A Christmas Carol (Original B&W Version)

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Summary: A Christmas Classic
Review: The 1951 version should have been the last. This is a Christian classic. The theme and message Dicken's expresses are the true meaning of the holiday, caring for and loving one another. Sims acting is superb, the dialogue is " Dickens "and each character is potrayed by people who love theather. These actors are exceptional. Scrooge's maid, shown announcing Marley's death, selling Scrooge's belongings and recieving a gift from Scrooge, shows a range that not many actors are asked to today. When Scrooge realizes that "The spirits have done it all in one night" and he starts dancing, you can not help but to get happy as well. This movie reminds us that Christmas is not about presents and shopping.

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Summary: The best of the best!
Review: Of the multitude of versions of Dickens' classic Christmas story, which seems be re-filmed periodically every few years and has been since before pictures talked, this is emphatically, indisputably the best. All the elements are perfect, and this halo of perfects has for its center Alastair Sim's magisterial performance. No one else who's played the role -- and it's been played by a roll-call of great actors -- has ever captured the humanity of the character: in so many performances one cannot believe the transformation at the end, nor see how the dessicated and miserly misanthrope could have developed from the boy seen with the aid of the Ghost of Christmas Past. But Sim not only achieves it, he gives a performance a rich as any on film. And all the other performances... small roles and large -- are perfection. No other Dickens adaptation captures the feel, the essence, of his writing better: the scene in the secondhand shop, where the laundress, maid and undertaker meet to pawn Scrooge's belongings, is as if the words and original engravings leapt off the page and became fleshed out in real life. (And yes, that's Ernest Thesinger as the undertaker...whoever could do it better?) The photography is beautiful, the use of music and sound masterly. After the bittersweet folk song "Barbara Allen" is associated with Scrooge's beloved sister, and his fiance, both lost to him, it plays as he encounters his nephew's wife -- scorned by him till them -- and makes the scene almost painfully emotional while never being cloying. The Amazon reviewer called this "the desert island version" of Dickens' marvellous story: and I heartily agree!

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Summary: The Brit's have it !
Review: Christmas would not be the same without this great version of the Dickens Classic. Alistar Simm, George Cole - Brilliant. " a Merry Xmas to one and all "

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Summary: Best Christmas Carol By Far
Review: A true classic, Sim's brilliant performance raises it to a level that no other Christmas Carol even approaches. His post-transformation performance is some of the best minutes of acting ever put on film. The supporting cast is excellent from Bob Marley right down to the boy who buys the Christmas bird and the maid at Scrooge's neice's house. A must see.

Rating:
Summary: A masterpiece of Christmas joy!
Review: This adapted version of A Christmas Carol is a masterpiece! Every character is brilliantly cast. Other versions pale in comparison. If you want to truely feel the message of A Christmas Carol, this version is really the only one you'll want to view. We have made a true family tradition by gathering one and all each year to enjoy it's heart warming gift. I strongely urge you and yours to do the same. To me the message is summed up in two simple words. BE KIND

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Summary: THE VERY BEST 'SCROOGE' MOVIE!!
Review: I've seen several versions (even the Muppets, which was cute), since it's one of my favorite stories, and also read the Dickens' classic, but no one could bring the character to life like Alistair Sim! This is truly a masterpiece of storytelling on film, and I agree with Leonard Maltin on this one: it's too good a movie to be watched only at Christmas-time. I've watched it in the spring!

Rating:
Summary: The best of the bunch
Review: It was not the first or last production of Dickens' classic tale, but it's the best. Perhaps not as polished as modern jaded viewers would like, but it captures the feel of the story better than any other version. On DVD it's clean, too, so like other perennial Christmas shows now available on DVD (It's a Wonderful Life, The Grinch) get it to watch without interruptions, hisses and scratches. Besides, Sims' portrayal of the 'reclaimed' Scrooge is worth the price. His giddiness is catching.

Rating:
Summary: Faithful and well-crafted; Dickens would've loved this film!
Review: It is a truly amazing testament to both the acting and the production value of this work that, even without the benefits of modern technology and effects, this version of Dickens' classic Christmas tale is as flawless and wonderful as they come. Totally authentic, spellbinding, accessible, and magical, just like it was meant to be. Scrooge's Sim is, without question, the best.

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Summary: The Classic 1951 Alistair Sim version of the Dickens Classic
Review: With the possible exception of Charles Ogles' silent original, this is by far the best of the Christmas Carol/Scrooge films. Sir Symore Hicks version was the closest to the book, but lacked the triumphant redemption that Sim conveys. George C. Scott is brilliant, but in the end, not as empathetic. This DVD presents both a B&W and a colorized version, an introduction by Patrick (John Steed) McNee, and, oddly but most welcomely, a copy of Max Flieshers cartoon introduction of the Johnny Marks song "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer". This DVD should be part of the foundation of your Christmas film collection.

Rating:
Summary: This is the best film version of the Dickens classic.
Review: As a big fan of this Charles Dickens classic, I have seen virtually every film version. Without question, this is the best of the lot. Alastair Sim as Scrooge gives one of the most memorable acting performances on film. Every character, no matter how small, is played by an English character actor. It's hard to imagine how the acting could be improved upon--it's that good. And although it was filmed in 1951, the use of black and white and the high quality of the photography and scenery make it easy to believe you are seeing Victorian London(avoid the colorized version). This film is underrated despite its well-deserved fame.