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There are many adaptations of Charles Dickens' classic tale, but A Christmas Carol (1951) is among the best. Alastair Sim's portrayal of Ebenezer Scrooge is one people have been copying for decades, as he's able to be both credibly crabby and believably benevolent. Plus, this version feels like a ghost story, which seems more faithful to the original work. Don't let the black & white fool you, this film is timeless.

Best version on film of the timeless Dickens story. There are other versions I enjoy as well, and some more so for sentimental reasons. But, objectively, I believe this is the best version on a technical and artistic level. The production is first-rate. The cast is excellent. Especially Alastair Sim, who is perfect casting as Scrooge. He adds little touches to the character that sets his performance apart from the countless other Scrooges. As for the story, well unless you have been living under a rock or weren't raised in an English-speaking country, then you should know the plot to this classic. Miserly Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve to show him the error of his ways. Obviously I recommend the book because it's a seminal classic. But, as far as film versions go, this is the one everyone should see first.

Many adaptations of Dickens' Christmas book have been and gone, but this is generally thought to be one of the definitive films of the story.

Brian Desmond Hurst directs a fine cast, headed by the incomparable Alastair Sim (a man who can play both malevolent and humorous) as the about-to-be-redeemed Ebenezer Scrooge. Sim's reactions are priceless and he settles down well in the role. Michael Hordern is a less successful Marley, certainly when he visits as a ghost, but the three Ghosts of Christmas are just as you imagine - Christmas Past is a wise old sage, Christmas Present is a jovial party-giver ...

Strengths of this production include the opening out of events of the past into a linear narrative (George Cole plays young Scrooge for the early segments), and the playing of Mervyn Johns and Hermoine Baddeley as the Cratchits. It is a film which has holly, plum pudding, and carol singers written all over it, from the use of Christmas tunes in the music track, to the roaring fires and snow-strewn streets in which everyone makes merry for the festive day.

The blatant plug first: If you haven't seen this film, you have deprived yourself of one of the great performances of all time. Do not miss the opportunity, order it, buy it, or just plain rent it at once.

When I was a boy my father introduced me to this version of Scrooge. I can remember how we had to all sit very quietly whilst he recorded the soundtrack from our TV using a mike onto his tape recorder. From there on in, every year at Christmas the tape would come out and we would listen to the soundtrack complete with the introduction music to the adverts. Eventually the tape became a cassette and then we had the video.

Now I am the owner of this magical film on DVD and there has not been a year pass me by that I haven't sat and watched the film at least once.

The joy of watching this version has never left me, and as other commentators have remarked, Alastair Sim as Scrooge, seems to provide everything that you could want in the part. The transition from miser to benefactor is handled well, with Sim fighting the spirits all the way: "I'm too old to change". The dizzy happiness of the final scenes in stark contrast to the character in the opening of the film.

Everytime I see this film I find myself captivated by the way Sim manages to find an inner character to Scrooge, one that has not previously revealed itself. The young Scrooge played by George Cole, may not be the nasty money grabbing character whilst interacting with his sister, working for Fezziwig, or courting Alice, but he doesn't have that intoxicated happiness, there is still something sour about him.

Perhaps that is what truly makes this film. If the novel is about redemption and a rediscovery of humanity, then Alastair Sim finds it in abundance within his portrayal.

I cannot reach the end credits without undergoing some form of renewal myself. The characterisation carries you with it. I have seen and heard this film at least 50 times and I still smile to myself whilst waiting for the words : "Cratchit! you're late." the attempt to keep up the old Scrooge breaking down very quickly.

Perhaps some more people in the world could do with a revelation such as this Scrooge undergoes. Would it be so bad if we all felt at times that: "I don't deserve to be so happy".

The other part I have always enjoyed is that of Kathleen Harrison as Mrs Dilber. Throughout she plays the put upon house keeper with great style. The comments she makes at Old Joe's are telling in their rightness and her initial reaction to the transformed Scrooge is bewilderment and terror in equal measure.

I am relieved to read that I am not alone in this world in being able to quote almost every line, and some of the these have become catch phrases in my family: "I always know" seems to be a favourite of my father :-)and a meal cannot pass without "ha'penny extra" being put forward if more bread is requested.

So to finish - let the enthusiasm of the other contributors and myself encourage you to at least try this film. And now to get this in the post: "I'll send it to Bob Cratchit. Label, label, label, label, must have a label."

