Crotchety victorian businessman, Ebenezer Scrooge was played by Alastar Sim. Scrooge has no use for the festivity even at Christmas. After resentfully allowing timid clerk, Bob Cratchit to have the holiday to spend with his loving wife and family, Scrooge is swept into a nightmare. The ghost of his late partner, Jacob Marley appears, warning that Ebenezer will be visited by three more spirits who will show the coldhearted man the error of his behavior.
A Christmas Carol was released on December 2, 1951. The story is by Charles Dickens. The film was released in Great Britain under its original title, Scrooge. United Artists handled the U.S. release under the title A Christmas Carol. The film was originally slated to be shown at New York City's Radio City Music Hall as part of their Christmas attraction, but the theatre management decided that the film was too grim and did not possess enough family entertainment value to warrant an engagement at the Music Hall. The film was one of the most popular in Britain, but was a box office disappointment in the U.S. However, the film became a holiday favorite on American television where it was broadcast regularly during the 1950s and 1960s. In the opinion of critic, A.O. Scott, Scrooge is the best film adaptation of A Christmas Carol ever made.
Bah Humbug
Pat Locke, Maestro Muse
