Christmas Carol: 60th Anniversary Diamond Edition (Blu-ray + DVD)

5-star -- My favorite Scrooge.Alistair Sim plays the definitive Ebenezer Scrooge in the British 1951 version of "A Christmas Carol." All other Scrooges are just words on paper paling in comparison when placed next to Sim's portrayal of the villain who becomes reformed, no, transformed after visitation by three Christmas spirits.I last saw the movie in January of this year, but I have watched it just about every Christmas season since 1965.I have seen all the major characterizations including Seymour Hicks (1935), Reginald Owen (1938), George C. Scott (1984), and Patrick Stewart (1999), but none can hold a candle to Alistair Sim's performance.I gave this movie 5-stars because -- (a) it is my favorite version of "A Christmas Carol" since childhood, (b) this version has the most dramatic transformation of Scrooge from mean to joyful that leaves you wondering "I don't deserve to be so happy, but I can't help it!", and (c) the actual scenes in the original black and white version seem to most closely resemble the real London of the times.I believe that the granddaughter of Charles Dickens was actually present during filming and said that her grandfather would have liked Alistair Sim's portrayal, and that the Dickens family heartily approved of the film as most closely representing what Dickens envisioned for his story.After the movie's release, Alistair Sim was forever linked to the role of Scrooge for the rest of his career, and enjoyed when fans approached him calling him Scrooge. I think the reason that George C. Scott and Patrick Stewart don't quite make it as Ebenezer Scrooge, even though they modeled their portrayals after Sim's, is that they appear to be *acting* the role of Scrooge, whereas Alistair Sim actually *becomes* Scrooge.The movie score, consisting of classical and dramatic music interspersed with Christmas carols, has been heard played by philharmonic orchestras on local classical radio stations. One time hearing it on WFLN (Philadelphia), I could actually picture the whole movie scene by scene as the score was played in its entirety.This version was the favorite family holiday movie when I was growing up. This movie was originally filmed in black and white and should be watched as such, not the recent colorized version. In the late 1960's, we had an old hand-me-down black and white television. My father decided to get us a color TV for Christmas. It was delivered to the house in the middle of us watching the subject movie.The delivery man turned off the old set to replace it with the new color one. "What channel do you kids want?" "Channel 11" (to go back to our movie). Delivery man says, "Hmmm, something must be wrong, there's no color." "No, no, the movie is black and white." "Figures, you get a brand new color TV to watch a black and white program. Kids!"There are numerous great quotes throughout the movie. Here is a smattering of some of my favorites --Scrooge responding after Cratchet wishing him a Merry Christmas:"You, a clerk on five shillings a week with a wife and a family talking about a Merry Christmas... I'll retire to bedlam."Scrooge to solicitors, then later quoted by the Spirit of Christmas Present:"Are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses?"Spirit of Christmas Present:"You've never seen the likes of me before, have you?"Scrooge:"Never, and I wish the pleasure had been indefinitely postponed."Spirit of Christmas Present admonishing Scrooge's indifference to his reclamation:"Mortal! We Spirits of Christmas do not live only one day of our year. We live the whole three-hundred and sixty-five. So is it true of the Child born in Bethlehem. He does not live in men's hearts one day of the year, but in all days of the year. You have chosen not to seek Him in your heart. Therefore, you will come with me and seek Him in the hearts of men of good will."Fred to his guests (during the Spirit of Christmas Present tour with Scrooge):"...I personally haven't very much faith in these newlywed housekeepers. Have you, Tupper?"Mr. Tupper:"Alas, as a bachelor, I'm a wretched outcast, with no right to express an opinion on such a tender and delicate subject. Have I, dear, distant, unmovable, Miss Flora?"Miss Flora:"Oh, you really are quite incorrigible, Mr. Tupper, quite beyond hope." [fanning herself][But when the music starts, Miss Flora joins Mr. Tupper in a dance.]Scrooge celebrating upon his awakening Christmas morning:"I don't know anything. I never did know anything. But now I know that I didn't know, anything at all."Scrooge to Cratchet after he arrives 15 minutes late the day after Christmas:"You're a little behind your time."Tiny Tim: "God bless us, everyone!"---I love the whole movie, but I have to say that my favorite scene is the day after Christmas after Scrooge raises Bob Cratchet's salary and sends him off to buy another coal scuttle before he dots another "i", Bob Cratchet.Scrooge:[gruffly to himself] "I don't deserve to be so happy."[laughing teary-eyed] "But I can't help it."[throwing his feather pen over his shoulder which you can see dropping behind him] "I can't help it."---A couple of sidebars.Tiny Tim's medical condition -- A wikipedia article has speculated that Tiny Tim was afflicted with RTA-Type 1 (renal tubular acidosis) or rickets, both of which would have been treatable during his time. However, when I investigate each of these, it turns out that RTA was not medically described until 1935 and its treatment would not have been known in the mid-1800's, whereas symptoms of rickets had been reported during ancient Greek times and defined as a specific medical condition in the mid-1600's. Although its specific treatment was probably not known, it probably fell into the same category as scurvy, experience showing that eating certain foods (coicidently containing vitamin C for scurvy or vitamin D for rickets) reduced or treated the condition. So in my humble opinion, I think Tiny Tim had rickets, not RTA.Ever-optimistic Fred (Scrooge's nephew) -- At the beginning of the movie (Stave 1), Fred goes to Scrooge's office to invite him to Christmas dinner. Scrooge declines and persists in arguing with Fred. Finally, Fred says that he's never had any quarrel that he's been party to, that he came there in the spirit of bright good will and won't let Scrooge dampen it, so a Merry Christmas to him anyway. On his way out, Fred asks Bob Crachit about his family with the small talk focusing on Crachit's family chomping at the bit for the holiday and Tiny Tim's health. As Fred departs, Crachit eyes follow Fred's exit as he looks wistfully probably thinking about the cheer that Fred just conveyed compared to Scrooge's negativism (accentuated by the orchestral bassoon in the background).Patrick Macnee as the young Jacob Marley -- For most of my life, I thought that Patrick Macnee played Fred (the cheerful nephew), but Macnee actually plays the young Jacob Marley who Scrooge meets when he enters the employ of the Amalgamated Mercantile Society (owned by Mr. Jorkin played by Jack Warner) after quitting Fezziwig's. For the Special Edition DVD, which contains both the black and white and colorized versions, Patrick Macnee gives a nice introduction and closing comment for the movie. I rather think of Macnee as Jonathan Steed in the original Avengers.Mr. Jorkin, president of the Amalgamated Mercantile Society -- Jack Warner plays his character role to perfection. Mr. Jorkin is the jaded and sarcastic officer of the Amalgamated Mercantile Society who woo's Scrooge away from Fezziwig's and eventually buys out Fezziwig's company. At the board meeting, it is revealed that Mr. Jorkin embezzled from the company leaving its book value insolvent. Mr. Jorkin's remarks in downplaying his misdemeanors, in pointing out the imprudence to go public with the information, and his comments about Scrooge and Marley as the two make their proposition to the company are priceless.Mrs. Dilber, Scrooge's housekeeper -- Kathleen Harrison plays the downtrodden housekeeper of Scrooge's, Mrs. Dilber. The scene in which Mrs. Dilber is startled by Scrooge's transformation and rushes down the stairs to leave the house has perfect comedic timing.--Come back, Mrs. Dilber!Scrooge intercepts her at the steps. Mrs. Dilber is screaming not knowing what's going on.--Shhhh, please, please Mrs. Dilber. I'm not mad, even if I look it.As Scrooge puffs his hair like a monster.--Don't be violent, Mr. Scrooge. You'll force me to scream for the beadle!--The beadle, madam, ha! A fig for the beadle.Scrooge places a coin in Mrs. Dilber's hand.--A guinea? What for?--I'll give you one guess.--To keep me mount shut?--To keep your mouth shut? Oh no. No, no, no, Mrs. Dilber. It's for a Christmas present.--A Christmas present? For me?--Of course, for you! A Merry Merry Christmas.Scrooge kisses her on the forehead.At the end of our story, Scrooge "...became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man as the good old city ever knew, or any other good old city, town, or borough in the good old world. And it was always said that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge."

