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A Christmas Carol

A Christmas Carol

1938
Drama
Fantasy
1h 9m
The timeworn Dickens' story about the old merchant Scrooge and how his own disappointments in life shape his view that both life and men are not worthy of his notice or concern. He displays no charity to mankind generally, and in particular, to his employee Bob Cratchett and his unfortunate son, Tiny Tim. But the dessicated gent is about to get his comeuppance when he imagines he is visited by the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future. (imdb)
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A Christmas Carol

1938
Drama
Fantasy
1h 9m
Your probable score
Avg Percentile 53.63% from 132 total ratings

Ratings & Reviews

(132)
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Rated 25 Dec 2009
71
73rd
Solid MGM adaptation (and simplification) of the Dickens classic, with glossy production values and a first-rate cast, featuring Owen as a nicely crotchety Scrooge. A typical Hollywood touch is the transformation of the Ghost of Christmas Past into a buxom Ziegfeld girl (Rutherford, later in _Gone With The Wind_).
Rated 25 Nov 2018
75
69th
A heartwarming "Hollywood " version of "The Scrooge" a little hoakey but Okay to watch once a year
Rated 12 May 2014
60
89th
MGM's '38 version of the story with Reginald Owen as Scrooge. And it fulfills the cinematic expectations one expects from this classic novel. Still it's not gonna become my favorite film version. Owen looked too weird for that. Looked more like a alien inspired chicken! On a positive note this movie gave plenty of time for Gene Lockhart to showcase his talents as an actor as Scrooge's poor assistant. And overall it's a very goodhearted film. of the 30s I favor the British one Scrooge (1935).
Rated 05 Jun 2009
95
92nd
This movie has been remade 10005647 times, but this is the absolute best version.
Rated 16 May 2012
70
67th
Like everyone, I already knew the story of this film, having seen it copied or parodied in dozens of different media. It's a lovely movie. It's quite short, but I didn't really think it needed to be any longer. The characters are so genuinely nice in this film, it's so heartwarming. I can easily see why it's a Christmas classic.
Rated 25 Dec 2022
42
5th
This loud Hollywood treatment of the story really got on my nerves. It's the worst version i've seen yet. Everyone is caricatural and unbeliavable, in true 30s overacting. The changes in plot is exactly what you would expected from a Hollywood script that tries to cut corners, adjust characters into familiar contemporary types, interlace everything by convenience and crank up the stakes. Every version I've seen managed to keep at least the essence of the drama right, except for this one mess.
Rated 26 Dec 2015
70
75th
mediocre, swift retelling of the Christmas classic. This time Scrooge easily converts to being a good man as soon as the first ghost shows up and continues to get more over the top Christmas giddy as it goes on. Thankfully it was super short. Not to mention that everyone seem reasonable well off including the Cratchett's.
Rated 05 Aug 2011
40
6th
Probably one of the worst versions of Dickens' classic. Saccharinely sweet with virtually no edge to the drama. The acting is way over the top. Steer clear of this version.
Rated 15 Dec 2007
0
8th
Sensationally dull version of the classic story. Stick to the Alastair Sim version
Rated 29 Dec 2018
57
52nd
Quirky (and quick!), enjoyable Hollywood version of the classic tale.
Rated 21 Dec 2020
70
53rd
bitdifflionintrolol+snowballhat+soexcitedforgooselol+Sverygood+pastgood+presentgreat+happySkindabadlol
Rated 15 Dec 2007
85
88th
Played better than the last time I saw it. Good cast. Owen is quite convincing in the pre-redemption phase, but gets a bit goony after his conversion. One cool thing about this version is that it contains June Lockhart's movie debut (she plays one of the daughters of real-life ma & pa Gene and Kathleen).
Rated 09 Dec 2020
6
55th
It rushes through the story, pales next to the 1951 Alastair Sim movie and Reginald Owen is merely an adequate Scrooge, but has its charms and the final moments, as always, are irresistible. Gene Lockhart is a more personable than usual Bob Cratchit.
Rated 22 Nov 2012
45
18th
By this point we've had a million better versions made so this one isn't really worth the time.
Rated 19 Apr 2009
3
40th
"Despite the lack of MGM padding, still recognizably Dickensian"
Rated 04 Dec 2013
71
31st
This is a serviceable telling of the Charles Dickens classic story. Reginald Owen does a good job at playing the lead character. He is the main stand out of the cast in this film.
Rated 10 Dec 2009
71
50th
Sincere, well-acted adaptation of the Dickens classic.

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