The Right to Be Happy (1916)

Scrooge was a "grouch," the greatest the world of literature has ever known. His former partner, Jacob Marley, had been dead more than seven years when the eventful Christmas Eve closed in ... See full summary »

Director:

Rupert Julian

Writers:

Charles Dickens (story "A Christmas Carol"), Elliott J. Clawson (as E.J. Clawson)

Stars:

Rupert Julian, John Cook, Claire McDowell

Cast

Cast overview:
Rupert Julian	...	Ebenezer Scrooge
John Cook	...	Bob Cratchit
Claire McDowell	...	Mrs. Cratchit
Frankie Lee	...	Tiny Tim (as Francis Lee)
Harry Carter	...	Jacob Marley
Emory Johnson	...	Fred, Scrooge's Nephew
Roberta Wilson	...	Caroline
Francelia Billington	...	Scrooge's Sweetheart
Lydia Yeamans Titus	...	Mrs. Fezziwig (as Mrs. Titus)
Wadsworth Harris	...	The Ghost of the Past
Richard L'Estrange	...	The Ghost of the Present (as Dick Le Strange)
Tom Figee	...	The Ghost of the Future

Storyline

Scrooge was a "grouch," the greatest the world of literature has ever known. His former partner, Jacob Marley, had been dead more than seven years when the eventful Christmas Eve closed in on London. So imbued had Scrooge become with greed for money that his world, his sun, moon and stars were represented in bank notes and the securities he dealt in. He had not given Marley a thought since the day he buried him, and Scrooge celebrated that day by driving the best of business bargains. On this Christmas Eve Bob Cratchit, his faithful clerk, had been sent home with a gruff word instead of a "Merry Christmas" and had been told because he was to have the day off he must come to work extra early on the following morning. Scrooge's nephew had made his accustomed call to ask the old "grouch" to dine with him; and Scrooge had been his usual surly self in refusing. Kind-hearted collectors for charity had called, and Scrooge had turned them away with a snarl. There was no Christmas spirit, so ...

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Plot Keywords:

christmas | based on novel | 

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Genres:

Drama | Fantasy

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 December 1916 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Christmas Carol

Filming Locations:

Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Film Manufacturing Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

50 min

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This is apparently a lost film.

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Connections

Version of Leyenda de Navidad (1947)

User Reviews

Tragic Loss For Silent Cinema

On Christmas Eve, chronic curmudgeon Ebenezer Scrooge ( Rupert Julian ) endures a visit from the ghost of his late business partner, Jacob Marley ( Harry Carter ) . Jacob admonishes Ebenezer for his grouchiness, and then hands him over to the ghosts of Christmas Past ( Wadsworth Harris ), Present ( Richard L'Estrange ), and Future ( Tom Figee ). These spirits take him to scenes from his boyhood and early manhood, and then to his dishonored grave. With his entire life passing before him, Ebenezer finally understands that he has led a life of selfishness and greed, and so he begs for a chance to repent. Then, Ebenezer wakes up and realizes that his experiences with the ghosts had been only a bad dream. He is sobered and changed by the nightmare, however, and devotes the rest of his life to helping those less fortunate than he.

This 1916 silent version of the Charles Dicken's classic, A Christmas Carol, was produced by the Universal Film Manufacturing Company. Rupert Julian played Scrooge along with Claire McDowell, John Cook, Frankie Lee, and Emory Johnson all portraying the stories beloved characters. The loss of this film remains a tragedy for silent cinema.