The main thing to say here is that the only reason to give this four stars instead of five is the cheap version of the film. For a start, it's not an official studio release, but a DVD-R copy produced by 'Starry Night Video', and it's as cheap a production as could be. This starts with the DVD cover packaging, which is little better than photocopier standard, with a picture of Alistair Sim's face cut out of a frame from the movie and floating, disembodied, on the cover, along with the title. The disc itself is also confusing, as it claims the film is 71 minutes long, when the actual running time is 86 minutes (which is listed on the back of the cover!). Once you insert the disc, all you get is a cheesy intro for Starry Night Video, and no additional features whatsoever. Add in that there are no 'chapters' in the film itself, all 86 minutes play continuously with no ability to move between scenes other than fast-forwarding or 'rewinding'. So, all things considered, it's hard to see how Starry Night can justify charging $10 for such a 'low rent' product.With that said, the film print itself is good quality. The transfer is clear and sharp, and not over or underexposed as is sometimes the case with films of this vintage.As for the content, Alistair Sim carries - and steals! - the show as Scrooge, ably supported by Mervyn Johns as Bob Cratchit and Michael Hordern as Jacob Marley. Unless you're a fan of British cinema the other names aren't as recognizable, such as George Cole as the young Scrooge, or Hermione Baddeley as Mrs. Cratchit, Francis de Wolff as the Spirit of Christmas Present, Jack Warner as Mr. Jorkin, and Miles Malleson as Old Joe, the pawnbroker. Patrick MacNee supposedly played the young Marley, but I can't say I spotted him, though I did spot Hattie Jacques (best known for the Carry On films) as Mrs. Fezziwig (in a small, non-speaking role). Some of the scenes when Scrooge is first confronted by the various spirits are genuinely quite scary, so may not be suitable for younger children, and some of the 'special effects' are 1951 vintage, so as basic as you might expect for the period.So, all told, an excellent film, but rather let down by the beyond-basic packaging and lack of ANY extras whatsoever.

