Customer Reviews

A Christmas Carol - Emerald Edition

5 star:		(162)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(12)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

There are two superb film adaptations of this Dickens classic; this one and the 1984 TV film starring George C. Scott. Both do justice to the original novella far beyond any other dramatizations. However, it is this 1951 British version that got there first and no doubt inspired the 1984 remake. Both Alastair Sim and Scott breath life into the character of Scrooge and make him a three-dimensional personality whose life and fate take on far greater meaning than they do in the hands of other actors who have taken on this role. Sim, of course, became the definitive Scrooge by first taking the character seriously and by portraying Scrooge as more than a simplistic cardboard cutout. For those of us who were raised on this version of the film, Sim will always "be" Scrooge. That does not detract from Scott's performance at all and he was quoted as saying he knew from the start that he could never hope to match Sim's effort. Nonetheless, he succeeded in carving out his own highly credible, compelling portrait of Scrooge which stands beside that of Sim's, like two magnificent paintings sharing the same wall. Both films should be enjoyed and appreciated as the fine, individual achievements that they are and both will stand as "definitive" for a very, very long time. We are the richer for having such a marvelous choice.

I just got my copy today, and put it in after watching the Blu Ray of Forrest Gump. Trust me. You've never seen A Christmas Carol until you see this new Blu Ray. I was shocked and beside myself at how well this new restoration turned out. The detail is unreal, especially for a film that has always looked so bad. It's not flawless mind you, with the ocassional nick and scratch, but overall this is a beautiful transfer and worth every penny for an upgrade. The sound is quite nice as well. I prefer the original mono to the 5.1 track. Very clear and hiss free.

I consider myself a student of "A Christmas Carol" of sorts, having sought down and seen or heard every version I know of. This tale is the most retold, in part or in whole, of any piece of literature outside of the Bible and Shakespeare. It has appeared in at least 25 film/animated versions, has been adapted to countless TV shows, and has been referenced even more than that.

Alastair Sim's Scrooge is among the very best portrayals, and the film on the whole is the best film version I've seen. I am reviewing the other versions individually, so I won't rehash them here, but this one is the best and my favorite film version.

Give me this one along with Patrick Stewart's solo performance and I'd be a very happy camper.

I've even grown fond of the errors in the film, like the stage hand that appears in the mirror reflection on Christmas morning.

A tremendous cast and a wonderful atmospheric quality make this film so memorable and re-watchable.

Let me start by offering my sincerest apologies for having to be the first reviewer to rate the newly restored Blu-ray release of the classic 1951 "A Christmas Carol" less than the 5 stars everyone else has given it. This English movie version of the beloved Dickens tale has rightfully earned the respect and admiration that it gets. There has never been a better acted or more moving film adaptation than this one...hands down!

Like so many other people who own some prior version of this classic, I was thrilled to learn that it was re-mastered on Blu-ray. I relied on these 6 favorable Amazon reviews to gain the confidence I needed to take a chance on purchasing this film, since it was hailed as looking and sounding better than it ever has. Despite some reviewers claiming that it was not without flaws, I took that chance. Well folks, when it comes to re-mastering older films it's a gamble. In my opinion, I felt I lost this bet. Yes, the film does seem brighter and in better focus. However I was not expecting to see the picture bending in certain frames or going in and out of focus between scene changes. I also did not expect to hear the obvious audio splices and drop-out like it did a few times. I'm not sure (or confident) that the re-mastering was made from the best possible sources; but if it was, then the sources have deteriorated horribly over time.

I wasn't expecting miracles (perhaps this is the best that this movie can be made to look), but can only give this Blu-ray release a lukewarm recommendation. I still adore this movie and always will, flaws and all. Happy Holidays to you all!

UPDATE: In response to a commentator of my review, I watched my older DVD version (also produced by VCI Home Video) and found that many of the defects that I mentioned were in the Blu-ray were non-existent in my older DVD. Notably, I'm referring to the bending and splices in the video and the audio drop-outs. Amazing! The Blu-ray improved the sharpness of the video but introduced defects at the same time. Clearly, the best sources were NOT used in the remastering.

In case you're one of the 31 people in the world who haven't seen the Alistair Sim edition of this story: This is definitely the best-acted version of "A Christmas Carol", aka "Scrooge".

For the rest of the planet, you already know this is a good movie, and the question is whether *this* edition of the movie is worth getting. This "50th Anniversary Edition" claims to be made from the original film, and certainly it seems to be of higher quality than the other versions I've seen on tape or DVD.

The "extras" on this disc are not much. But then, I didn't want the extras, I just wanted a clearer version of this classic movie. This edition delivers that.

There is one thing that I don't know if was due to my DVD player, or the DVD itself. It seems that if you start up the DVD, it will keep playing the movie (over and over again) until you stop it. For this movie, that behavior could be considered a good thing...

