Christmas Carol - Trailer (1938)

[windstorm1000]

Oh,and he was fantastic as Potter--incredible actor--best thing about "Grand Hotel"

[Noveltooner]

@windstorm1000 The record you nmention sounds like the reissue by M-G-M Records in the late 1950's which was a full-size LP record with "A Christmas Carol" on one side and carols by the studio choirsters on the other. I have that one as well, but I also have the original issue which was a 3/4 size disk with "A Christmas Carol" split over the two sides. One thing that is so great about the radio broadcast is that it brings such life to the story in ways the sight of a film can't

[Noveltooner]

My first actual sight of Lionel Barrymore in the Scrooge mode was, of course, as Henry F. Potter in a 1962 Friday telecast of "It's a Wonderful Life" on WABC-TV Ch. 7 in New York on its morning movie. (The Mon.-Thurs. telecasts were the 1951 version of "A Christmas Carol," which starting in 1963 would move to the wee hours on WCBS-TV Ch. 2 and paired off with the 1938 M-G-M version, a tradition until the late 1970's.) Interestingly, Reginald Owen himself saw the Sim version as the definitive one

[windstorm1000]

I think Owen caught the meaner, crochety old guy aspects of the character better than Sim--who is about 5 years too young for the part.

[ThaTopDogg13]

I have always personally perfered Scrooge

[redgrapeskins]

this is a terrific version - The cast of characters are very endearing and Mr Owen plays it superbly -- The '51 Sim classic is cited as well for being a fine film- version--Watch both for a slightly different take on Scrooge -and overall atmosphere as well--- Thanks  for the great trailer

[themightycelestial]

While most homes grew up watchin It's A Wonderful Life as an annual favorite every year, I was raised in a house that always watched this 1938 version of ACC.

Of all the many versions, IMO the black & white setting of the old ones has a way of enhancing the story in a way that comes off much more timeless than in all the counterparts which followed later.

That, combined with this being a personal childhood favorite, makes this the 1 that, for me, will most likely always be the best of the bunch

[grainofsandfan]

I love the Reginald Owen/Leo G. Carroll version. I saw it on television once and thought it was the greatest movie I'd ever seen.

[curlingto]

"As his hat cost 5 and six, and Cratchit's salary is 4 and six", Cratchit owes Scroogey a Shilling...What a Miser!!!

[curlingto]

For some reason, I especially remember the part where they're watching the 2 guys arguing, and then Ghost sprinkles something on them, and they make jolly...also, in this version, Scrooge goes over to Cratchit's house on Christmas, in the AS version he goes to Fred's....

[curlingto]

Also, remember that Leo G. Carroll was Marley in this one...great to see "Mr. Waverly" (from U.N.C.L.E.) as something else, other tan an old man secret-agent....

[crystalroy]

in shool i was marley

[Relda999]

i've watched this movie several times and never get tired of this original, always being a smile to my face....

[boomac62]

Not my favorite version, I guess it seems a weee bit over acted at times, esp with the kids but better thinks i than the 1950's version. I like the "84 version with George C Scott (but his lack of a British accent does always bug me)

peace and merry Christmas

[laphrofl]

watched this last night, its really amazing for an old film

[KlausPettersson232]

I saw today the film on TCM and i have to say that the actor who play Mr Scrooge is awesome and a talented person....somthing that we do not have today...and speaking about this film i was impressed about how much things had changed today... we don't go anymore to Church..why is that????

[daughterrevolution]

v=OKAms5xr7os

How Dickens came to write A Christmas Carol

[chipsc7]

Last year, my wife bought me the 1951 Alastair Sim version as a Christmas present, because she couldn't find the 1938 Reginald Owens version. I liked it, but nowhere near as much as the 1938 original. I had it on tape and watched it every year, but then it got lost. I hope it comes on tv this Christmas season. This 1938 version has a special place in my heart, I love it. If I can get it or see it, I will watch the Alastair Sim version once or twice, and the 1938 version a dozen times.