If I could take only ten movies to a desert island, this would be one of them. This movie captures all the things that "A Christmas Carol" is supposed to be. Watching Alastair Sim interpret the role of Scrooge and then looking at other actors, I see his incredible facial expressions, the loss of soul that haunts him, the vulnerability (yes, I mean it; he is actually pitiable at times), the loss of love from his once betrothed, and the terrible loneliness suffered at the hands of a vengeful father and the loss of his kind and loving sister, Fan. Then there are the wonderful images and the haunting music. The excellent supporting cast. Mervyn Johns is an excellent Cratchett, multi-dimensional and fun loving. Michael Horden as Jacob Marley (definitely the best performance as the ghost). Scrooge is shown to be calculating at every juncture, but seems to know that in many ways he is wrong. His avarice becomes his mistress and he can't forsake her. There are wonderful little scenes that I remember. When he stops to have dinner at the restaurant and is told more bread will cost extra, he decides to deny himself a little bit of warmth. There is the scene where Fezziwig loses his business to Scrooge (not a part of the original book but it works fine in the film). Scrooge hesitates for a moment and then barges on, and shows his insensitivity by retaining a worker at a reduction in salary. The scene where Marley is dying and Scrooge waits till the end of business. He then comes to the house and asks "Is he dead yet?" We all know the ending, but there is a joy, a blissful excitement not found in any of the other films. This is all attributable to Alastair Sim. He carries every moment. He shows us what real acting is all about. I treat myself to this movie a couple times a year and it never tires me. See it if you never have.

Christmas is my favourite time of year, not only is it the time to spend with my family but also to revisit the timeless Christmas classics that is like a tradition in our household. While I adore Christmas films like the first two Home Alone movies, Miracle on 34th Street, Muppet Christmas Carol, It's A Wonderful Life and White Christmas, it is Scrooge(1951) that enchants me the most. While not the most faithful adaptation of the book, since Bella's name is changed to Alice and there isn't a reference to Scrooge's mother's death, it is sheer mastery in terms of acting, music, cinematography and capturing the spirit of the book.

I also want to say I adore Charles Dickens's book. It is a Christmas literary classic, along with The Nutcracker and The Polar Express. It just has an amazing story, totally original characters and is just a delight to read full stop. Scrooge(1951), is not the most true to the book, but I do think it does do a masterly job at capturing the book's spirit, and for that reason is the definitive adaptation. The basic ingredients are all there and are expertly refined. Scrooge is just a great Christmas classic, simply put, and it is for me the quintessential Christmas movie.

The cinematography is faultless. Shot in stunning black and white, it is smooth, crisp, efficient and never jerky. The black and white looks simply amazing after all these years, and the production values are perfect. The music is outstanding; beautiful arrangements of well known tunes throughout to remind us of the festive season and the additional music is memorable and extremely touching, though the music when Scrooge realises it's him who's dead is really chilling. The story about a Christmas miser who is haunted by his partner and three spirits into changing his ways is one of the best loved Christmas stories ever, and it is not hard to see why. As a story, it is impeccably crafted, and the storytelling of Dickens is masterly. All the elements of the book are there in this film, apart from some aforementioned changes.

The acting is spot on. Alistair Sim was a fine actor, who to this day is undervalued. Here he gives quite possibly the best performance of his entire career, and for me he is the definitive Ebeneezer Scrooge. Don't get me wrong I loved Albert Finney, George C.Scott, Kelsey Grammar, Michael Caine and Patrick Stewart, but Sim was the embodiment of the character and dominated the entire movie on his own. No scene with him in rang false, and his change from miserly to kind at the end was heartbreakingly believable. There were some fine supporting performances too, with Michael Horden splendid as Jacob Marley, Mervyn Johns humble as Bob Cratchitt and George Cole earnest as Young Scrooge. At the end of the day though, it is Sim's movie. A movie that is so good it should be on the top 250. 10/10 Bethany Cox

I have not seen Albert Finney's nor George C. Scott's portrayal of Scrooge, so I cannot say definitively that Alastair Sim 'owns' this role, but I sure have trouble imagining anyone topping him; he is superb, the nitpicking comments of TinMan-5 notwithstanding. This version will always have a special place in my affections, and I am glad to see I'm not alone in holding this opinion. In my view, this is the definitive film version of this venerable and beloved tale.

