Of the many film versions...this one from 1951 is the most faithful to the spirit of the book.
A Christmas Carol (1951)
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Reviews Counted:20
Fresh:16
Rotten:4
Average Rating:7.5/10
Consensus: It hasn't aged particularly well, but the 1951 adaptation of Charles Dickens' timeless classic is perhaps the most faithful film version -- and Alastair Sim's performance as Scrooge is not to be missed.
Runtime: 86 mins
Genre: Dramas
Synopsis: Ebeneezer Scrooge (Alastair Sim) contentedly meanders through his life as a cruel miser until one fateful Christmas Eve when he is visited by three ghosts. The spirits show him how his behavior has... Ebeneezer Scrooge (Alastair Sim) contentedly meanders through his life as a cruel miser until one fateful Christmas Eve when he is visited by three ghosts. The spirits show him how his behavior has degenerated over the years as his heart has become colder. Using events from Scrooge's idealistic past, dreary present, and dismal future, the apparitions try their best to melt his steely soul. Will Scrooge see the error of his ways and learn the true meaning of Christmas? Check out this hailed classic and find out! Many critics widely consider this the definitive film version of Charles Dickens' cherished novel. [More]
Starring: Alastair Sim, Kathleen Harrison, Jack Warner, Hermione Baddeley
Starring: Alastair Sim, Kathleen Harrison, Jack Warner, Hermione Baddeley
Director: Brian Desmond Hurst
Director: Brian Desmond Hurst
Story: Charles Dickens
Screenwriter: Noel Langley
Composer: Richard Addinsell
Producer: George Minter
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Reviews for A Christmas Carol
Though Dickens' frank sentimentality calls for broad treatment, Brian Desmond Hurst's direction is too often heavy as well.
Moves through a brisk 86 minutes with just enough time to linger on poignant moments.
Alastair Sim's performance in Dickens' hoary holiday classic provided one of the defining moments of his career; the result is the definitive filming of the story, breathing life into the familiar plot while earnestly hewing to the author's vision.
What we have in this rendition of Dickens' sometimes misunderstood Carol is an accurate comprehension of the agony of a shabby soul.
Most agree that Alastair Sim's 1951 spin as Scrooge is the best, and truest to the novel.
The story is a timeless classic and this is the best direction translation the cinema has provided thus far.
Some of the more recent film versions of the story are considerably more sumptuous than this rather Spartan-looking production, but none of them do a better job of conveying the character of Ebenezer Scrooge or the themes of the story.
At a reasonably short 85 minutes, this is nevertheless a complete experience, and the strength and depth of its drama makes it the most memorable of any adaptation of the tale.
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 15% 15% | The Ugly Truth |
| 98% 98% | Up |
| 36% 36% | G.I. Joe: The Rise of … |
| 52% 52% | The Taking of Pelham 1… |
| 45% 45% | Ice Age: Dawn of the D… |
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 36% 36% | Angels & Demons |
| 68% 68% | Funny People |
| 25% 25% | Four Christmases |
| 45% 45% | Shorts |
| 53% 53% | David & Layla |
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