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Summary: A Chistmas Carol By Charles Dic'ken
Review: By far the most outstanding cinematic presentation,There is no other Chistmas Caarol Quite like This 1951 Britsh Version .
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Summary: The Best Christmas Carol Movie!
Review: This is the best version of A Christmas Carol, Alastair Sim is the best Scrooge ever! Something that is a little confusing when you are trying to find this movie on video is that it seems to have many different titles, I have seen this Alastair Sim version listed with three different titles as Scrooge, A Christmas Carol, and also Scrooge: A Christmas Carol. I very highly recommend this wonderful black & white classic! Postscript: I seem to have accidently reviewed the colorized version instead of the black & white version, I should have read all the technical info about this video before reviewing and then I would have seen it said color and not black & white, for now on I'm going to be more careful. I recommend the black & white version! The colorized version is tacky!
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Summary: One of the great horror movies
Review: When one talks about the great classic horror films, the names
"Frankenstein" and "Dracula" often pop up, or even "Robert Mitchum." But the classic 1951 A CHRTISTMAS CAROL, starring the unforgettable Alastair Sim, can be seen as one of the great horror films of the silver screen. It has all the elements of a good scare story: it's actually about three spirits who frighten Ebenezer Scrooge out of his suicidal lifestyle, to bring him back into the world of the living. This particular film takes the story seriously, so that we don't see any songs or comedy sidekicks or anything of that sort. The film itself is framed in the style of the classic horror movies and German expressionist films, with masterful use of shadows and music to build up suspense.For example, look at the scene where Scrooge comes home and sees Jacob Marley's image on his door knocker. He enters his home, when he thinks that someone is following him...and in the space of a few seconds, he becomes concerned, the nervous, then frightened, as he rushes up the stairs. The music at this moment is an ominious bass, which combines with the eerie shadows of the stairwell and banister to give this scene a "feel" that moves the audience and makes them uneasy...in precisely the same style as the great horror films. Likewise with the next scene, where Scrooge hears someone dragging chains up the stairs, and he becomes more apprehensive - until suddenly the door to his room is hurled open, and he cries out in fear. Even though we, the viewers, are so used to horror film stereotypes that we know the door is going to open, we are *still* caught off-guard by Scrooge's sudden panic. There are tortured spirits, cinematic horror tricks of darkness and lighting (most notably when the Ghost of Christmas Future takes Scrooge to the site of his own grave), and a lingering feeling of sadness...most of all because we are seeing the life of a lonely man who is too afraid of the world to come out and let himself feel for others, even to the point of losing the woman he loves. But in the end, the spirits work their miracle, and Scrooge is returned to the land of the living. We feel this movie in our hearts...but also in our nerves, as this CHRISTMAS CAROL uses the techniques of the horror film to affect us. This is one reason why the 1951 version of A CHRISTMAS CAROL is still the greatest CHRISTMAS CAROL of all: it is a true horror movie.
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Summary: The only version of "A Christmas Carol" you will ever need..
Review: This is a masterpiece!The best movie version of this story, bar none. Alistair Sim is amazing.Buy this now. Don't bother reading any more reviews. Just press the "Buy It Now" button and be done with it!You will NOT be dissapointed. I promise!
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Summary: "Business?!! MANKIND was my business!"
Review: Alas, for Jacob Marley's ghost when he responds with this line after Scrooge has told him: "But you were always a good man of business." This English version of *A Christmas Carol*, which has the film title of "Scrooge," has always been the definitve version of the story for me. The sets, the costumes, the exterior shots, and the actors and actresses all have what seems to me to be a distinctive "English" look to them. Even Tiny Tim's teeth and Alastair Sim's teeth have an English trademark look to them. This DVD version of this classic film presents an excellent opportunity for the film fan to judge the effect of colorizing on a film. The DVD presents the original black and white version on one side of the disk, and the colorized version on the other side. I first saw the film in black and white...and have always thought of it in that fashion. In that aspect, the black and white presentation offers some interesting aesthetic and dramatic effects which can be compared with the effects which the colorized version produces. To my sense perceptions, the black and white version increases the "coldness" of the feel of the film...of the snow...and the huddling of people to keep warm...and it seems to increase the perception of Scrooge as a cold person. Even in scenes where there should be a sense of warmth, such as when Scrooge is in his room huddled in his chair ready to eat some "hot" soup, the effect is still one of coldness. The black and white aspect of sets and people seems to heighten the dramatic impact, making for a solemn, lonely, spiritless feel to the characters and events...which is certainly in keeping with the intent (until the transformation). Alastair Sim's acting is so profoundly good that he does transform the tone of the black and white into a warmth of reclaimed humanity. When he goes in humility and some fear to his nephew's house, not knowing how he will be received, and asks forgiveness for his foolishness, the black and white aspect cannot dull the warmth and humanity. But, that having been said, I must also say that the moment I turned the disk over and began the film in the colorized version, I knew I was experiencing...and