Absolutely the worst movie.

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows

it has the virtue to be warm and comfortable version of a lovely book. to give the chance to Reginald Owen to do a real great job. and to preserve, in wise manner, the spirit of Dickens universe. it is not the best version but it is one of the most seductive. for the crumbs of Frank Capra spirit, for the taste of "30 productions, for a form of lost innocence who today seems exotic. and for the admirable performances who transforms the old story of Scrooge in a personal message to the viewer. it is a great version. and this is result of admirable manner to translate on screen not only the message of the book but the message of Christmas. in a time of tricks and blockbusters, "A Christmas Carol" by Edwin L. Martin remains an useful oasis.

Lionel Barrymore's loss was the gain of Reginald Owen in this adaption of A Christmas Carol. In that age of radio Lionel Barrymore's radio version of the Dickens classic was a holiday staple and I dare say that there are many places on the globe now which are hearing it. But when it came to doing a film version Barrymore became unavailable so another of MGM's contract players substituted.Much as I would like to have seen Lionel as Scrooge, Reginald Owen makes one fine Christmas miser. And MGM gave Owen a fine supporting cast with Gene Lockhart and his wife Kathleen Lockhart as Bob Cratchit and his good wife and a very precious Terry Kilburn as Tiny Tim.One interesting person in the cast was Barry MacKay who I can't believe came over from the United Kingdom just to play Scrooge's nephew Fred. Across the pond MacKay was a popular light leading man who did several well received films with among others Jessie Matthews. Yet this supporting role seems to be the reason MGM brought him over here. I can't believe they didn't have more in mind.Anyway this version of A Christmas Carol is one great adaption of Charles Dickens's Christmas classic. Even without Lionel Barrymore.

I HAVE REVIEWED OVER 400 Christmas MOVIES.BEWARE OF BOGUS REVIEWS. SOME REVIEWERS HAVE ONLY ONE REVIEW. WHEN ITS A POSITIVE REVIEW THAT TELLS ME THEY WERE INVOLVED WITH THE PRODUCTION. I HAVE NO AGENDA! I AM HONEST!. I am a child of 1970's. I grew up in the Los Angeles area. On Christmas Eve this film came on at 11:00pm on Channel 11. Every year my family would all gather together to watch this classic! Remember you could only watch this ONCE A YEAR and you had to catch it when it aired! . There was no such thing as Home Video or On Demand. Watching this film with my family is my happiest childhood memory. It was better than a trip to Disneyland. This production of "A Christmas Carol" was produced by MGM in its heyday. The film was shot In October and in theaters by December! So this rushed production over the years has been over shadowed by more lavish productions but casting wise this film has no equal. In this film Scrooge is a crusty old business man in old Victoria England. He seems to thrive on making money and not caring about anything else! He has alienated his only living family member and seems to thrive on making his trusted employee Bob Cratchit life a living hell. On Christmas Eve of course he gets visited by not 3 but 4 ghost. Bob Marley (his late former business partner) and the Ghost of Christmas Past Present and Future. The ghost of course come to teach Scrooge about the joy of not only giving but also the joy of living. This I think is the first film that makes the Ghost come in one night. In the book they come on different nights.What also is great about this version is that its never boring! It moves quit quickly and watching this in black and white gives this a the correct tone. It is a delight! I am not lying at when I say my Christmas Season is not complete without watching this! This film plus "Christmas Vacation" are mandatory viewing in my home. Please if you have never seen this version you should. The Jim Carey version borrowed heavily from this adaption. I beg all of you to watch it with your family. There is something so special to me about this film and viewing it with family.

A Christmas Carol is directed by Edwin L. Marin and adapted to screenplay by Hugo Butler from the Charles Dickens story of the same name. It stars Reginald Owen, Gene Lockhart, Kathleen Lockhart, Terry Kilburn and Barry MacKay. Music is by Franz Waxman and cinematography by Sidney Wagner and John F. Seitz.I wonder just how many times A Christmas Carol has been adapted to theatre, film, television, radio or opera? Well it's a lot as we know, but my point being that it's one of those literary works that needs no introduction or plot synopsis. It's as famous as famous can be. With all the many "film" adaptations to view, there's often discussions about which is the best, which is the most loyal to the source and etc etc, what mostly comes through in such discussions is that it's such a brilliant piece of literary work it would take the work of an idiot to mess up the feel good factor come the story's denouement. Thankfully, in spite of tampering with aspects of the source material, Marin's 38 version is as pleasing as a glass of Xmas punch. There are minor irritants here no doubt about it, Scrooge begins to turn from mean miser to good fellow a bit too early, and traditionalists do balk at the changes in the story such as a sex change for one of the ghosts, Cratchit gets the sack, the haunting grimness is missing with the ghost visitations and again etc etc, yet the essence is right and the key points are rightfully included. Given it's a film that runs just under 70 minutes some scenes are rushed, but it's very well performed by the cast (Owen wonderfully caustic as Scrooge after stepping in when Lionel Barrymore's ill health ruled him out of the production) and the joy that comes with the finale is simply impossible to ignore. Like a lot of other people I'm a lover of the Alastair Sim 1951 version, of which this MGM version is often unfairly compared against. For although the 51 film is definitive in its adaptation, and rightfully sits at the top of many people's lists of filmic productions, Marin's film has much to recommend it to being part of your perennial Xmas viewing schedules. 8/10