A
Christmas Carol (1951) Ultimate Collector's Edition
VCI
Entertainment
Cast:
Alistair Sim, Mervyn Johns, George Cole, Kathleen Harrison,
Herminone Baddeley.
Rating:
NR
Run
time: 81 mins.
Genre:
Christmas
Verdict:
Brilliant
(see rating
system)
This
1951 British production tops my list of the Best Christmas
Movies - it is simply brilliant.
No
actor has come close to the performance of Alistair Sim in
the title role of Charles Dickens's classic miser Ebenezer
Scrooge and in this all-new 2-disc edition, fans can choose
between two top notch transfers of the movie - one in the
original black and white, the other in quite decent colour.
The
movie is the most faithful adaptation of the book, with Scrooge
visited by the ghost of his dead business partner Jacob Marley
(Michael Hordern) one Christmas Eve. Marley, damned for eternity
for his own wasted, money-loving life, warns Scrooge that
he has only one chance to mend his own miserable ways to avoid
the same fate.
Scrooge
reluctantly agrees to be visited by the ghosts of Chrstmas
past, present and future and soon finds himself reviewing
a life he grows quite ashamed of. A lost love, poor treatment
of his clerk Bob Crachit (Mervyn Johns) and general ignorance
of the needs of others are laid before him - as is the ultimate
reward for his sins.
The
story is universal: every man or woman can improve their life
and be of service to others, but it is presented in masterly
fashion like no other. Sim IS Scrooge, his emotion running
from cold disdain for humanity in the beginning to the tearful
joy of being given a second chance.
The
sets depicting gloomy London in the 1840s are wonderfully
atmospheric and the ghosts are terrific. Watch out for Patrick
Macnee (John Steed in The Avengers TV series) in his big-screen
debut as the young Marley.
The
finale is a real two-hankie affair!
This
new edition comes with several extra features on the movie,
including:
"Spirit of Christmas Past"--George Cole (young Scrooge)
remembers Alistair Sim
"Richard Gordon Remembers George Minter & Renown
Pictures"
"Charles Dickens--His Life and Times"
Before & After Restoration Comparison
Optional Narrative for the Blind
Photo & Press Book Gallery
Cast Bios
Original American and British Theatrical Trailers
"Scrooge" (1935 Seymour Hicks Version).
