Of course, sir! A fine night for spirits – of one form or another, sir!
Hello to all of the classic people that are returning. I am glad you are back. I want to welcome any new visitors. As a technical note, references and citations are listed for each show on the site at classicmovierev.com. Today on the Classic Movie Reviews Podcast, we are taking on A Christmas Carol (1938).
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This film has a decent 7.5 rating on iMDB.com.[1] This movie has 100 percent on the Tomatometer and 74 percent audience approval at rottentomatoes.com.[2] So, not too bad. I wasn’t able to locate a contemporary review on this one. I did see a few articles debating whether this version or the 1951 version was better.
This movie is based on an 1843 Charles Dickens novella[3]. Original intended as a vehicle for Lionel Barrymore, he has to withdraw after an injury. Three members of the Lockhart family, Gene, Kathleen, and June, were cast as members of the Cratchit family.
Actors – A Christmas Carol (1938)
Returning
Terry Kilburn played Tiny Tim, where he delivered the famous line. Kilburn was first covered in Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1939), where he delivered the other famous line, “Goodbye Mr. Chips.”
New
Reginald Owen played the role of Ebenezer Scrooge. He was born in 1887 in England. Owen was educated at the Sir Herbert Tree’s Academy of Dramatic Arts. He began acting at the age of 18 and moved to the US in the early 20s. By 1924, he was working on Broadway.
He left for Hollywood in 1928, and his first film was released the next year. His films include The Letter (1929), Sherlock Holmes (1932), A Study in Scarlet (1933), The House of Rothschild (1934), Of Human Bondage (1934), A Tale of Two Cities (1935), The Great Ziegfeld (1936), Mrs. Miniver (1942), Random Harvest (1942), National Velvet (1944), Mary Poppins (1964), and Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971). This actor, who died in 1972, was one of the few that played both Watson and Holmes.
Gene Lockhart played the hardworking family man Bob Cratchit. Gene was born in Canada in 1891. Gene was interested in performing from an early age. Gene’s father got a job singing with the 48th Highlanders’ Regimental Band, and the family moved to England. The young Gene studied at Brompton Oratory School.
When the family moved back to Canada, Gene began working as a singer. He got his first job in US theater at the age of 25. He also started writing songs and producing plays. Gene’s big movie break came in Sun Up (1939). Successful on the radio, on stage, and as a teacher, Gene also made quite a number of movies.
His impressive list of movies includes By Your Leave (1934), Algiers (1938), where he was nominated for a best-supporting actor, Blackmail (1939), Geronimo (1939), His Girl Friday (1940), One Foot in Heaven (1941), Northern Pursuit (1943), Madame Curie (1943), Hangmen Also Die! (1943), Going My Way (1944), Miracle on 34th Street (1947) where he was the judge, and Carousel (1956). He died in 1957.
Leo G. Carroll played Marley’s Ghost. Carroll was born in England in 1886. Carroll began acting as a youth. He was in the British Army during World War I and was badly wounded. He moved to America in 1923 and began working on Broadway.
Carroll began working in film in 1934. His films roles include The Barretts of Wimpole Street (1934), Captains Courageous (1937), Wuthering Heights (1939), Rebecca (1940), Suspicion (1941), Spellbound (1945), The Paradine Case (1947), Father of the Bride (1950), Strangers on a Train (1951), and North by Northwest (1959).
Naturally, I know him best as the boss, Alexander Waverly, from “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” 1964-1968. He was also in the spin-off “The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.” 1966. Carroll was clearly a favorite of director Alfred Hitchcock. Carroll died in 1972.
Story – A Christmas Carol (1938)
It was Christmas Eve in London a long time ago. Happy people are scurrying about in the snow and having fun. Encouraged by an old woman, a young gentleman slides down the ice where the children are playing. At the end of the slide, he meets Tiny Tim (Terry Kilburn). Tiny Tim has a crippled foot. The gentleman puts Tiny Tim on his back and slides down the ice. In 2020, this is where the film would have ended.
Tiny Tim’s brother accidentally knocks the man down. In conversation, they find out the man is a friend of their father, Bob Cratchit (Gene Lockhart). Peter Cratchit asks the man to take a shopping list to their father. They say that they don’t want to see the man their father works for, Ebenezer Scrooge (Reginald Owen). The gentleman reveals that he is Fred (Barry MacKay) Scrooge’s nephew. The boys flee.
In a very jolly mood, Fred arrives at the office of “Scrooge and Marley.” Bob Cratchit is hard at work in the frigid office. Fred greets him kindly. Fred delivers the note from Peter and Tiny Tim. Fred has a bottle of port to share with Bob. Scrooge arrives and ruins the scene with some bah, humbugs.
Scrooge is clearly anti-Christmas. Fred has the true spirit of Christmas. He tells his uncle that he is engaged and invites his uncle to Christmas dinner. Scrooge dismisses his nephew.
As Fred heads out, two men come in to see Scrooge. They are told that Marley died seven years before on Christmas Eve. The two men are collecting for the poor, and Scrooge says send them to the prisons or poorhouses. Scrooge refuses to give and says the surplus population should be decreased.
Bob has to work until 6:30 P.M., and Scrooge finally sends him away. Scrooge gets cranky because Bob wants Christmas Day off. Scrooge absconds with the port.
Bob gets into a snowball fight with some of the youths on the way home. Bob knocks off Scrooge’s hat. Scrooge fires him.
Bob walks home, and his Christmas joy soon returns. He spends most of his money on a feast for the family. At home, he is greeted by his wife, Mrs. Cratchit (Kathleen Lockhart). He has a septenary of children, including his real daughter June Lockhart. Mrs. Cratchit was his real wife and the mother of June.
