Alastair Sim Is The Definitive Ebenezer Scrooge

When I was a child growing up in the suburbs of New York City, there was a program on TV named "Million Dollar Movie". In the pre-cable days of the 1950's and 60's, each movie ran for one week and was shown three times daily. The opening music for this program was the theme from "Gone With The Wind". It was in this setting that I first viewed the beloved 1951 British film, "Scrooge"/"A Christmas Carol" which starred Alastair Sim, Mervyn Johns, Kathleen Harrison, Michael Hordern, Jack Warner, a virtually unknown actor named Patrick MacNee (Steed, in "The Avengers")and the inimitable Hermione Baddeley (of "Maude" fame). I believe that this type of programming led to my personal penchant for watching the movies I love over and over again! The original film is in glorious black and white and a colorized version is available, albeit not as effective as the original form. The films mood is gray, dark and foreboding. Black and white captures the essence and the story perfectly.

I have seen every version of "A Christmas Carol" ever put on film and I must say that this one is, by far, the story I read so long ago in its most accurate form with the least 'Hollywoodesque' treatment. Alastair Sim is a cruel, bitter, heartless, friendless, penny pinching miser of a man whose face oozes loathing and disdain for the world in which he lives. When he passes, children cringe, adults shrug in disbelief and dogs run in the opposite direction. Alastair Sims characterization is superb and his timing impeccable. He owns the role of Ebenezer Scrooge, in my opinion.

The story of Scrooge is timeless and familiar. Can this wretched man who has sown nothing but the seeds of misery in his lifetime be redeemed by an old friend and partner who comes to warn him of his fate and three ghosts who have come to take him on a journey through time? Will he see the plight of others and care, can he experience the joy in living and come to grips with the error of his ways through their efforts? Even though we all know the answer to these questions, the pleasure lies in viewing a remarkable film with an equally noteworthy cast.

Michael Hordern as the long deceased Jacob Marley brings suffering, regret and self-loathing to its finest hour as he realizes his own endless journey through the fires of hell shackled by the weight of misdeeds. As he warns Scrooge of his own fate, his soulful lament, from low pitched moan to bone crushing shriek, brings Scrooge to his knees begging for mercy. Marley's walk through Scrooges door and their interaction is but one of the splendid moments of this film.

Mervyn Johns as Bob Cratchit creates the image of an oppressed worker who accepts his lot in life with grace along with a gentle and forgiving nature. Soft spoken and God fearing, he faces a life of drudgery with the hopeless resignation of a subservient man with too much responsibility and too little an opportunity to change his destiny.

Hermione Baddeley as Mrs. Cratchit is as feisty a wife as one can hope for. She speaks her mind and cares for her family with not much cash jingling in her purse to do so amply. Ms. Baddeley, a well known actress in England, is a wonderful addition to the cast of this great film.

Patrick MacNee plays a very small part in the movie as the young Jacob Marley. He is almost unrecognizable as the MacNee who played the masterful Steed in "The Avengers" TV series. As Marley he is lean and tall with a rather large, long nose. As Steed he is a bit heavier and his nose much more sculpted.

Kathleen Harrison as the housekeeper, Mrs. Dilber, is a sight to behold. With her cockney accent and the harried look of a typical charwoman, she breathes her own brand of life into scenes in which she steals the show. From the announcement to Cratchit that Marley is dying and that Scrooge should "nip along, smartly" to her absconding with Scrooges bed curtains and burial shirt and her disbelief in Scrooges change of demeanor after the ghosts depart, which so frightens her that she covers her head and tries to run from the house, Ms. Harrison is a joy to watch. So too Ernst Thesiger as the undertaker and Miles Malleson as Old Joe, the vagabond buyer and seller of suspicious goods. The ghosts of Christmas past, present and future lend their talent and spirit to the film by appearing exactly as you thought they might. The street urchins, business men and shop keepers are all very much in keeping with how one pictures the England of that era.

Last, but by no means least is the character of Tiny Tim. A young lad by the name of Glyn Dearman steals your heart away as the vulnerable and crippled boy whose tender thoughts and words of faith and hope have lived on through the ages. Imprinted on my own Christmas cards every year are the words of Dickens uttered by Tiny Tim...God bless us, every one!