A Christmas Carol

A Christmas Carol is a timeless tale. It's full of moments that are dark, sad, joyful, or even horrifying. It's a whirlwind of emotions, and some parts are real and total tearjerkers. What makes this 1951 iteration one of the best versions is Alastair Sim as the iconic Scrooge. He doesn't just play the character as a grump. There's so much emotional in this performance, that he can easily be recognized as the best man to ever play the role. This deserves to be called one of the holiday classics.

Not enough singing muppets.

No offense to Scrooge McDuck, but of all the variations on the story that I've seen, I think this one holds up the best. For one, it packs a lot of story into a breezy (especially for the time period) 80-something minutes, but loses nothing in the process. Alastair Sim should also be commended, hitting all the right notes in the Scrooge character both before and after his Christmas Eve revelation. Another standout was Marley's character...loved his banshee-style wailing and tortured demeanor.

I find myself very underwhelmed by this much heralded version. Alastair Sim's Scrooge seems more tired than cruel and while I like how much time was spent on the Ghost of Christmas Past I was annoyed with how much was skimmed over during the other two parts. Also since you pretty much only see Scrooge, none of the other characters are fleshed out well and are not very convincing. At this time the 1938 version is my favorite classic version with the Mickey version being the best animated one and

I admit most of my love for this movie comes from nostalgia, but what's wrong with that? My family and I would watch this movie every single Christmas Eve. The dialog would become little in-jokes between us, and we all absolutely loved Alastair Sim. For my money, he's the definitive scrooge, and this is the definitive version of Dickens' novel.

This particular version of "Scrooge" is a bit too old fashioned and a little too melodramatic for my taste But Sim is superb

It's a rather dated affair but Sim is pretty great as Scrooge.

Alastair Smith with his incredible performance as Scrooge makes this my favourite adaptation of this classic tale.

The greatest adaptation of this wonderful story. Sim is simply brilliant, with director Hurst really capturing the spirit and essence of the book, which is both an uplifting and slightly unsettling look as human nature. It may look seriously dated now, but somehow that adds to this film and its nostalgia appeal. Simply brilliant.

Hands down, the best Christmas Carol. Sim is a simply wonderful Scrooge.

I never knew Marley was so theatrical.

A great story but only a good film. Especially in the second half it gets too caught up in being a morality tale and becomes a little too silly.

Classic.

Known as the classic version. Pretty good if you're down for some old school Christmas fare.

Scrooge is a holiday institution. Even after watching countless of adaptations of Charles Dickens' Christmas classic, it still warms the heart. And Brian Desmond Hurst's 1951 version of A Christmas Carol with a excellent performance from Alastair Sim might be the best of them all.

Fantastic casting for Scrooge, by looks and acting ability they absolutely nailed it. I never did realize how cristian this story is, very “kissing-Jesus-feet”, unsurprising giving the context when it was written. Not a perfect film, but a very solid holiday stable

Maybe I'm too familiar with the story by now, but this does not rank highly for me at all, and the biggest credit I can give it is that it was a landmark in a long string of adaptations. It all feels too theatrical, with not a hint of menace from our spectres (I know the film is old, but Christmas Future is literally just a guy with a blanket on his head). Too lighthearted, I guess, and very of the time. Muppets is still top for me, closely followed by the 1984 TV movie with George C. Scott.

betterscrooge&tim+showsmoreghostslikejacob+badwritingtellingsisliveforever-didOGshowgf?+scroogemehsometimes+moremiddleagedscrooge+didbobcarrytiminOG?+didOGsaygodblessuseveryone?+walksfinewithtim

Good Christmas fare.

My grandfather does a pretty good Alastair Sim

This really surprised me: I expected theater [which I got, lol], but I was very impressed by its awareness of form, redolent of Méliès, and the German Expressionists [in mise-en-scène, photography, and editing]. Regardless, among preachy, 19th Century parables, where the spectre of capital looms, the one I "get," rather than ACC, is Melville's "Bartleby." I find the former impossible to really hate, particularly when it's performed this well, but the ghost of the latter will haunt me forever.

Best version, no contest.

Probably my favourite version of the tale, although there are quite a few other worthy efforts. Main reason? The masterful performance by Sim, who really connects with the audience and sells the journey taken by Scrooge; every emotion is convincing, and his eventual transformation is truly joyous.

Best Christmas Carol film there has ever been or ever will be. I watch it with the family every year.

Superb film is too good to be shown only at Christmastime; always delightful Sim makes Scrooge a three-dimensional character in this faithful, heartwarming rendition of the Dickens classic.

The definitive Scrooge in this definitive version of the Dickens story. Sim is superb. One of the great British films of the '50s, with a sterling cast of character actors, solid direction, and a nice sense of period authenticity.

I cannot imagine a better adaptation than this. Perfect pre-Christmas viewing, with Sim the definitive Scrooge. The ghost effects are quite spooky, the supporting cast packed with stalwart character actors and the last ten minutes are as heartwarming as cinema gets.

Watch the colorized version. This is probably one of the better adaptations. It's a very cheesy morality tale really, but still entertaining.

no more. stop.

There are many films called A Christmas Carol and/or Scrooge, & some great actors that have attempted the role of Ebenezer Scrooge. But just as Bela Lugosi was born to play Dracula & Charlton Heston was born to play Moses, so Alastair Sim was born to play Ebenezer Scrooge. Sims portrayal of Scrooge, & this adaptation of the Dickens tale, remains the standard by which not merely all other versions of A Christmas Carol, but all other holiday dramas, are measured. Required holiday viewing.

Highly traditional version of A Christmas Carol very much of its time so don't judge it by the special effects however somehow it's better without the fancies. Honest acting and just enough schmaltz without being cloying

Alastair Sim is a special effect.

Of all the versions of this story, Sim's is the best redeemed Scrooge.

Best of all the multiple versions of this story