was going to experience...a different set of sensory impules...and different resulting feelings and aesthetic impressions. For the opening sequence is of a book being opened...in the colorized version, the book's cover is colored...but it is tastefully done...and the pages are a warm ivory color. The effect to me was enormously pleasing...then when the actual characters appear... the colorizing adds to the facial expressions...one now notices arched eyebrows, grimaces, smiles...there is a real humanity that is brought out by the color. People's personalities are not "washed out" by the black and white...the distinctiveness of individual personality seems more alive with the color. This colorized version is done well...the color is tastefully done...the inside of Scrooge's house becomes more distinctive, and one notices objects that tend to go unnoticed in the black and white version. The brown colored bannisters of the stairway are one example...as well as the statue at the bottom of the stairs. The wooden surfaces glow with a warm brown... and Scrooge's (Alastair Sim's) eyes are an interesting, mesmerizing ice-blue color. Formerly I would have said, as something of a film purist, that the black and white version of the film would be the one which I would watch...and show to others. But now, I have become a real fan of the colorized version...maybe it is the novelty because I have not seen the colorized version as many times as I have seen the black and white version...but I firmly suspect that it is something deeper and more aesthetically and psychologically compelling in relation to the use of color... at least with this film (I once saw a horrible, inept, attempt at colorizing "Miracle on 34th street"...but I do not fault this present attempt). I found nothing wrong with the sound on this disk... The most haunting moments in this film, for me, are at the beginning when Tiny Tim is looking in the shop window...and the mechanical clown is laughing...Tim laughs too, for he thinks it is in amusement...but then Tim sees someone buy the boat which he obviously wanted...the look of loss and hurt on the young actor's face is unforgettable...and yet the heartless mechanical clown continues to rock back and forth with laughter...now, as if mocking Tim...Tim looks at the clown... and still in his good-hearted spirit manages a smile and a laugh, too. My god...what an incredible piece of filmed humanity...and feeling. There are other incredibly moving moments in this filmed version. For me, it will always be the best.
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Summary: THE BEST FILM I HAVE EVER SEEN
Review: For the few remaining "touchables"---Sim's acting is riveting-- Not a performance -- a life-time achievement.
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Summary: Make it part of your tradition
Review: Ever since I was little, my family has watched this version of this classic on Christmas Eve. This DVD, with both versions is an absolute must have for fans of this movie, the picture is beautiful, the sound is wonderful. Now I won't have to miss my favorite ever again, and no commercials.
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Summary: A Labor of Love
Review: I refer to the entire cast and crew as having made this magnificentversion as indeed a 'Labor of Love'. They all obviously cared deeplyabout bringing the best of Dickens to the big-screen and succeeded. Theoutdoor London 'sets' where several outdoor scenes of the offices ofMarley and Scrooge are shot are now long gone, real buildings from theVictorian era that survived the 'Blitz' of WW II. And the indoor setswere so well done, the flavor of the period well done. Alastair Sim as Scrooge is marvelous, a wonderful turn by this fineactor. But he is never better then when he awakens on Christmas Morning.Dancing, singing, doing gymnastics! The pure joy on his face when heinquires of Mrs. Dilber the housekeeper, played by Kathleen Harrison,'what day is today'? And she responds 'Christmas Day' and his elationthat he hasn't missed Christmas. Or the following scenes with thehousekeeper. She thinks him quite mad! And why not? Hadn't he already,in his sleeping gown, done a hand-stand on a chair, and she, screaming,running out of his chambers with her apron over her face. When hecatches her up on the stairs and presses a golden coin in her hand shepulls away at first, wondering what he wants from her. His face showsher that all is well, a wonderful bit of acting in these two scenes bySim and Harrison. Wonderful acting throughout, good sets, well shot and lit, a memorable'Scrooge'/'A Christmas Carol'. I have the VHS version but now watch theLD. Avoid the colorized version, my opinion. The colors just never lookright. Besides, the sets and lighting were done for B & W. Also, the LDhas far superior contrast then VHS could ever offer. Those who don'thave LD, I'm certain the DVD will be a joy. Regardless, buy a copy, evenif only VHS. Remember that the Christmas season really only begins onChristmas Eve and runs to January 6. Plenty of time to buy and watchthis during the holidays. But see Leonard Maltin. Watch it anytime! One last thing, note the production error in the Christmas Morning scenewhen Sim as Scrooge is dancing merrily about his bedchamber. Fewreviewers ever mention this. Have you noticed it?!
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Summary: Way over-rated
Review: I'll admit it. I didn't see the Sims version until after I'd seen the Scott version and, by comparison, Sims is an affected, scenery chewer. The performance is so over the top and hammy that it makes me squirm.
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Summary: Great Holiday Tradition comes to DVD !!!
Review: This 1951 (Alastair Sim) version to many is the best version of the Charles Dickens short story classic, "A Christmas Carol". I do enjoy Alastair Sim as Scrooge. With a colorized version included it helps to introduce new generations (they seem to be tramatized by black and white) to this English classic. An annual viewing is traditional. A nice addition to the Christmas library. I only hope that the 1938 and 1970 will follow into the DVD arena (soon). Not this year.
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