A Christmas Carol

IMDb RATING

7.5/10

8.8K

YOUR RATING

Terry Kilburn and Reginald Owen in A Christmas Carol (1938)

Home Video Trailer from Warner Home Video

Play trailer2:45

2 Videos

83 Photos

Holiday Family Drama Family Fantasy Holiday

An elderly miser learns the error of his ways on Christmas Eve.An elderly miser learns the error of his ways on Christmas Eve.An elderly miser learns the error of his ways on Christmas Eve.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.5/10

8.8K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Goofs
When Scrooge is eating in the tavern on Christmas Eve, he is reading a book with the spine label "Bankers Book". Charles Dickens' depiction of this book is that it is Scrooge's property, possibly a ledger. Yet in the film, Scrooge stands, receives his change from the innkeeper, and leaves - leaving the book behind him on the table.

However, just because this is a change from the book does not make it a mistake. There is no reason in the film to suggest it has to be Scrooge's book.

Quotes
Ebenezer Scrooge: [to Marley's ghost] We'll soon see how real you are.
[Calling out the window]
Ebenezer Scrooge: Watch! There's an intruder in my room!
Leader of watch: Right up, sir - law and order!
Jacob Marley's ghost: It was for your welfare that I made this visit, Ebenezer Scrooge.
[He disappears]
Leader of watch: [unable to find him] Your intruder seems to have extruded, if I may say so, sir.
Ebenezer Scrooge: He was here! He was a spirit!
Leader of watch: [laughing] Of course, sir! A fine night for spirits - of one form or another, sir!

Alternate versions
Also available in a computer colorized version.

Connections
Featured in A Fireside Chat with Lionel Barrymore (1938)

Soundtracks
Hark! the Herald Angels Sing
(1856) (uncredited)
Music by Felix Mendelssohn (1840)
Lyrics by Charles Wesley (1730)
Arranged by David Snell
Sung by an offscreen chorus during opening credits

User reviews119

Review

Featured review

My favorite version...my favorite Christmas movie!

There's just something about this one that, while not close to being the most faithful it nonetheless remains my favorite of all the many film versions of Dicken's Christmas Carol.

I guess it's those old classic MGM production values. It's Gene Lockhart's sometimes cowed, sometimes impish, sometimes heroic & joy-filled Bob Cratchett.

And it's definitely the way Reginald Owen turns Scrooge around far earlier than the other productions. I get so tired of seeing that rotten old Scrooge stay rotten until ten minutes before the film ends, when, poof, he sees the light & is miraculously transformed form the meanest man in the world to the nicest. Here, Owen's Scrooge begins to turn fairly quick, and I enjoy that - it really makes him so much easier to root for.

Every time I see it I'm reminded about how marvelous & truly important Franz Waxman's score is to this version. It's delightfully bouncy & upbeat when it's called for & dark forboding during the grim scenes. It's wonderful; dead-on perfect.

For me, it's far and away the most entertaining version. Sit back for its brief 69 minutes, watch and enjoy.