A Christmas Carol (1951)

Michael Dolan: Spirit of Christmas Past

Photos 

Quotes 

• Ebenezer Scrooge : Through the window?

  Spirit of Christmas Past : Are you afraid?

  Ebenezer Scrooge : Well... I am a mortal, and liable to fall.

  Spirit of Christmas Past : Bear but a touch of my hand, and you will be upheld in more than this.

• Spirit of Christmas Past : Your sister was always a delicate creature, of whom a breath might have withered, but she had a large heart.

  Ebenezer Scrooge : She had.

  Spirit of Christmas Past : She dies a married woman and had, I think, children.

  Ebenezer Scrooge : One child.

  Spirit of Christmas Past : Your nephew.

  Ebenezer Scrooge : She died giving him life.

  Spirit of Christmas Past : As your mother died giving you life, for which your father never forgave you, as if you were to blame.

• Spirit of Christmas Past : And as your business prospered, Ebenezer Scrooge, a golden idol took possession of your heart, as Alice said it would.

• Ebenezer Scrooge : What is your business here?

  Spirit of Christmas Past : Your welfare.

  Ebenezer Scrooge : My welfare?

  Spirit of Christmas Past : Your reclamation, then. Take heed, rise, and walk with me.

• Spirit of Christmas Past : [to Scrooge]  Alice. The same Alice you had sworn to love for all eternity. She is not changed by the harshness of the world, but you are.

• Ebenezer Scrooge : Are you the spirit whose coming was foretold to me?

  Spirit of Christmas Past : I am.

  Ebenezer Scrooge : Who and what are you?

  Spirit of Christmas Past : I am the Ghost of Christmas Past.

  Ebenezer Scrooge : Long past?

  Spirit of Christmas Past : No, your past.

• Spirit of Christmas Past : [the Spirit of Christmas Past and Scrooge travel through time, arriving at the Amalgamated Mercantile Society]  And as your business prospered, Ebenezer Scrooge, a golden idol took possession of your heart... as Alice said it would.

  Mr. Groper : May we hear those figures, Mr. Snedrig?... Uh, at your pleasure.

  Mr. Snedrig : Certainly, Mr. Groper. Well, gentlemen, after 17 years of existence, the Amalgamated Mercantile Society's books show the startling figures of a liability of £3,200, eight shillings and ten pence, and a total asset of £11, eight shillings and ten pence.

  Mr. Jorkin : Well, at least the ten pences cancel each other out.

  Mr. Rosehed : How much of this is the company's capital?

  Mr. Snedrig : All of it, Mr. Rosehed.

  Mr. Rosehed : In short, sir, you're not only a bankrupt, you're an embezzler of the company's funds!

  Mr. Jorkin : [Jorkin chuckles and speaks sarcastically]  I also beat my wife and skewer innocent babies when in my cups.

  Mr. Groper : You take a very cool attitude if I may say so, sir.

  Mr. Jorkin : Well, so do Mr. Scrooge and Mr. Marley.

  Mr. Groper : They're not facing prosecution for a capital offense.

  Mr. Jorkin : Oh, but gentlemen, it could have been any one of you. We're all cutthroats under this fancy linen, Mr. Snedrig.

  Mr. Snedrig : I must ask you to speak for yourself, Mr. Jorkin!

  Mr. Jorkin : And what would you gain if you prosecute me? All you'll get out of it is about eleven pounds, odd... and to pack me off to Botany Bay would be poor compensation for the panic that would arise among the shareholders!

  Mr. Groper : Panic, sir?

  Mr. Jorkin : Yes, panic! Would any of you gentlemen care to deny that if this juicy little scandal leaked out now, the annual shareholders' meeting would resemble an orchestra of scorched cats. Result? Bankruptcy all around.

  Mr. Groper : Strike that speech out of the minutes!

  Bob Cratchit : [from his clerk's desk]  Yes, sir!

• Spirit of Christmas Past : Look at your face, Ebenezer. A face of a wrenching, grasping, scraping, covetous old sinner.