Scrooge (A Christmas Carol)

It isn’t Christmas without “A Christmas Carol” and for me, it wouldn’t be Christmas Eve without watching Alastair Sim portray Ebenezer Scrooge in the 1951 British version. Because of his performance and many other elements, it remains the most pure adaptation of Charles Dickens’ novel. The black and white version gives it additional purity in my view. Every year on Christmas Eve, CTV would broadcast it late at night and I could not help myself many of those years to stay up and watch it. I finally asked for it on Blu-ray for Christmas so that I would have the freedom to watch it anytime on Christmas Eve.

The acting is the best element of the film. There is not one bad performance in the whole movie. Sim’s take on Scrooge is still unique after 60 years. It is a little hard to explain exactly how Sim’s portrayal is so wonderful. Some Scrooges I guess are outright nasty and cold but Sim holds back on those attributes slightly. Scrooge in this film seems bored of life and there is nothing that can bring him joy. He is impatient and stern. Sim’s portrayal of Scrooge’s character change is perfect. He goes from fearing the ghost of Marley, to remorse at seeing his past, to shame as he views the shadows of the present, to sheer terror/hopelessness with the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. I like the addition to the story of how Scrooge feels he is too old to change. At the end of the film, his happiness contrasts the old Scrooge so much that you can’t help but feel inspired and happy. I also feel happy watching the performances of Brian Worth, George Cole and Mervyn Johns. I love the acting exchange between Sim and Johns as they part on Christmas Eve. Cole has the vocal mannerisms of Sim down perfectly. The acting is what makes the story come alive in a pure and straightforward fashion.

In this version, I like Scrooge’s attitude towards obeying the Ghost of Christmas Past. It appears that he just wants to get it over with. I enjoy how we see more of Scrooge’s past in this version than in other versions of “A Christmas Carol”. I doubt that all these past events by coincidence fall upon Christmas but because of all this back story, we come to understand Scrooge a lot more. We can relate to the tragedy and hardships that come in his life. We learn that Scrooge adapts an attitude of perseverance so that he can survive the world, which he views as harsh. It begins when Fern dies. To contrast this, we have the character of Fezziwig who says at one point "...its not just for money alone that one spends a lifetime building up a business...It's to preserve a way of life that one knew and loved." Charles Dickens may not have written that but I still believe it with all my heart. I want my future kids for example to have Christmas memories that I enjoyed when I was young. With the Ghost of Christmas Present, I like how Scrooge hopes at first that the spirit will let him be. Eventually, he feels that there is no point in resisting. I like the subsequent reference to Christ in that Scrooge has failed to be Christ-like for almost all of his life. The portrayal of the Cratchit family is perfect so as to influence Scrooge to change his life. They seem like a real family. Scrooge sees that those experiencing a hard life can have more happiness than he ever will with his wealth. My favorite moment in the scene between Scrooge and Mrs. Dilber on Christmas morning is when he assures her that he is not mad only to pretend that he is for a second, which scares her. A sweet moment at the end of the film is how Fred’s wife is so quick to forgive Scrooge and I love that. We thought she had no patience with Scrooge but it turns out that Fred’s heart is more contagious than we thought. Then we have the classic scene where Scrooge surprises Cratchit with a salary raise. I like the way it is acted out. Scrooge goes from a joyful laughing to laughing out of shame for his past treatment of his clerk. The shock of Cratchit is what causes Scrooge for a brief moment to laugh with regret. The change in Cratchit’s facial expression is wonderful also as he starts fearful and becomes giddy with joy at the transformation of his employer.

There are other reasons why this film is so good. Because of this version, I can’t imagine a faithful telling of the tale without accompanying carols and hymns. Speaking of music, I like how we first hear the music of “Barbara Allen” when Fern is introduced. We hear it again in Fred’s house at the end of the film and it becomes Fern’s theme music. My favorite portrayal of Scrooge from any medium is that of Alastair Sim. Also, this is my favorite film released in 1951 and "A Christmas Carol" is my fourth favorite fictional story after "Star Wars", "The Lord of the Rings" and "Harry Potter" in that order. I hope that the tradition of this film for me will live on to be shared by my own future family. Other versions of “A Christmas Carol” tend to feature, among other things, a twist in the tale or a particular actor but this version feels so much like a pure interpretation of the essence of the original novel.

4.5 Stars