I was introduced to this version when I was 14 by my late uncle who was a connoisseur mid-century cinema. Prior to that, I was used to the genericized version of Ebenezer Scrooge. Versions that simply depicted Scrooge as a sociopathic miser with no rhyme or reason as to why he finds Christmas and everything about it so disagreeable. Until seeing this version, Scrooge in my mind was a blend of a duck wearing a top hat with few catchphrases.
It was around that time I began to understand the difference between 'canonical' and 'half-assed-retreat'.
Most of us have, in our lives had to toil through one or two of Dickens' masterworks. Perhaps for a college course that we put off until senior year only to realize that: crap.. this guy was long-winded. What this film does very well is translate Dickens' propensity for the written word and skillfully translates them into very well-paced scenes. The cast of the film were all very well trained stage actors in London at the time. From Fred's 'perfect posture' vocal delivery to Mrs. Dilber's 19th Century spot on Cockney "Bob's Your Uncle" exclamation it was clear that each actor no matter the depth of their role cut their teeth on the stage.
Finally, what brings me to the belief that this version of 'A Christmas Carol' should officially be considered the 'canonical' version is simple: We are given the most human Ebeneezer Scrooge every put to film. I guess it is simply easier for productions to simply go 'two-dimensional' with Scrooge. Man-hates-life... take-life-out-...life... FOR SOME REASON.. the Universe decides to help him. He sees the light.
Fits right into the standard 21 or 47-minute format of modern storytelling.
But Alistair Sim gives Scrooge something he had not had before or since, a sense of WHY he was the way was. Scrooge even at his worst was not a cruel man; just indifferent.
Wrapping up. What makes this movie uniquely special for me is the very unassuming score, one piece of music to specific. It is a song that reprises a few times during the film as part of the score. At the party at Fred's house at the end of the film, there are a few party guests singing it. I don't know the name of the piece but it sounds like an Irish Folk song. I applaud the use of the song as it has nothing to do with Christmas. The lyrics and meaning probably tie into the narrative of the film metaphorically.
Finally... I really tend to lose it on people when they refer to this version as being titled 'Scrooge'. The film was released as 'A Christmas Carol'. I will always know and recognize it as that. I think the film is all-but public domain now which would allow most people to call it whatever they want... but let's face it. So many bad versions of 'A Christmas Carol'... are simple called 'Scrooge'
Review by RacemicBlockedParent2018-12-24T15:29:31Z
I was introduced to this version when I was 14 by my late uncle who was a connoisseur mid-century cinema. Prior to that, I was used to the genericized version of Ebenezer Scrooge. Versions that simply depicted Scrooge as a sociopathic miser with no rhyme or reason as to why he finds Christmas and everything about it so disagreeable. Until seeing this version, Scrooge in my mind was a blend of a duck wearing a top hat with few catchphrases.
It was around that time I began to understand the difference between 'canonical' and 'half-assed-retreat'.
Most of us have, in our lives had to toil through one or two of Dickens' masterworks. Perhaps for a college course that we put off until senior year only to realize that: crap.. this guy was long-winded. What this film does very well is translate Dickens' propensity for the written word and skillfully translates them into very well-paced scenes. The cast of the film were all very well trained stage actors in London at the time. From Fred's 'perfect posture' vocal delivery to Mrs. Dilber's 19th Century spot on Cockney "Bob's Your Uncle" exclamation it was clear that each actor no matter the depth of their role cut their teeth on the stage.
Finally, what brings me to the belief that this version of 'A Christmas Carol' should officially be considered the 'canonical' version is simple: We are given the most human Ebeneezer Scrooge every put to film. I guess it is simply easier for productions to simply go 'two-dimensional' with Scrooge. Man-hates-life... take-life-out-...life... FOR SOME REASON.. the Universe decides to help him. He sees the light.
Fits right into the standard 21 or 47-minute format of modern storytelling.
But Alistair Sim gives Scrooge something he had not had before or since, a sense of WHY he was the way was. Scrooge even at his worst was not a cruel man; just indifferent.
Wrapping up. What makes this movie uniquely special for me is the very unassuming score, one piece of music to specific. It is a song that reprises a few times during the film as part of the score. At the party at Fred's house at the end of the film, there are a few party guests singing it. I don't know the name of the piece but it sounds like an Irish Folk song. I applaud the use of the song as it has nothing to do with Christmas. The lyrics and meaning probably tie into the narrative of the film metaphorically.
Finally... I really tend to lose it on people when they refer to this version as being titled 'Scrooge'. The film was released as 'A Christmas Carol'. I will always know and recognize it as that. I think the film is all-but public domain now which would allow most people to call it whatever they want... but let's face it. So many bad versions of 'A Christmas Carol'... are simple called 'Scrooge'