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A Christmas Carol (Original B&W Version)
 
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A Christmas Carol (Original B&W Version) (1951)

Starring: Alastair Sim, Jack Warner Director: Brian Desmond Hurst Rating: NR (Not Rated) Format: DVD
4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (243 customer reviews)

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Product Details

  • Actors: Alastair Sim, Jack Warner, Kathleen Harrison, Mervyn Johns, Hermione Baddeley
  • Directors: Brian Desmond Hurst
  • Writers: Charles Dickens, Noel Langley
  • Producers: Brian Desmond Hurst
  • Format: Black & White, Dolby, DVD, Full Screen, Subtitled, NTSC
  • Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)
  • Subtitles: English, Spanish
  • Region: All Regions
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Rating: NR (Not Rated)
  • Studio: VCI Video
  • DVD Release Date: November 2, 1999
  • Run Time: 86 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (243 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B00000JT8Z
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #38,252 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

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  • For more information about "A Christmas Carol (Original B&W Version)" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
This is the desert-island choice of the many versions of A Christmas Carol, with a magnificent, full-bodied portrayal of Ebenezer Scrooge by Alastair Sim that leaves everyone else in the dust. Lean and direct, this film's version of the story wastes no time trying to impress viewers with the magical nature of the spirits' visitations. Director Brian Desmond Hurst keeps the focus on Scrooge's life story, beautifully simplifying and underscoring the theme of lost women with a haunting musical refrain from the folk song "Barbara Allen." Sim's commitment to the role is at times astonishing; his Scrooge's Christmas-morning ecstasy is a marvel of giddy technique. Watch for Patrick Macnee (Steed in The Avengers) as the young Jacob Marley--the actor made his screen debut in this 1951 production. --Tom Keogh

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Customer Reviews

243 Reviews
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 (203)
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 (19)
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 (7)
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 (8)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.7 out of 5 stars (243 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
138 of 147 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Still the Standard, November 25, 2002
By History Man (Potomac, Maryland USA) - See all my reviews
  
This review is from: A Christmas Carol (50th Anniversary Edition) (DVD)
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.
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68 of 73 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A haunting ghost story, December 6, 2001
This review is from: A Christmas Carol (2 versions: Colorized & Original Black and White) (DVD)
Somehow, across the years, the story of Ebenezer Scrooge and his three ghosts has been transformed from it's spooky roots to light-hearted family fare. Scrooge is not so much evil, as grumpy. The ghost's tend to amuse rather than frighten.

This black-and-white version of "A Christmas Carol" maintains the horror roots of the story. Jacob Marley is one of the most frightening ghosts to haunt the silver screen. He grows intolerant of the idea that Scrooge is not frightened, and howls his rage and frustration. The Ghost of Christmas Past is an impersonal specter, cold and distant. Present is jolly and yet quick to anger. Future is the grim shade that he is supposed to be.

The back story of Scrooge is told in greater detail here than in any other version. He resents Fred, not because of his Christmas cheer but because his birth caused the death of Scrooge's beloved sister. He not only remembers the good times at Fezzywig's, he remembers putting Fezzywig out of business later in life. Alastair Sim brings this character to fullness more than any other actor. The Christmas morning scene is a delight, and worth the wait.

As a bonus, the Fleischer "Rudolph the Rednose Reindeer" is included on this disk. This is clearly Santa Claus by the people who gave us the first animated Superman. The animation is fluid and dynamic. One of the best extras on any DVD.

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28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Still the best of the best, October 31, 2003
By Daniel S. Russell "syzygy121" (Blacksburg, VA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
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.

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 		 Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Scrooge
A dvd version of "Scrooge" starring Alistair Sim in the title role.

My favorite vesrion and one that I had seen every Christmas since 1958 through 2007. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Sprintzie

5.0 out of 5 stars THE Christmas Carol
I never let a Christmas season go by without spending time with this movie. The old-time "special effects" are strangely perfect, and it makes me a better person every year (at... Read more
Published 4 months ago by K. W. Hicks

5.0 out of 5 stars happyness
this movies from 1951 was a all time favorite. they do not show it on tv very often. now I can see it any time I want. it came bland new. fast. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Rosemary Kulick

5.0 out of 5 stars Very good film
Very good adaptation on film for of this classic book written by Ch. Dickens but I think there are more adaptations much better as release.
Published 10 months ago by J. CALDERON

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Version of the Best Short Story Ever Written
In December 1845 Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol was first published. Many consider it the best short story (70 pages) ever written. Read more
Published 10 months ago by B. SMITH

1.0 out of 5 stars Wrong item may be pictured--is this live action or animated
Be careful what you're buying here. Pictured is a 30 minute animated version of A CHRISTMAS CAROL with the VOICE of Alistair Sim. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Richard in Indy

5.0 out of 5 stars A Classic
This is by far the best version of A Christmas Carole out there. Black and White all the way!
Published 14 months ago by Becky G

5.0 out of 5 stars The best version I am aware of.
Amazon seems to have mixed up the reviews, so I will say that I am writing about the 1999 DVD of Alistair Sim's A Christmas Carol as released by VCI. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Kimba W. Lion

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my favorites.
I own the VHS version I purchased at Blockbuster over 10 years ago.
This is a classic and to readily enjoyed by the young and old. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Robert J. Halpern

5.0 out of 5 stars My Christmas favorite
"A Christmas Carol" don't appear on television anymore so this is a good investment. It will round out your Christmas holiday to sit down with eggnog and cookies and view this... Read more
Published on July 16, 2007 by John Reublin

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