A CHRISTMAS CAROL
US, 1938, 69 minutes, Black and white.
Reginald Owen, Gene Lockhart, Kathleen Lockhart, Terry Kilburn, Leo. G. Carroll, Lynne Carver.
Directed by Edwin L. Marin.
A Christmas Carol is one of Charles Dickens' most popular stories, filmed many times. A classic version was made in Britain in the early '50s with Alistair Sim as Scrooge. There was a telemovie version in the '70s with George C. Scott. The Muppets also got into the act with the very entertaining A Muppets Christmas Carol, with Michael Caine as Scrooge and with the Muppets as the various characters including Kermit as Bob Cratchett.
This version comes from MGM in the late '30s, with Reginald Owen as Scrooge. Gene Lockhart is Bob Cratchett. The film re creates the atmosphere of Dickensian London, focuses on Scrooge and his meanness, focuses also on his nephew Fred and his family, Bob Cratchett and his family, with Terry Kilburn as Tiny Tim.
The film is brief in its running time, however highlights the key elements of Dickens' story with the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future (Anne Rutherford as the Ghost of Christmas Past) and with Leo G. Carroll as the Ghost of Jacob Marley.
1.The popularity of Dickens' story? The character of Scrooge? The spirit of generosity at Christmas? A '30s version, MGM production, black and white photography?
2.The re-creation of 19th century London, the streets, offices, homes, shops? The musical score?
3.The popularity of the characters, Scrooge, the ghosts, Tiny Tim? The message of Christmas cheer and generosity?
4.London and its poverty, winter and the cold, Scrooge's office, the streets and the snow, the shops?
5.Reginald Owen as Scrooge, his appearance, age, manner, muttering "Humbug"? His ignoring of his nephew Fred? His treatment of Bob Cratchett, the wine, the salary? The refusal to give donations to charity? Begrudging with the coal?
6.Fred, relationship with his uncle, his fiancee, family?
7.Bob Cratchett, his work, cheerfulness, Fred, the wine? His loyalty to Scrooge? His wife and the children? At work, at home, buying everything for the Christmas dinner? His care for Tiny Tim?
8.Scrooge and his being alone, the doorknob with Jacob Marley's face, the warning? Marley's ghost, memories of the past, his meanness? The Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future? Scrooge and his journey back to his childhood, his relationship with his sister, growing up? His being by himself? Learning about business, isolating himself from people? His sister and her family, Fred? His looking at the present, people criticising him? Their enjoyment, his beginning to enjoy looking at others and the spirit of Christmas? The future, his concern about the Cratchetts, about Fred? His own death? The cemetery and his encounter with death?
9.Waking, his joy, wanting to buy things for the Cratchetts, visit to the family, visit to the Cratchetts, their amazement, the joy?
10.The traditional ending, Scrooge becoming generous? The families enjoying the spirit of Christmas, the donations to charity? "And God bless us all," from Tiny Tim?
