# 90

90: A Christmas Carol (1951)

Alastair Sim (Ebenezer Scrooge), Mervyn Johns (Bob Cratchit), Michael Hordern (Jacob Marley), Glyn Dearman (Tiny Tim)

For years in the Porter household, a great debate would ignite every 24^th of December. My father would want to watch his favorite Christmas film, A Christmas Carol starring Alastair Sim. I would want to watch my favorite version of the classic Dickens tale: Mickey’s Christmas Carol (1983). My arguments for the Mickey version included the fact that Scrooge McDuck was clearly born to play the role of Ebenezer Scrooge as his first name was Scrooge.  I had the Mickey as Bob Cratchit plush toy from Hardee’s, and any film with accompanying figures and/or plush toys was superior. My silent objection to the 1951 film was that the Ghost of Christmas Future in the Alastair Sim version did not have a face—and was just plain scary. Once I outgrew Mickey, the Porter family found a compromise in the Mr. Bean Christmas episode which we had taped from PBS. While Mr. Bean made us laugh, my father yearned to watch with his family his idea of the one film that perfectly captured the meaning of Christmas.

I was immovable on the Christmas Carol issue until a few years ago. I finally relented and replaced my father’s VHS copy of the 1951 A Christmas Carol with the restored DVD version. We watched it together for the first time since I was a wee child holding my Mickey Bob Cratchit plush in defiance.  The unfortunate outcome of this event was that I turned to my father once the film was over and said: “Okay. You’re right. This version is better than the Mickey version.” In fact, I now agree that it is the best version ever made. Alastair Sim is phenomenal in the role of Scrooge, and I am convinced that every actor who has portrayed Scrooge since has merely attempted to imitate Sim. At the end of the film when he wakes on Christmas morning ecstatic and jubilant, Sim’s performance is beautiful, honest, and genuine. I hold back tears when he delivers the line: “Bob, I haven’t taken leave of my senses. I’ve come to them.” Everyone in this film gives a wonderful performance, but Sim’s Scrooge is iconic and well worth enjoying any time of the year.

If you like this film I also recommend the following films which do not appear in the Lisa’s Top 100:

It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

Miracle on 34^th Street (1947)