Linkshoch Wonderful Movie

Stometer Save your money for something good and enjoyable

Voxitype Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

Jakoba True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.

ckmate23 I've seen almost all the iterations of this classic novel's film adaptations. The acting is solid by the cast. The screenwriting and direction is compelling. The only reason I have marked down the rating is because I feel there is not enough of it. I don't know if it was written that way or if too much was left on the cutting room floor. It's 69 minute run time is apparently not enough to do justice to the tale. It almost feels like it's rushed and cannot wait to get to the ending credits, particularly in the visitations of the spirits and their education of Scrooge. Scrooge seems to flip from "Bah Humbug" to "Merry Christmas" like an on/off light switch when his conversion should be more gradual. Maybe it's just picking at nits, but that aspect of the movie really bothered me. Hence, the 6 rating.

SimonJack While Ebenezer Scrooge is the unquestionable main character of "A Christmas Carol," without the other characters there wouldn't be much of a story. It is his role in contrast with the others that gives the spice to the story that Charles Dickens wrote. Scrooge's conversion happens after the spirits of Christmas past, present and future show him the life around him and his place in it for each period. So, the roles of those other characters are very important as well. This 1938 film is one of the best, and my favorite, of all the movie versions. I don't know why MGM made it so short – it's only 69 minutes, compared to 78 minutes for the 1935 "Scrooge," and 86 minutes for the 1951 "A Christmas Carol." It leaves out some parts of the story, especially some of Scrooge's past. Most important of that was his romance and his fiancé. Five to 10 more minutes showing some of that important past would have added significantly to this film version. But for that shortcoming, I think more people would see this film as the best. The counter to that shortcoming is the attention this version gives to the main supporting roles. We see more of the characters of Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim, Marley's ghost, and Scrooge's nephew, Fred. And, the characters who play those roles give much more life and meaning to them. Gene Lockhart and wife Kathleen Lockhart play Bob and Mrs. Cratchit. Lockhart plays Bob as a man truly concerned about caring for his family. But, he's not about to let his ill-tempered miserly employer ruin Christmas for his family. He is a man of good spirits and hope, played better than in any other version. Terry Kilburn as Tiny Tim immediately steals one's heart. Not out of sympathy, but of empathy and joy at seeing this happy, innocent joyous character. Barry MacKay plays Fred with more ebullience and, I think, earnest concern and hope for his uncle's conversion of heart. And Leo G. Carroll gives the best rendition of Jacob Marley's ghost of any that I've seen. One particularly moving scene in this film that others don't have is Bob and Tiny Tim in church singing "Oh Come All Ye Faithful." The camera close-ups of father and son exchanging glances depict deep love. The special effects in this film are quite exceptional for the time, and remain so today. In the midst of this story, Reginald Owens plays a perfect Scrooge. He is not the wide-eyed wonder that we see in Alastair Sim's Scrooge of 1951. But he seems genuine with an authentic conversion from the mean-spirited and cranky miser that we see in him at first. Two other pluses for this film are its musical background and realistic setting. This 1938 film and the 1951 version with Sims are a notch above a couple other versions. A 1970 musical version also is excellent. It stars Albert Finney and other leading British actors in wonderful roles. But this one remains my favorite for its deeper look at all the characters that Dickens created in "A Christmas Carol."

Marc Israel This movie seemed to be longer when seen as a kid, and on TV. It was interesting, sad and uplifting. On DVD 40 years later, for me, it was none of those things. It it obvious, characterized players with the outcome as obvious as was every Reginald Owens expression. He was as accessible as a sale at Nieman and Marcus. Pretentious and uninviting as a serious piece but a nice little snippet of straightforward stage performances to fill out the holiday schedule. My daughter plucked it off the shelf here in July to view, so the message is felt year round, even if old Ebeneezer is too mean to start and on lithium to finish. At least Tiny Tim is sympathetic.

TheLittleSongbird Not the best version of A Christmas Carol(one of Charles Dickens' most famous, best and most accessible stories)- the Alastair Sim and George C. Scott versions, the 1994 Jetlag and 2001 animated films are the only versions below average- and is not perfect. The Ghost of Christmas Past section is too brief and should have been much more- more time, more detail-, the reason why Scrooge seems to have repented too soon in this version, and Terry Kilburn's Tiny Tim is too healthy and overwrought, the character should have a lot of pathos but Kilburn seems to be trying too hard. There is still a lot to like though. The Ghost of Christmas Present section is very heart-warming, definitely of the Three Ghosts sections the one with the most heart, and the one of Christmas-Yet-to-Come will have youngsters diving under the covers, the people in the section observing and commenting on the situation are quite realistically drawn. While not lavish or big in budget, the film still has splendid period detail and shot in lovely black and white. The special effects are not too shabby, though not award-worthy. The whimsical music score, mean-meaning script, heartfelt message that gets its point across and the ceaselessly entertaining and poignant storytelling are other selling points. And the acting is fine on the most part. Reginald Owen does make a great account of himself as Scrooge(if not quite embodying the character like Sim did), while Leo G. Caroll is very spooky if soft-spoken Jacob Marley and Barry MacKay is possibly the best and most likable Fred on screen. Lionel Brahurn's Ghost of Christmas Present is wonderfully jovial, Ann Rutherford is utterly beguiling though deserving of more screen time and Gene Lockhart appeals in how humble he is. Overall, warm, charming and entertaining though not definitive. 8/10 Bethany Cox