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A Christmas Carol (1938)

7.4
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Ratings: 7.4/10 from 2,731 users  
Reviews: 59 user | 22 critic

On Christmas Eve, an old miser named Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by the spirit of his former partner, Jacob Marley. The deceased partner was in his lifetime as mean and miserly as Scrooge ... See full summary »

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Title: A Christmas Carol (1938)

A Christmas Carol (1938) on IMDb 7.4/10

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Cast

Complete credited cast:
...
...
Kathleen Lockhart ...
Terry Kilburn ...
Barry MacKay ...
Fred (as Barry Mackay)
Lynne Carver ...
Bess
...
Lionel Braham ...
...
D'Arcy Corrigan ...
...
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Donald Hainey
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Storyline

On Christmas Eve, an old miser named Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by the spirit of his former partner, Jacob Marley. The deceased partner was in his lifetime as mean and miserly as Scrooge is now and he warns him to change his ways or face the consequences in the afterlife. Scrooge dismisses the apparition but the first of the three ghosts, the Ghost of Christmas Past, visits as promised. Scrooge sees those events in his past life, both happy and sad, that forged his character. The second spirit, the Ghost of Christmas Present, shows him how many currently celebrate Christmas. The Ghost of Christmas yet to Come shows him how he will be remembered once he is gone. To his delight, the spirits complete their visits in one night giving him the opportunity to mend his ways. Written by garykmcd

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Taglines:

Greater than "David Copperfield" !

Genres:

Drama | Family | Fantasy

Certificate:

Approved | See all certifications »
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Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

16 December 1938 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol  »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

(Western Electric Sound System)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Carl Barks' Uncle Scrooge McDuck was probably based physically on this version of Ebenezer Scrooge, with the fringe of hair and the small tuft of hair on the top of his head. See more »

Goofs

When Bob enters the house will all the shopping for Christmas dinner, he pushes the door closed with his left foot, but the door bounces back open. In the next shot, the door is closed. See more »

Quotes

Ebenezer Scrooge: Please let me stay!
Spirit of Christmas Present: Nonsense! You don't want to stay!
Ebenezer Scrooge: Yes, I do!
Spirit of Christmas Present: No! You don't like Christmas!
Ebenezer Scrooge: Yes! Yes I do! I like Christmas! I LOVE Christmas!
See more »

Connections

Version of Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983) See more »

Soundtracks

"Galop"
(uncredited)
from "Jeux d'enfants"
by Georges Bizet
Played as background music while Scrooge is shaving
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

See more (Spoiler Alert!) »

User Reviews

My favorite
14 December 2003 | by (Azusa, CA) – See all my reviews

There's just something about this one that, while not close to being the most faithful it nonetheless remains my favorite of all the many film versions of Dicken's Christmas Carol.

I guess it's those old classic MGM production values. It's Gene Lockhart's sometimes cowed, sometimes impish, sometimes heroic & joy-filled Bob Cratchett.

And it's definitely the way Reginald Owen turns Scrooge around far earlier than the other productions. I get so tired of seeing that rotten old Scrooge stay rotten until ten minutes before the film ends, when, poof, he sees the light & is miraculously transformed form the meanest man in the world to the nicest. Here, Owen's Scrooge begins to turn fairly quick, and I enjoy that - it really makes him so much easier to root for.

For me, it's far and away the most entertaining version. Sit back for its brief 69 minutes, watch and enjoy.


7 of 9 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?

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did anyone prefer this version to the 1951 version? silverlining731
A little TOO cheery an adaptation? angmc43
Film Location tadams5
Some interesting notables about Scrooge's sister Fran EyeDunno
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The Cratchits jeffpadgett2880
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