A Christmas Carol (1938)

This is one of the fastest films ever to reach the screen. It started shooting in October and was in theaters in December. This production however is the standard in which all other versions since have copied. This was the first production to have the "Spirits" come in one night! It also fleshed out Bob Cratchit family more. This is also one of those film that the older it gets the better the film becomes.In case you don't know the story "Scrooge" is a cranky old man. He hates Christmas and people in general. He has more in life than the people that surround him and yet he is poor.This 1938 film is in black and white and that seems like a huge asset. The cast is perfect! If you have never seen this version then what are you waiting for?

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios presented viewers with many a Classic Story re-written to suit their style. Their 1938 version of "A Christmas Carol" continues this tradition. Reginald Owen plays Scrooge in this version.Not to say that the film is bad .. it's actually pretty good BUT ... it's often not really like the book. There have been several crucial changes inflicted on the plot.. adding some incidents and eliminating others. If other versions of the story have not been viewed, it might not be all that noticeable OR if the story were not so well known BUT( <-- there it is again ) it is just so "HOLLYWOOD" to have Scrooge fire Bob Cratchit on Christmas Eve. All that sliding on the ice and throwing of snowballs ... Dickens would have shaken his head.When they stick to the story, it's no worse than some of the other shorter versions. The actors all do what they were hired to do with no one standing out as outstanding. "Tiny Tim" is way too big to be carried about by his poor short rotund dad and is not an attractive child even on his better days.. but I have a problem with the "tiny" thing and the general robust condition of almost all of the "tims".Complete-ists. Go for it. It's Not all that bad, really.

Where is Fezziwigs' party? Scrooge and Belle's break-up? Fen's childbirth? All missing from this fast-paced version of the all too familiar story. Leo G. Carroll does a fine job as Marley's ghost. Some humorous scenes including snowball fights and an ice "slide" in front of the church. Just as Scrooge's past life starts to bog-down, Scrooge makes blonde Ann Rutherford (dressed in a white flowing gown with a golden tiara) disappear! A very short past! Christmas present is a bit better. A church scene with Fred and his fiancé and Bob Cratchit's family replaces the miners singing in the earth quite nicely. A wonderful dinner with Bob and family. The grim reaper future ghost is mute here, not that scary at all. The ending is done quite nicely with everybody (Fred and Scrooge, etc.) all stopping by at Bob's house. Yes, Scrooge gives to the poor, Bob gets a raise, and Fred becomes Scrooge's partner. Of course we all know that Tiny Tim will be alright too! A great cast including 3 Lockharts and Reginald Owen plays a wonderful Scrooge. Only 69 minutes. Very short and sweet and well-worth your time. Others will point out the other "missing scenes" but it all makes for a very pleasant version that won't give the little ones bad dreams.

In the Nineteenth Century, in London, the bitter, greedy and cranky Ebenezer Scrooge (Reginald Owen) hates Christmas and people. He runs his business exploiting his employee Bob Cratchit (Gene Lockhart) and spends unfriendly treatment to his nephew Fred (Barry MacKay) and acquaintances. In the Christmas Eve, he is visited by the doomed chained ghost of his former partner Jacob Marley (Leo G. Carroll), who died seven years ago and tells him that three spirits would visit him that night. The first one, the spirit of past Christmas, recalls his happy childhood and coming of age; the spirit of the present Christmas shows him the poor situation of Bob's family and the happiness of Fred and his fiancée Bessy; and the spirit of future Christmas shows his fate. Scrooge finds that life is good and finds redemption changing thoughts about Christmas, Bob, tiny Tim, his nephew and people in general."A Christmas Carol" is one of the most beautiful Christmas tales in the cinema. I do not recall how many adaptations of one of the most known Charles Dickens' short story I have seen but this 1938 is also wonderful. I do not have much more to say but recommend this magnificent family entertainment. My vote is eight.Title (Brazil): "Um Conto de Natal" ("A Christmas Tale")