I had scoffed over watching this version for many years. Then, on Christmas Day, my friend came over and wanted to watch the movie. He wanted this version, which I had never watched before.After watching it, I had to admit that it was a really good version.I will now make this version my new annual tradition!

Arguably, I think this is the best production of A Christmas Carol. I love Allister Sim as Scrooge. I alos like the fact it is in black and white which fits the mood of the story.

This is my favorite version of, "A Christmas Carol." It is old and like the story itself its a classic.

No other version can compete thanks to the role he was born to play, Alistair Sims.

I took a chance when I bought this bluray. Thankfully it's not region A locked and plays on my UK bluray player.This version of Dickens heavyweight denunciation of the inequality in Britain is by far the best. This is largely down to the incomparable Alastair Sim and the stellar supporting cast.The bluray looks marvellously real and has been significantly improved for bluray.This movie does not make easy viewing, nor should it. As a people we need to be thankful for hat we have and help those in need of assistance.Dickens message is as potent today as it was when he wrote A Christmas Carol

The decision to issue this fine British film on Blu-ray is to be welcomed. The trasfer is excellentconsidering the source material and its age. Sim gives the definitive portrayal of Dickens' immortal"Ebenezer Scrooge" (in what wonderful recess of his imagination did the author find those names?!) andit is surely one of the very best of his screen performances. The change in his tight-fisted character at the end is utterly captivating - and believable, with touches that perhaps only Sim could manage withany hope of credibility. The music by Richard Addinsell must be mentioned - superbly atmospheric - andhis use of the folk song "Barbara Allen" is absolutely right, especially in the scene when he goes todine with nephew Fred and his wife. If you can keep a dry eye, you're pretty hard hearted!Thoroughly recommended.

A Christmas Carol is not an easy story to film because we all have our own ideas about Scrooge and how he should appear, though, generally, most settle for a skinny fellow, mean features,, boney & grasping hands and so on. His nature, of course, is well set out in the story - an irrascible and thoroughly disagreeable old man. George C. Scot and Albert Finney have both played the part, and very well, too, as has Patrick Stewart. But Alastair Sim had 'the look' as well as the acting prowess. Made in 1951, the SFX leave something to be desired but, for the period, are quite good and certainly acceptable. On the whole, a brilliant film I would recommend to anyone.

this dvd the 50th anniversary of a classic christmas favourite what you have on this dvd isscrooge 1951 black & white versionspecial fratures1: .black and white chapters 1 - 122: short colour selections of the movie3: biographie . of Alastair sims and George colethis is all that is on this dvdthis dvd does not contain any full colorized version of the 1951 movie at all it only contains some short cuts of the movie in color and the dvd does not contain 1944 Max Fleisher cartoon of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeera great movie all the same 1951 black and white version of scrooge on 1 DVD

So pleased to get the original black and white film, the colouring of these old movies has spoiled them. Not just this movie but many have been ruined with these so called effects a mystery in black and white can seem so much more detailed. for me this movie brings back memories of when my children were young and after the Christnas presents were unwrapped and dinner over we all loooked forward to watchin until the year they cahnged it. Alastair Sim comes avross so wonderfully as the mean old Scrooge and now my grandchildren and i will be watching next year. Please movie makers if something is not broke do not try to fic it. Look forward to buying many more black and white movies in the future