When Michael Hordern raises his chains in a loud apocalyptic yell. This really makes me need to watch for that particular moment each Christmas it's on. To think George Cole went on to be in the UK tv drama 'Minder' makes him a widely skilled actor in my opinion. I've not seen the other films or tv his been in but would seek IMDB, to look out for George Cole and Michael Hordern in other production they have acted in. To see that it's enjoyable with 18yr old to 25yr olds, now makes this even more outstanding in professional acting for its appeal not only for middle aged viewers like myself who would watch as a child when parent turned the telly on to see it. But that yell and scene with Michael Hordern is by far the best in my books The timing is great and always has me turn the volume up for that part of the scene he plays each time I watch the film.

Some of the "Cockney" phrases and snippets of dialog were a wee bit hard to keep up with (like a foreign language), and some of the actual Dickens' novel is not in this version (but is in the 1938 movie), but all in all this is the best version. Alastair Sim should have won an Oscar for best actor.

This Christmas Carol movie is a classic. It released in 1951 and it is the second of many adaptations of the story by Charles Dickens (the first released in 1938). With how old it is, and how good rated it is here on IMBD, it can be an origin for modern day Christmas movies. It may not necessarily have the best camera quality with the time it released but it is still a classic. As of writing this review this is the only Christmas Carol movie I've watched besides the biographical movie about Dickens writing the story. The 2009 Jim Carrey version is 10 minutes longer than this version and the 1984 is 14 minutes longer. The 1938 version is 17 minutes shorter. I believe that the 1938 version is in black and white. That's all the difference between the different versions I could pick out as of now. I feel like this is an alright movie to help get into the Christmas spirit.

Charming and an excellent use of tone, but rather dull and at times silly- Scrooge hardly manages to hold up as much as it is highly praised- and simply just feels like another missed opportunity. Alastair Sim sars as the titular character in this adaptation of the classic tale. His performance can be well done at times, and certainly more so than the Scrooge performances before its release, but at times his emotions on display can be rather silly and it just takes you out of the experience completely. The film is well shot, although nothing extraordinary, and all the supporting cast does a rather decent job as well. The tone throughout is brilliantly executed, and you can see the director truly know what he was doing when this film came into his hands. The editing however can feel a bit clunky, as well as its pacing, which honestly stretches out far too long for it to be truly entertaining. In the end, Scrooge (1951) is a mediocre but far from terrible adaptation of the classic story. It has its moments, but it sadly just isn't enough to be quite memorable or worth another watch.

My Rating: 4.8/10.

I am sure Charles Dickens would be more than pleased with the film adaptation of 'A Christmas Carol'. A truly remarkable film that never fails to delight me. There are so many poignant scenes. When for instance Scrooge asks his nephew's wife for forgiveness for being a 'pig headed old fool' it never fails to have me reaching for the nearest tissues. However, the one scene that sticks in my mind is where Scrooge is settling down to eat his bowl of soup in his dressing gown and slippers in front of the fire. The expression on his face on hearing the voice of Jacob Marley, and subsequently dropping his spoon and its contents into his soup bowl, is for me a cinematic treasure.

Alastair Sims carries this 1951 version of "A Christmas Carol" without a doubt. The inimitable Sims, with the perfect physical appearance of larger than life eyes, makes the most convincing, ebullient, overly ecstatic Scrooge of any. That is, after he "sees the light" through his visits from the three spirits of Christmas. As the miserly, hard and cold Ebenezer Scrooge in the beginning, he is good, but not better than those in other films. But, Sim's interpretation of the character has a nuance that I think is very good. He soon is quick to plead with the spirits to escape what he is seeing and to change. So, when he changes, we see the greater joy he imbues.

This 1951 version of the Dickens classic is one of the very best. It is a favorite of mine, along with the 1938 film with Reginald Owen in the lead role. This version is 86 minutes long and gives more details of the times with each ghost. I don't think the main supporting cast can match that of the 1938 film. It would have been something to see that cast of Bob Cratchit, Fred, Tiny Tim and Marley's ghost do this film with Sim. The whole film would take on more life. But as it is, the supporting cast here are all OK.

This film also gives considerable attention to Scrooge's past love, and it gives him a glimpse of that lost love in the future. We see the Scrooge as a young man with his fiancé, Alice (played by Rona Anderson). After his logical talk about trying to better himself in the world, Alice says, "Another idol has replaced me in your heart. A golden idol." Then Scrooge sees her later caring for sick people. Other scenes show the joyful time he had at Fezziwig's party and with friends. These past events especially are fleshed out much more in this film, and that adds weight to the loss that Scrooge has suffered by his choices in life. All the more fuel to fire his heart when he has a conversion.

