1938 Movie Version of A Christmas Carol
A Review of the Movie for Lovers of Dickens’ Book
Nov 10, 2009
In 1938 the first ‘talkie’ version of Charles Dickens’ story, A Christmas Carol, appeared on the silver screen directed by Edwin L. Marin. The movie featured Reginald Owen as Ebenezer Scrooge. While it is a good movie, it will not satisfy those who love Dickens’ original story.
Departures from Dickens’ Novel
From the beginning, it is clear that the movie will not be faithful to Charles Dickens. The addition of a sliding scene, where Scrooge’s nephew Fred goes sliding with the Cratchit children can be forgiven. Little additions to a classic book seldom add but usually do little to hurt it. However, plot changes that seem to serve no purpose and the removal of key scenes will quickly destroy this movie for lovers of the book.
Sadly, this version of A Christmas Carol neglects several key scenes that are beloved by Dickens aficionados. Mr. Fezziwig’s Christmas party is missing from the movie. Fezziwig’s Christmas party is an important moment in the ghostly visitations for two reasons. First, it is at Fezziwig’s Christmas party that the reader begins to see some significant softening of Scrooge’s character. Second, Mr. Fezziwig is an effective contrast for Scrooge as he is at the beginning of the story before the ghostly visitations and a wonderful prototype for what Scrooge will become after the spirits are finished with him.
The whole sub-plot that includes Scrooge’s fiancé, Belle, is completely cut out of the Butler adaptation of A Christmas Carol. While the arc that contains Belle is brief, it very effectively reveals the change in Scrooge as money begins to take hold of his life. In addition, it reveals a further softening of Scrooge’s character when Scrooge considers what he has missed by shutting himself off from human companionship.
The scene in the rag and bone shop is missing from the movie as well. The rag and bone shop scene adds a great deal of depth to the story. First, it reveals the depth of misery that existed in London during the Victorian era when the story takes place. While, Dickens’ forces the reader to identify with and love the Cratchit family, he doesn’t let us forget that the Cratchit’s were relatively comfortable compared to many others who lived in London. Second, the behavior of the three who came into the shop to pawn their wares reveals in the most crude and unmistakable way possible that nobody liked or would miss Scrooge after his death.
Rewriting the Story
In addition to adding scenes and neglecting pivotal scenes in the story, the Butler adaptation of A Christmas Carol rewrites the story in both small ways and big ways. For instance, rather than making Bob saintly and allowing him to propose the toast for Scrooge, we hear Bob’s wife toasting Scrooge a Merry Christmas.
Rather than finding Fred and Elizabeth married, we find them engaged and waiting for Fred to make money and find a steady job. This unfortunately puts Fred in the position of being a type of Scrooge before Belle broke up with him. There is nothing to say that Fred will not begin to value money more than Elizabeth and that he will go down the same path as Scrooge. In contrast, the novel reveals Fred’s character by showing his willingness to risk poverty for love.
The ending of the movie is a tremendous disappointment for those who relish Scrooge’s little game with Cratchit on the day after Christmas. The changed ending reminds one that Butler actually has Scrooge fire poor Bob Cratchit near the beginning of the movie. As a result, Butler has Scrooge deliver the Christmas turkey to the Cratchit household along with a variety of gifts and treats for the family.
While the ending is a disappointment for those who love the original, there is a whimsical humor in the scene. The response of the poor Cratchits to Scrooge’s apparent madness is quite humorous. In addition, it is the one scene where Reginald Owen’s rather stiff portrayal of Scrooge breaks loose and we see a moment of inspired transformation, which does the heart good.
A Silver Strand
While the 1938 rendition of A Christmas Carol favors Hollywood over Charles Dickens, there is one shining star in the movie. Barry MacKay is arguably the best movie version of Scrooge’s nephew. His eyes gleam and his smile is contagious. Unfortunately, his best lines were stolen away by Butler. Still he is a fabulous actor in the role of Fred.
Charles Dickens it Ain’t
For those who like movies based on books to strive for faithfulness to the original text, the 1938 movie version of Charles Dickens’ novel A Christmas Carol will be a frustrating and disappointing movie.
Read a summary of Charles Dickens’ original text for A Christmas Carol.
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