MAGNET contributing writer Jud Cost is sharing some of the wealth of classic films he’s been lucky enough to see over the past 40 years. Trolling the backwaters of cinema, he has worked up a list of more than 100 titles—from the ’20s through the ’80s—that you may have missed. A new selection, all currently available on DVD, appears every week.
A Christmas Carol (1951, 86 minutes)
More than any other holiday, Christmas has inspired several excellent films. This version of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, shot in London with a superlative British cast using original Victorian location sites, is one of the best. With his craggy features and cranky manner, Alastair Sim was born to play Ebenezer Scrooge.
Scrooge enters the office of Scrooge & Marley on a frigid Christmas eve and is greeted by a pair of gentlemen collecting funds for the unfortunate. “At this festive season, a few of us are endeavoring to buy the poor some meat and drink,” explains one, as Scrooge removes his overcoat, top hat and scarf.
“Are there no prisons? Are the union work houses still in operation?” asks Scrooge. “They are. I wish I could say they are not. What shall I put you down for?” inquires one of the charitable men. “Nothing,” answers Scrooge. “You wish to be anonymous?” “I wish to be left alone. I support the establishments I’ve mentioned. Those badly off must go there,” says Scrooge. “Some would rather die,” pleads one collector. “If they’d rather die, they’d better do it and decrease the surplus population,” intones Scrooge.
“You’ll want the whole day off tomorrow, I suppose,” sniffs Scrooge as he’s helped into his overcoat at quitting time by his clerk, Bob Cratchit (Mervyn Johns). “If quite convenient, sir,” says Cratchit. “It’s not convenient,” says Scrooge. “If I docked you half a crown, you’d think yourself ill-used. But you don’t think me ill-used if I pay you a day’s wages for no work.” “It’s only once a year, sir,” pleads Cratchit. “It’s a poor excuse for picking a man’s pocket every 25th of December! I suppose you’d better have the whole day,” Scrooge glowers. “Thank you sir. It’s very generous. And merry Christmas, sir,” mumbles Cratchit. “You a clerk on 15 shillings a week and a wife and family talking about a merry Christmas?” says Scrooge, shaking his head. “I’ll retire to bedlam.”
A blind beggar with a tin cup scampers to the other side of the icy street as Scrooge trudges toward a dreary hostelry to dine. “More bread,” Scrooge demands of the waiter as he mops up his plate. “Ha’penny extra, sir,” says the waiter. “No more bread,” frowns Scrooge.
As the miserable man stops before his front door, he hears his name whispered. It’s then that he notices the face of his long-dead partner, Jacob Marley, appearing on the door knocker. “Humbug!” mutters Scrooge as he, nevertheless, takes care to fasten every door lock from the inside. The precaution is of no matter. Scrooge will be visited tonight by three sprits, each one more frightening than the last. They will make one final attempt to change the ways of this gloomy misanthrope before it is too late.