[MaskedLion]

I am happy to relate the Reginald Owen version is out on DVD!

[chipsc7]

Thank you maskedlion

[captmarvelswoman]

alastair sim is the best scrooge ever!

[9aspengold5]

Reginald Owen is the second best. Just love both versions. The newer versions just don't have the character of Owen's 1938 and Alastairs 1951 versions

[curlingto]

I disagree..R O is the best....both, or all, versions are great and have a lot of merit...I guess it's a matter of opinion and up-bringing, as far as which you feeln is the "best"...

[9aspengold5]

R.O. is wonderful, but like you said opinion and up-bringing has a lot to do with it. My mom always played the R.O. version so I guess I bent towards his performance. I love them both.

[curlingto]

Sadly, we don't see the Reginald Owen version at all anymore, not like back in the days before Cable TV, when RO and AS were basically the only versions available, and were on quite freqently around the Holidays...I wish someone out there in YouTube-land would post up the RO version...:(...

[9aspengold5]

We never saw the great RO or AS version this year. Just the newer versions that weren't as good.

[curlingto]

I agree with you...the newer versions are Not As Good...although I must say I like the Albert Finney musical version, somewhat, especially when he sings that "you were so dear to me" bit...

[leejohn70]

I must say this is the Best version of the Christmas Carol Films. Reginald Owen is great

and Gene Lockhart is by far the best Bob Cratchit.

A must see every christmas.

[stopendapresses2]

I agree, leejohn. This is by far the best adaptation ever conceived for the big screen. I watch this one every year, and will always do so - it is amazing! :)

[scrog77]

Where can i see this one?

[Carpenterfan2]

In my opinion, the best screen version of a Christmas Carol ever adapted for the screen. While some elements such as Scrooge's relationship with his girlfriend are omitted, it does not detract from the quality or accuracy of the portrayal. The plot moves along naturally without any forced orchestrations and it's simplicity makes it lovely and timeless.

[KAMIKAZR]

I checked him out, and he was a Roman Catholic.......born and raised. He is one of my favorite actors, except what he was raised in.

[Noveltooner]

Barrymore's heart must have been breaking inside while making this preview. His annual live radio broadcasts as Scrooge were legendary. MGM was actually making this 1938 version for him; however, by this time he was completely confined to a wheelchair and it cost him the part. When Frank Capra was casting "It's a Wonderful Life," Lionel Barrymore was his first choice for Potter so people could see something of the Scrooge that Barrymore never got to play on-screen.

[windstorm1000]

@Noveltooner I did not know that--thank you very much.

[Noveltooner]

@windstorm1000 You're very welcome. I have a tape of one of the original Mercury Theater-On-the-Air broadcasts with Orson Welles doing the narration as Charles Dickens and Lionel Barrymore as Scrooge. Barrymore continued the broadcasts even after it was no longer a Mercury production and was instead produced by M-G-M. In addition I also have a limited edition LP by M-G-M with a shorter edited version narrated by Richard Hale with Barrymore & other contract players.

[windstorm1000]

@Noveltooner Yes, I agree he would have been the perfect Scrooge...it indeed must have been heartbreaking for him--the imagined performance would have earned him an Academy Award. As consolation his radio broadcasts must have been incredible and indelible!!! My family wore out the MGM record of one of those broadcasts (I think its MGM). Do you know where I can get the record--it had victorian christmas carols on the other side sung by a choir. I think it late 40's.

[Noveltooner]

@windstorm1000 Check out both Amazon and e-Bay; I've seen both issues put up for sale at various times. The original masters may still be with M-G-M, but I think they'd more like be with Warner Bros. through its Turner Entertainment division.

[windstorm1000]

@Noveltooner Thank you so much for all the wonderful information!! I will check Amazon!

[isselman2000]

Ah, what a wonderful movie!

[Sethonre]

lol nice...