For decades, Lionel Barrymore played the role of the cold-hearted miser of A CHRISTMAS CAROL on the radio. Barrymore was originally cast to reprise the role on the big screen, due to Barrymore's crippling Arthritis, he withdrew, recommending Reginald Owen in the role of Scrooge. Barrymore narrated the trailer to A CHRISMAS CAROL (1938) to help promote the film. To assure the film's success, Barrymore did not perform his annual radio production of A CHRISTMAS CAROL in 1938.
PLOT SUMMARY ( Spoilers Alert !!!):
In the holiday spirit, Fred ( Barry McKay) turns up at his Uncle Ebenezer Scrooge's counting house on Christmas Eve to WISH him to Merry Christmas. Scrooge quickly replies with an affirmative HUMBUG. Fred responds back witha Christmas dinner invitation. The cold-hearted MISER thinks that his nephew has an ALTERNATIVE motive behind his invite, perhaps to receive MONEY from him to wed his fiancee Bess. Promptly, Scrooge dismisses Fred to VACATE his office, repeating the gesture over and over, saying GOOD AFTERNOON.
That same evening, at the counting-house, Scrooge's clerk Bob Cratchit (Gene Lockhart) watches the clock with many anticipations, to join his family on Christmas Eve. Upon releasing his clerk for the evening, Scrooge UNWILLINGLY offers him the holiday off with wage with the stipulation that he returns the next day earlier than usual.
On his way home, Bob Crachit engages with some SNOWBALL throwing with some young lads. Bob shows the lads, that he too, can KNOCK OFF the hat from a gentleman's head. Unfortunate for Crachit, the next passerby was his employer, Scrooge. The SNOWBALL sent Scrooge's hat into the street, where it was TRAMPLED over by a passing wagon. Outraged by his employee's PLAYFUL sense of HUMOR, Scrooge DISCHARGES Crachit from his EMPLOYMENT.
Later that evening, Scrooge received an UNEXPECTED VISITOR, the GHOST of JACOB MARLEY, his DECEASED business partner. Marley FOREWARNS Scrooge not to keep continuing down the same DESTRUCTIVE path that led him to his DEMISE. Marley instructs Scrooge to REPENT his WICKEDNESS and become a BETTER MAN or be DOOMED in the AFTERLIFE. Marley informs Scrooge that he will be visited bt three SPIRITS.
When the clock struck one o'clock, the GHOST of Christmas PAST (Ann Rutherford) pays Scrooge a visit. Scrooge is taken back to his past, his CHILDHOOD, where he attended school as a boy. Scrooge is REMINDED of the fact, that he spent most of his Christmases ALONE without his family, at his school until one day his sister Fran collected him to go back home for the holidays. The GHOST of CHRISTMAS PAST tells Scrooge that his sister loved him so, though she is now gone, reminds him that Fred is his sister's OFFSPRING.
When the clock strikes two, the GHOST of CHRISTMAS PRESENT (Lionel Braham) comes a calling on the COLD-HEARTED miser. Scrooge is taken to a church, where his nephew Fred and his fiancee Bess are amongst the congregation. Because of Fred's state of the affairs, they must wait to marry. Scrooge could see how much in love his nephew is. Losing one's true love is something that he hopes that his nephew will have to endure like he did in his youth.
Next, Scrooge arrives at the Crachit home, all appear to JOYOUS on the surface, with the family gathered around. However, Bob Crachit is TORMENTED, that he had spent his last wages on a GOOSE and all the trimmings for CHRISTMAS dinner. The fact that he has been SACKED by Mr. Scrooge, is something he'd yet to share with Mrs. Crachit (Kathleen Lockhart). The GHOST of CHRISTMAS PAST informs Scrooge, that Bob's youngest son, Tiny Tim ( Terry Kilbourne) will PERISH from a crippling disease next year if not treated with the care that only MONEY can provide.
The GHOST of CHRISTMAS YET TO COME, the last and final spirit makes his appearance at the strike of three. The silent cloaked specter shows Scrooge his future if he does not convert. The DEATH of TINY TIM, becomes unbearable for Scrooge, the GUILT knowing that if he had assisted in getting the young lad the proper care, he could have saved his life.
Then Scrooge is led to the GRAVEYARD, where he finds his own name etched on the TOMBSTONE. The COLD-HEARTED miser is faced with the REALITY that his own DEATH will not be mourned. Scrooge humbly begs for FORGIVENESS and REPENTS his wicked ways.
FILM FACTS:
During the Christmas season, MGM released 375 prints of A CHRISTMAS CAROL (1938), a record-breaking feat at this time.
" Keep Christmas in your way, and let me keep it in mine."
THE CAST :
Reginald Owen ( Ebeneezer Scrooge), Gene Lockhart (Bob Cratchit), Kathleen Lockhart (Mrs. Crattchit), Terry Kilburn (Tiny Tim Cratchit), Barry McKay( Fred, Scrooge's nephew), Lynne Carver ( Bess, Fred's fiancee), Leo G. Carroll (Marley's Ghost), Ann Rutherford (Spirit of Christmas Past), Lionel Braham (Spirit of Christmas Present), D'arcy Corrigan (Spirit of Christmas Future), Ronald Sinclair (Young Scrooge), June Lockhart (Belinda Cratchit, uncredited), Bunny Beatty ( Martha Cratchit, uncredited)
MY BOTTOM LINE:
One could only imagine, the magnificent performance the Great Lionel Barrymore would have given as Ebenezer Scrooge, but as fate would have it Reginald Owen became Scrooge. In this version, we see a more sympathetic Scrooge compared to the tyrannical miser of Barrymore's portrayal. Owen adds bits of humanity to the character before his transformation, which softens his depiction of the protagonist of the 1843 novel penned by Charles Dickens.
Personally, I prefer my Scrooge to be uncharitable to the bitter end, so when Scrooge does transform into a better person, you savior his conversion so much greater. Reginald Owen gives a fine performance as Ebenezer Scrooge, however, Alastair Sims will always be Scrooge to me.
Reginald Owen & Leo G. Carroll
Reginald Owen & D'arcy Corrigan
