Charles Dickens wrote a novella in 1843. Two hundred years later it continues to be literary perfection. Dozens of versions of “A Christmas Carol” exist. Some better than others. The film released in 1938 is one of the earliest, and is one that Mr. Dickens would be proud of.
The story is the same. Reginald Owen stars as Ebenezer Scrooge; the penny pinching miser visited by a handful of spirits on Christmas Eve. The style is different, but the amazing prose remains. The film is black and white which adds tremendous realism to the setting. You’ll feel as though you are watching actual footage from 1800s London.
The original Dickens work totes the line of horror. Here, Director Edwin L. Marin uses the limited technology he has to conjure excellent representations of the ghosts. Jacob Marley (Leo G. Carroll) begins the spectral onslaught and the scene between he and Scrooge is quite chilling, an aspect I thoroughly enjoyed. The beautiful Ann Rutherford is equally excellent as Christmas Past.
1938 is the year my mother was born. It’s always fascinating (at least to me) to watch a film from such a bygone era. I won’t pretend to know the talent. The adult actors were all born in the 19th Century. An interesting facet is that Gene Lockhart, who played Bob Cratchit, appears along with his real life family. Kathleen Lockhart plays Mrs. Cratchit. Their daughter, June Lockhart is one of the kids. I remember June Lockhart as Timmie’s mother in ‘Lassie’ a show from my Nickelodeon obsessed youth.
Ironically enough, actor Terry Kilburn who plays Tiny Tim is celebrating his 95th birthday today (11/25/2021). This review is dedicated to him.
There are better versions of “A Christmas Carol” but this one is great for its time. It offers a fascinating window into Cinema’s past and can be enjoyed for its historical value alone.
