A Christmas Carol [1938] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

Customer Reviews:

1938 classic!.......2007-12-26

Personally, my favourite version of the Dickens classic: 'A Christmas Carol'. Starring Reggie Owen as 'Scrooge' and the Lockhart family. This version moves you to tears like no other in my opinion, and has a brilliant cast. I have a ritual of watching this every Christmas Eve and Night, and it never fails to charm. This has been lovingly re-mastered.

Note: Though advertised as region code 1 and NTSC format, for some reason, this DVD plays fine on a region 2 Player.

Mr Scrooge.......2006-12-29

I bought this and it plays on my UK DVD player.
The story is great like all the other Scrooge stories.
I am happy that I got to see this DVD and I am from the UK because people from the UK are not ment to see it. I have ordered the other one that I am wanting, An American Christmas Carol and I hope it works when I get it.

"Christmas, Humbug?".......2006-08-06

'A Christmas Carol' is not only the greatest Christmas story of all time, it is one of the greatest stories, alone, ever told. But when asked what I think the greatest adaptation of the novel is, I turn not to Alastair Sim's "Scrooge" which is, indeed, brilliant but to the 1938 Reginald Owen film.

"Why?", you might ask. It strays so far from the book, the writers literally rewrote the story in parts. However, for me, the spirit of the film is wonderful, evoking the Victorian England that Dickens was looking to portray. Indeed, being such an old movie, the film makers seemed to have a good idea of Victorian times. Reginald Owen was, of course, borne of the Victorian Era and seemed very at home in the role. He is the truly definitive Scrooge: old and convinced that he cannot change whilst seeming too miserly too eat enough to improve on his slight stature.

As mentioned, the script strays far from the novel and large parts are simply cut out (it is only around an hour in length). Bob Cratchit is fired, the Ghost of Christmas Past is a young woman, Tiny Tim and Peter become acquainted with Fred at the start in a snow sliding contest, and Scrooge comes bearing gifts at the end like an old Santa Clause. But the movie is filmed brilliantly, each shot escorting you back to the Victorian Christmas and each scene played with faith and good heart. The black and white quality gives the film a timelessness but if there is one thing that provides the movie with its undoubted atmosphere, it is the brilliant score and choice of music. It opens with "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" and smoothly runs into the melodic music that is present throughout. In the scenes where Marley's ghost appears there is a terrifying quality but in the uplifting scenes, the music is joyful and bouncy. There is also a wonderful sequence in church with Tiny Tim and his father singing "O Come All Ye Faithful". I guarantee you will be humming the score for the rest of the day.

The effects in the film are primitive and this is a treat. It only serves, in its black and white nature, to bring an even scarier, supernatural quality to the scenes. All four of the ghosts play their parts well especially Marley who looks forever regretful of his selfish past. In addition, all the other actors are solid, especially Gene Lockhart as the beaten down Bob Cratchit.

I simply cannot recommend this film enough: it evokes a sense of wondrous Christmas that can no longer be mustered up in modern adaptations. To be honest, I can't quite put my finger on why this is, but that is irrelevant. I first saw the film after waking up at around five o' clock on a Christmas morning some ten years ago when it was on television. Its magic has not faded since. Buy it and watch alone in the dark by the fire around Christmas time. You won't regret it for a second, I promise.

Classic Holiday Collection: Boys Town/A Christmas Carol/Christmas in Connecticut [1938] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

Average customer rating:

Classic Holiday Collection: Boys Town/A Christmas Carol/Christmas in Connecticut [1938] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
Starring: Barbara Stanwyck , Dennis Morgan , Sydney Greenstreet , Reginald Gardiner , and S.Z. Sakall
Director: Peter Godfrey , Hugh Harman , Norman Taurog , and Edwin L. Marin
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Traditional & Carols | Christmas Music | Styles | Music

Soundtracks | Christmas Music | Styles | Music

DVD | Format (binding_browse-bin) | Refinements | DVD | Video

Box Set | Format (binding_browse-bin) | Refinements | DVD | Video
ASIN: B000B5XOZM
Release Date: 2005-11-08

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