Scrooge (aka as a Christmas Carol) truly captures the magic of Dickens' story as well as the historic period.
While the two other major efforts, Reginald Owen in 1938 and Seymour Hicks in 1935, have great merit; the Alastair Sim version of 1951 brings together an incredible ensemble of acting talent along with superb casting. Even minor roles are played with perfection. Of particular note is Mervyn Johns (the father of Glynis Johns) as Bob Cratchit, Kathleen Harrison as Mrs. Dilber (Scrooge's housekeeper) and Jack Warner as Mr. Jorkins.
Alastair Sim plays Scrooge with incredible skill and perfection. His pre-transformation Scrooge is truly cruel and unabashedly insensitive as depicted early on in a scene with one of his moneylending customers. After the debtor exclaims that he can't take his wife to the poorhouse, Scrooge obligingly replies, "Then leave her home!"
In another early scene with his nephew Fred, Scrooge makes it clear that he is more concerned with Fred's material worth than Fred's happiness as he expresses disfavor at Fred's marriage to the woman he loves.
After his transformation, Scrooge is pure delight. His scene with Mrs. Dilber (Kathleen Harrison), his housekeeper of many years, is sheer perfection as he bursts with kindness and offers her a generous Christmas present to which she incredulously replies, "For me?"
There is little doubt that Alistair Sim's Scrooge would have brought Charles Dickens to his feet with a standing ovation.
While the two other major efforts, Reginald Owen in 1938 and Seymour Hicks in 1935, have great merit; the Alastair Sim version of 1951 brings together an incredible ensemble of acting talent along with superb casting. Even minor roles are played with perfection. Of particular note is Mervyn Johns (the father of Glynis Johns) as Bob Cratchit, Kathleen Harrison as Mrs. Dilber (Scrooge's housekeeper) and Jack Warner as Mr. Jorkins.
Alastair Sim plays Scrooge with incredible skill and perfection. His pre-transformation Scrooge is truly cruel and unabashedly insensitive as depicted early on in a scene with one of his moneylending customers. After the debtor exclaims that he can't take his wife to the poorhouse, Scrooge obligingly replies, "Then leave her home!"
In another early scene with his nephew Fred, Scrooge makes it clear that he is more concerned with Fred's material worth than Fred's happiness as he expresses disfavor at Fred's marriage to the woman he loves.
After his transformation, Scrooge is pure delight. His scene with Mrs. Dilber (Kathleen Harrison), his housekeeper of many years, is sheer perfection as he bursts with kindness and offers her a generous Christmas present to which she incredulously replies, "For me?"
There is little doubt that Alistair Sim's Scrooge would have brought Charles Dickens to his feet with a standing ovation.