Scrooge eats alone in a restaurant and is as cranky as ever. He makes his way home, and the brass knocker on the door turns into the face of Marley’s Ghost (Leo G. Carroll) for a second. Time to move.
Scrooge enters his bed chamber and locks the door behind him. He helps himself to a dose of patent medicine. Scrooge checks beneath the bed. This is an excellent check to make before retiring for the night. He hears noises and bells.
With a boom, Marley’s Ghost enters the room. He is weighted down with chains. Scrooge thinks he sees the ghost as a result of indigestion. It is 10 P.M., and Scrooge calls up the night watch. Of course, there is no ghost when they get there. He throws them out without the drink they requested.
Marley’s Ghost is back when the men leave. Marley’s message is that in death, you will wear the chains you forged in life by your actions. Marley says that mankind and charity are the business of man. The ghost says that Scrooge will be visited by three MORE ghosts. They will come at 1, 2, and 3. Marley says bearing the three OTHER spirits is his only chance of salvation.
Just before 1:00 A.M., Scrooge wakes, but he is alone. At the stroke of 1:00 A.M., the Spirit of Christmas Past (Ann Rutherford) arrives. She is beautiful and looks like an angel. Her brightness is the light of gratitude. Scrooge has never seen it.
Christmas Past takes Scrooge on a flight through time. Scrooge is brought back to his old school. What she shows is but shadows of the past. Young Scrooge has to stay at school for the holidays because his father thinks Christmas is for children. Young Scrooge is sad and lonely.
Young Scrooge’s sister Fran comes to fetch him for Christmas. She says their father has changed. Fran will eventually be the mother of Scrooge’s nephew Fred.
Next, the spirit and Scrooge travel to Fezziwig’s Warehouse, where the young Scrooge was apprenticed. The shadow of Fezziwig is happy and treats the youths well. Fezziwig invites them to Christmas dinner, gives them a bonus and two days off. The spirit tells Scrooge he should be kind to Bob. The spirit talks about Scrooge becoming greedy and him being enslaved by gold, but this part is not shown. Scrooge wakes in his bed.
At the stroke of 2:00 A.M., the Spirit of Christmas Present (Lionel Braham) arrives. He is a large fellow with a beard. He has a horn of plenty and a crown of holly. Since they are in the current time, they teleport.
Scrooge watches people going about happily. When there is trouble, the spirit dispenses Christmas cheer from his horn. Scrooge shows his first sign of hope.
Next, they go to a church where a Christmas service is being held. Fred is there with his fiancé Bess, and they are both happy. The spirit tricks Scrooge into defending the young couple. Bob and Tiny Tim are there too. Fred, Bess, Tiny Tim, and Bob meet outside the church. Fred and Bess spend some time sliding on ice.
The spirit says Tiny Tim will die before the next Christmas. The spirit uses the “decrease the surplus population” line on Scrooge. They then go and see the happiness at the Cratchit home, even though they are poor. Bob confides to his oldest daughter that he has lost his job. When the goose arrives, the family looks at it like a pack of wolves. After the bird, Mrs. Cratchit brings in some flaming pudding. Later, they have drinks and a story. Scrooge doesn’t want to leave the happy scene.
Next, the spirit goes to a party where Fred and Bess are having a great time. Fred defends Scrooge. Laughing that he loves Christmas, Scrooge falls asleep and dreams of the good times he has lived and seen.
At the stroke of 3 A.M., he awakes in a cold dark cemetery with the Spirit of Christmas Future (D’Arcy Corrigan) dressed as Death. This time Scrooge follows the spirit willingly. He is taken to a group of men discussing the death of a very unloved man. Scrooge sees two of his business associates. One of the men comments that old scratch, meaning the Devil, has his own at last.
Scrooge is then taken to see his own dead body lying in his bed. He hasn’t really accepted that it is him yet.
The scene changes to the Cratchit home. They are all sad because Tiny Tim has died, and it is taking a toll on Bob. Bob saw Fred on that day, and Fred was very kind and decent about the boy’s death.
Scrooge asks for the name of the dead man, and the spirit takes him to a cemetery. Scrooge inquires if he can change the future. Scrooge looks down and sees his grave marker. Scrooge vows to bring Christmas into his heart. He wakes in his bed.
Scrooge is happy to be alive. He hears the bells ring. Scrooge speaks out the window to a boy and finds out it is Christmas morning. He sends the boy to buy a raw prize goose. Scrooge goes through the street, shouting Merry Christmas. He meets the two men that were collecting for the poor and promises them a sizable donation.
Scrooge goes to Fred’s house. Fred doesn’t recognize his smiling uncle. The party guests are there. Scrooge introduces himself to Bess. Scrooge gives them the means to get married.
Fred, Bess, and Scrooge arrive at the Cratchit loaded with gifts. Mr. and Mrs. Cratchit think Scrooge has lost his mind. Fred has been made Scrooge’s partner. Scrooge starts bossing Bob around in his own house. He says he will raise Bob’s salary and a job for Peter when he is old.
Scrooge gives a Merry Christmas toast, and Tiny Tim says the famous line, God bless us, everyone.
Summary – A Christmas Carol (1938)
A couple of things. Scrooge took a raw goose to a woman’s house on Christmas morning and expected her to cook it. What kind of present is that? You can be killed for stuff like that.
Like most people, I have seen a version of The Christmas Carol probably 100 times. Of course, like most people, I have never read it. During this viewing, I had a strange idea that this was an anti-Semitic tale. I did some cursory searching on the internet, and many people make a case for this. Who would have thunk it?
World-Famous Short Summary – He was visited by four ghosts, Damn-it
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[1] https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0029992/
[2] https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1004125_christmas_carol
[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Christmas_Carol_(1938_film)