Starting from the cheap computer effects introduction from third-rate VCI Entertainment and an ancient Patrick McNee video introduction, my heart sank -- I knew immediately that I had been had. The DVD said "restored and remastered from the original 35mm negative", but this could not be further from the truth. The picture and audio is atrocious, belying the no-budget nature of this release. Be under no illusions -- there was no restoration or remastering involved here. It is amazing that such a fraud would be perpetrated in this age of routine restorations of even the most mundane films. Perhaps Criterion can get a hold of this.

This is without a doubt, the best version of the countless remakes of "A Christmas Carol." Alister Sims is spectacular as the old curmudgeon, and delivers a timeless performance. Filmed in wonderful black and white, this movie still outshines all. So warm the eggnog and enjoy!

Of the multitude of versions of Dickens' classic Christmas story, which seems be re-filmed periodically every few years and has been since before pictures talked, this is emphatically, and, in my book, indisputably the best. All the elements are perfect, and this halo of perfections has for its center Alastair Sim's magisterial performance. No one else who's played the role -- and it's been played by a roll-call of great actors -- has ever captured the humanity of the character quite so poignantly: in so many performances one cannot entirely believe the transformation at the end, nor see how the dessicated and miserly misanthrope could have developed from the boy seen with the aid of the Ghost of Christmas Past. But Sim not only achieves it, he gives a performance arguably richer than any other on film. And all the other performances... small roles and large -- are perfection. No other Dickens adaptation captures the feel, the essence, of his world better: the scene in the secondhand shop, where the laundress, maid and undertaker meet to pawn Scrooge's belongings, is as if the words and original engravings leapt off the page and became fleshed out before your eyes. (And yes, that's Ernest Thesinger as the undertaker...whoever could do it better?) The photography is beautiful, the use of music and sound masterly. After the bittersweet folk song "Barbara Allen" is associated with Scrooge's beloved sister, and his fiance, both lost to him, it plays as he encounters his nephew's wife -- scorned by him till his "redemption" -- and makes the scene poignantly emotional while never being cloying. All the elements are perfectly realized and calibrated: for example, the Ghost of Christmas Yet-to-Come is terrifying; and the scenes on Christmas morning, especially Scrooge's encounter with his housekeeper, are delightful. ("I'm not mad-- even if I look it!"; "Label-label-label, label!") The Amazon reviewer called this "the desert island version" of Dickens' marvellous story: and I heartily agree!

Alastair Sim is the perfect miserly "Hum Bug". He IS "Scrooge" in this wonderful version of the classic Christmas based on a story by Charles Dickens. He is a bitter old man who "Will keep Christmas in my own way" Which is not al all. People cringe when they see him coming. Dogs cower. But that is all about to change.
You know the story.....Scrooge visited by the ghost of his deceased partner, Jacob Marley, dragging the chains he has forged for himself in life, now learns that it is not too late for him. He can redeem himself!

He is visited by three more spirits that Christmas eve. His past, his present and his future. Each take him on a fantastick journey,through time and space, showing him how
his ways are wrong, and what will happen if he doesn't change.
Sim does an excellent portrayal of Ebeneezer Scrooge. His transformation from a bitter man to a really caring human being is wonderful to watch. In the end we know that he changes not just so he can have a better after life,but because he really cares about life and humanity. It's a joy to watch ANYTIME of the year. It also stars, Kathleen Harrison, Jack Warner, Mervyn
Jones, the always wonderful Herminoe Baddeley, be sure to look for a young Patrick MacNee, who plays a young Jacob Marley on the visit to the past. MacNee also introduces and closes the film.

It is also a joy to have this original black and white version on this fully restored and remastered(from the original 35mm negative discovered in England) DVD. The film is 52 years old and barely shows its age. transfer. The images are clear, and the sound is very good, always clear and distinguishable. The Tech infor here says it is in Dolby Digital 2.0. My
DVD did decode it in Dolby Digital, but in 1.0. But I have no complaints, it sounded fine. The DVD has some prodution note, bios of many of the actors, AND if you think you're done having fun when the film is over...you're not...also included is Max Fleischer's wonderful Technicolor Cartoon "Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer", which runs about 8 minutes.

It's well worth owning this one.
VHS - Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol

enjoy and keep Christmas all through the year!...Laurie

also recommended:
A Christmas Carol
The Bells of St. Mary's
Little House on the Prairie (A Christmas They Never Forgot/The Craftsman)

This is my favorite adaptation of "A Christmas Carol". Alastir Sim is a wonderful character actor and no one else comes close to being as tight, greedy and on Christmas morn, "giddy as a school boy". Sim was a stage actor and his portrayal of Scrooge displays his talents from the medium of theatre.

Mrs. Dilbar also stole the show, as his housemaid who stole the bedcurtains in the 'future' and the chemistry between she and Scrooge was a delight.

This version of Dicken's classic is truly worthy of being added to a home DVD collection, and will be a loved tradition in your family, year after year. (I have already watched it once since Halloween in anticipation for the holiday season). A 5 star movie.