I have five films of the Dickens story. My two favorite are the 1938 and this 1951. I also like the 1970 musical with Albert Finney. And the new films with George C. Scott and Patrick Stewart are fine. But these two old films have the feel and the scenery that looks for real for mid-19th century England as well. For people who can't stand black and white, the newer versions in color are still very good renditions of the story. Not excellent, but very good. One other excellent film in color is the 1970 musical rendition. It stars Albert Finney and other top British actors.

On Christmas Eve in 1840's England, miserly Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by the ghost of his former business partner, Jacob Marley, who warns him to change his ways or be doomed to eternal damnation. The ghosts of Christmases past, present, and future to show him the error of Scrooge's ways and show the people who are able to keep Christmas in their hearts 365 days a year. Easily the best adaptation of the Dickens classic which can be attributed to several reasons. Sim's performance transcends all description of greatness. Hurst's direction evokes the ideal emotions at all the right moments. The rest of the cast remain faithful to the Dickens' characterizations. A perfect film to watch during the holiday season. Rating, 10.

There isn't much to say that isn't written already here, or what is known as regards the story. Charles Dickens smashing fantasy A Christmas Carol is a story that stands the test of time for generations past and will do so for many generations to come. This version stands out chiefly because of it's incredible central performance by Alastair Sim as the miserly old misery guts Ebenezer Scrooge. He perfectly layers the transformation as the tale progresses, from the horrid bitter man at the film's beginning to the joyous man of heart come the finale, Sim convinces in each phase of his stripped bare journey that the ghosts take him on. The story is full of family values and messages of hope, it makes you sad and then lifts you to a very high place, it is in short, essential viewing at the holiday season, because ultimately it is the season to be jolly.

Definitive version from source, and not forgetting to be a ghost story either, Scrooge is Christmas season gold, so thank you Charles Dickens, and thank you Alastair Sim. 9/10

Generally feeling a bit Scroogey myself, I cannot fully embrace the Christmas season until I see this movie (sometimes twice) and transform along with Scrooge.

For me, Alistair Sim IS the definitive Scrooge bar none. I can't say enough about his performance so I won't even try.

An excellent supporting cast just adds more with the only remotely off note being Michael Hordern's slightly melodramatic Marley's ghost scene in the beginning of the movie. Mervyn Johns is perfect as Cratchit as is the rest of the actors portraying his family.

Kathleen Harrison seals the deal as Mrs Dilber. One of my favorite supporting roles of all time. She owns her role as completely as Sim's Scrooge. In fact, she amplifies his effectiveness by being so completely believable as Scrooge's downtrodden cockney maid, Mrs Dilber - bad teeth and all. Her last powerful and moving scene with the transformed Ebeneezer on the staircase alone makes the movie worth watching. When Ebeneezer gives a terrified Mrs Dilber a Guinea as a Christmas present she is dumbfounded and asks plaintively, "For me?" It nearly brings me to tears as with those two words she coveys the heartbreakingly sad conviction that NO ONE, especially Scrooge, would care enough about her to give her a Christmas present and by doing so,lights her up and renews her Christmas spirit not to mention her sense of self worth.

The only real criticism I see is an attempt to colourize the film somewhere back in the eighties ... really awful and quite pointless. This version of Dicken's classic was made in 1951 and the monochrome adds intensity to the harsh atmosphere of early nineteenth century London. In comparison the interpretation made in 1984 with George C. Scott as the principal character came across as Disneyified mush. Sim's Scrooge is the product of the immediate post WW2 period where social democratic ideas were strongly felt particularly in England. This is reflected in the strange combination of sincerity and sentiment which is seen in many other films of that period. Might also explain the liberties that were taken with the original story and some of the mistakes ( like Scrooge's younger sister which couldn't be if the mother died in childbirth ).

In some ways "Scrooge" is the soft "family" version of Bogarts "Rick" in Casablanca. Personal strength in the service of that which is good. In a postmodernist age this concept must be as foreign as the horse-drawn cabs in Soho.

