Scrooge (1951)
Grade: 86
"A Christmas Carol" has to be Charles Dickens' most famous work. There are countless versions and parodies, but all of them, this version is probably the best.
It tells the story of Ebenezer Scrooge (Alastair Sim), an elderly businessman who has grown cold-hearted and miserly over the years, discarding family and disregarding his employees, especially humble clerk Bob Crachit (Mervyn Johns). On Christmas Eve, Scrooge is visited by a series of ghosts, who seek to change his ways before he has to walk the earth after death, dragging heavy chains like his unlucky partner Jacob Marley (Michael Horndern). The ghosts represent Christmas Past, Present, and Future. Will Scrooge recognize the error of his ways? Will he repent and embrace mankind?
There seems to be a correlation between the ghosts of Christmas and Scrooge's character. The Spirit of Christmas Past is kindly, as was Scrooge in his youth. Christmas Present is more stern, just as Scrooge has become cruel. And Christmas Future is as forboding and bleak as is Scrooge's future.
Why is this version of the classic better than its competitors? The script is well adapted, and the direction is tight, but the film's strength comes from the cast. Bob Crachit, Tiny Tim, and Scrooge's pleasant nephew all glow with the warmth of Christmas spirit. Alastair Sim plays Scrooge so that you feel sorry for him, rather than despise him, especially after the spirit of Christmas Past has shown us that Scrooge has taken some hard knocks.
"Scrooge" is a British production, but the accents are not strong and I had no trouble following the dialogue.
http://members.tripod.com/~Brian_Koller/movies.html
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