A Christmas Carol (1938)
- Starring:
- Reginald Owen, Gene Lockhart, (more)
- Director(s):
- Edwin L. Marin
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- NR
- Format(s):
- DVD
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Synopsis of A Christmas Carol
For a generation of radio fans, Lionel Barrymore was the definitive Ebeneezer Scrooge. Alas, Barrymore was crippled by arthritis by the time MGM got around to filming Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol in 1938, so the Scrooge role went to contract player Reginald Owen - who, though hardly in the Barrymore league, does a splendid job. Hugo Butler's screenplay must make some adjustments from the source material. The Ghost of Christmas Past, for example, is played not by a robust middle-aged man but by a beautiful young woman (Ann Rutherford). Impeccably cast, the film includes such reliable character players as Leo G. Carroll (Marley's Ghost), Barry McKay (Scrooge's nephew Fred) and Gene and Kathleen Lockhart (Bob and Mrs. Cratchit). The Lockhart's teenaged daughter June makes her screen debut as one of the Cratchit children, while Terry Kilburn is a fine, non-sentimental Tiny Tim. Commenably short for a major production (69 minutes), MGM's Christmas Carol is one of the best adaptations of the oft-filmed Dickens Yuletide classic, and definitely on equal footing with the more famous 1951 Alastair Sim version. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 69 mins
Complete Cast of A Christmas Carol
- Reginald Owen - Ebenezer Scrooge
- Leo G. Carroll - Jacob Marley
- Terry Kilburn - Tiny Tim
- Lynne Carver - Bess
- Ann Rutherford - Ghost of Christmas Past
- Ronald Sinclair - Young Scrooge
- Forrester Harvey - Mr. Fezziwig
- William Stack
- Halliwell Hobbes - Vicar
- Charles Coleman - Charity Canvasser
- Gene Lockhart - Bob Cratchit
- Kathleen Lockhart - Mrs. Cratchit
- Barry Mackay - Fred
- Lionel Braham - Ghost of Christmas Present
- D'Arcy Corrigan - Ghost of Christmas Future
- Billy Bevan - Watch Officer
- Boyd Irwin - Men in Street
- June Lockhart - Cratchit's Daughter
- Lumsden Hare
- Harry Cording - Waiter
- Director(s):
- Edwin L. Marin
- Writer(s):
- Hugo Butler
- Producer(s):
- Joseph L. Mankiewicz
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- NR(Child Classic)
- Categories:
- Sci-Fi & Fantasy
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