The scene between Scrooge ( Alastair Sim) and Fred's wife ( Olga Edwardes) begins with Scrooge saying,"Can you forgive a pigheaded old fool" never fails to bring a tear. Alastair Sim's delivery of that line is perfect, but Olga Edwardes' reaction is perfect , from puzzlement and a touch of fear to to the hug she gives Scrooge. As a child, I thought she, at that moment, was the most beautiful lady I had ever seen. 65 years later, the combination of that beauty and her loving reaction to Scrooge's change of heart still chokes me up.

Sadly, there is no picture of her in the cast listing for this film on IMDB and no picture in her profile. I would recommend that IMDB get A still of Ms. Edwardes in the scene mentioned above and add it. She deserves no less.

This English production starring Alastair Sim is the best version and IMHO, closest to the book. Sim's performance is masterful, showing the guilt, conflict and regret of Scrooge as he's confronted by his past so that Scrooge is fully human and not a caricature, we can see the progression of his realization. The timeless message of redemption, compassion and investing in our fellow humans never gets old. I watch it every Christmas Eve.

A Christmas Carol is a classic not to be ignored. The character Scrooge has long since never been forgotten. His shrewdness in the beginning of his character is quite frankly compelling seeing almost everyone is just like him. The changing of a man over time is exactly what the audience needs to see and is looking for. All men/women hearts can be changed. It takes compassion and dedication to do so. While not my favorite Christmas show of all time SCROOGE definitely holds a place in the top 5. With Christmas right around the corner in just a few months I would give this a thumbs up and tell everyone to check it out. SCROOGE has a social casino named after him for crying out loud. SCROOGE Casino.

I have only recently seen this much-loved version of the story, so I do not have the benefit of childhood tradition to colour my view of it. I am a much greater fan of Ronald Neame's 1970 musical starring Albert Finney, and I will use this version for comparison. Fans of the 1951 film by Brian Desmond Hurst may be offended by what I'm about to write!

Firstly, this black and white classic does include the majority of the scenes from Dicken's original - the musical has had a few scenes cut. I'm not sure if the inclusion of the scenes particularly helps the plot along, but they do tend to be the darker sequences, like the pawning of Scrooges possessions after his death. Including these darker scenes is good in historical respect, but bad in other ways, as I will explain.

Both versions of the story feature "added" scenes. Neame's musical includes the infamous "hell" scene. But Hurst's 1951 version suffers most from additions, because they are protracted, dreary, and push the story down a route Dicken's probably had not intended. Two scenes in particular serve no purpose other than to convince us what a truly ruthless, heartless man Scrooge is. This is not a pathetic man with whom sympathy is possible. He is cunning, and does not value honesty - even in business matters - and anxiously waits for his partners death.

The added sequences with the ghost of Christmas past occupy an enormous chunk of the film, and literally suck the life out of it. The interposing of a maid in Scrooge's "awakening" scene also seems to drag it out and adds nothing. This is a private revelation in the text, not one shared with non-existent household staff. He is, after all, a miser!

The casting and the sets were not entirely appropriate. Sims' Scrooge was overdone in his evil behaviour, and yet somehow unconvincing in both it and his transformation at the end. Perhaps his eyes were a little too big and sad for such a wicked man. Perhaps he wasn't that good at expressing ecstasy. Perhaps both. But having gone through pains to convince us of his completely wicked nature, director Hurst leaves little room for joy at his transformation. Albert Finney's far more lively and convincing Scrooge was miserable and mean to be sure, but also pathetic and in turns comical, as Dickens wrote him. I can only believe that Alastair Sim "is Scrooge" to many simply because they grew up with his interpretation. Having read the book, he does not capture the depth of the character at all.

Hurst's Bob Cratchit was rather portly for such a poor man, and his household appeared at least as opulent as Fezziwigs offices - a grave error in my opinion. The contrast with Bob Cratchit's cramped but cheery household is made perfectly clear in Neame's 1970 version, and Cratchit himself is appropriately "trim", and inspiringly jovial in the face of his adversity - again, so important in Dickens' novel. Once again, this is an area where Hurst seems to have failed to convey the spirit of Christmas as well as others.

All that said, the city street sets and costumes were quite good, and the other supporting cast were adequately played. I think the Ghost of Jacob Marley was more true to form in this version than in the musical, though I confess I found Alec Guiness' interpretation a delight.

In summary, I'd give this version of A Christmas Carol the advantage for inclusion of more of the original text by Charles Dickens. However, the added scenes build upon those darker scenes to create a version which is ponderous and largely devoid of joy and wit until the very end. There are several better adaptations of the tale than this one, and make better use of adaptation to capture Dickens' "spirit".