie to spread a little holiday cheer!

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening