Mick Jordan takes a look at a Charles Dickens’ classic that has been made into a movie many times … even by The Muppets!

 

It’s hard to imagine there ever having been a Christmas without Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. The classic tale is as much a part of the festive season as carol singers, Christmas trees and mince pies – all of which feature in the story as well. Since its publication in 1843 every entertainment medium has had a version of the story from the stage readings performed by Dickens himself through to the almost annual TV adaptations of today.

And cinema of course has played its part. The earliest film version of the story was made in England in 1901. Originally called Marley’s Ghost the film was just ten minutes long and in order to condense the story there are no ghosts other than that of Jacob Marley who quickly shows Scrooge brief images from Christmas past, present and future before hurrying on to show him his own grave.

Most of the silent versions of the film followed a similar path truncating the story and characters down to the bare minimum although there was an exception in 1913’s Scrooge. This version brought in many of the other characters such as the Cratchits including Tiny Tim and allowed itself the luxurious running time of 40 minutes! It is also notable in that Scrooge is played by Seymour Hicks who by then was the leading interpreter of the part on the stage, having played it since 1901.

He would go on to do so in film again in Scrooge (1935) the first sound and first feature length version of the film. Hicks is very good in the part – his agony at the horrors of the future if he doesn’t change his ways is very real and very emotional. He certainly gives the part his all and it is fascinating to watch as it really is the creation of the part for cinema. Unfortunately as a visual adaptation the film itself is very unambitious. Almost all the action is confined to one or two locations – Scrooge’s office and his bedroom, rarely does the story venture out of doors.

Surprisingly, by this time Hollywood had yet to take on the story. All the previous versions that had been made in the U.S. were usually from small independent studios who rushed them out quickly and cheaply.

That all changed in 1938 when A Christmas Carol was released by MGM. This was the studio that had already produced the acclaimed Dickens’ adaptations David Copperfield and A Tale of Two Cities.
Indeed the posters for A Christmas Carol proudly proclaimed it was “Greater than David Copperfield”.
It most certainly was not.

Continue reading in this year’s Christmas Annual