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A Christmas Carol Overview:

A Christmas Carol (1938) was a Drama - Fantasy Film directed by Edwin L. Marin and produced by Joseph L. Mankiewicz.

SYNOPSIS

A wealthy miser learns how wonderful and fulfilling life can be with a little generosity at Christmas time from three specters who visit him the night before Christmas.

(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).

A Christmas Carol BlogHub Articles:

Classic Films in Focus: A CHRISTMAS CAROL (1938)

By Jennifer Garlen on Dec 23, 2020 From Virtual Virago

I'm generally a fan of adaptations of Charles Dickens' holiday standard, even the loose and the weird ones, but the 1938 version of A Christmas Carol from MGM strikes me as a bowdlerized, lightweight entry into the category, pleasant enough but not really willing to get to the heart of the story les... Read full article

A Christmas Carol (1938) and The Meaning of Humbug

By 4 Star Film Fan on Dec 24, 2019 From 4 Star Films

In viewing the 1951 version of the Christmas classic, I took particular interest in the name of our protagonist Ebenezer Scrooge, attempting to redeem it for the masses. For this picture, I was curious in considering another integral term in our lexicon: Humbug. The term is so ubiquitous and elicit... Read full article

A Christmas Carole-ing we go

By carole_and_co on Dec 24, 2019 From Carole & Co.

This ad ran in Hollywood trade papers in December 1937, promoting what would be Carole Lombard's final film for Paramount, "True Confession." The movie itself is not set during the holiday scenes, but several other of her films are.So to honor the season on this Christmas Eve, as many of you prepare... Read full article

Silent Sunday – A Christmas Carol (1910)

By Michael on Dec 22, 2019 From Durnmoose Movie Musings

Since Sunday tends to be a day of quiet and reflection for many people, it seems an appropriate day to celebrate silent movies. But in keeping with the “day of rest” theme, I’m just going to post this without any commentary and just sit back and let you enjoy.... Read full article

A Christmas Carole and a nostalgic menu

By carole_and_co on Dec 24, 2018 From Carole & Co.

Yesterday's entry dealt with Carole Lombard's final film for Paramount, "True Confession," which hit many U.S. theaters in December 1937. That month, the studio ran this alluring image of Lombard in many trade papers:"Fa-la-la-la-la," indeed.We regularly write about the legendary nightspots in Holly... Read full article

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A Christmas Carol Quotes:

Ebenezer Scrooge: Please let me stay!
Spirit of Christmas Present: Nonsense! You don't want to stay!
Ebenezer Scrooge: Yes, I do!
Spirit of Christmas Present: No! You don't like Christmas!
Ebenezer Scrooge: Yes! Yes I do! I like Christmas! I LOVE Christmas!
[Scrooge has come in after being visited by the ghosts]
Ebenezer Scrooge: Fred! My dear nephew! How are you?
Fred: Well who is this?
Ebenezer Scrooge: It's me! Your uncle Scrooge! Smile makes a difference, doesn't it?
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A Christmas Carol Facts
This was the only film in which Gene Lockhart appeared with his wife Kathleen Lockhart and their daughter June Lockhart,
In the 1950s New York television market, there was a local channel 9 (WOR-TV then, WWOR-TV, Secaucus, NJ now) that broadcast a "movies only" show called "Million Dollar Movie". Its theme song was "Tara's Theme" from Gone with the Wind, and its format was showing movies over and over again, back to back, not unlike in a movie theater. But on Christmas Eve for years and years, it would continuously play this movie right up to Christmas morning.
John Seitz temporarily replaced cameraman Sidney Wagner during production when Wagner was ill with a bad case of flu, and Marvin Stuart replaced assistant director Dolph Zimmer when Zimmer had a cold.
Lionel Barrymore was originally set to play Scrooge, but had to back out due to illness. Barrymore instead suggested his friend Reginald Owen take over the role. Barrymore did not perform the radio version of "A Christmas Carol" in 1938 so that it would not interfere with the success of the picture, and he appeared in a special trailer for it called A Fireside Chat with Lionel Barrymore, which was produced by Frank Whitbeck and directed by Edwin L. Marin.
Although he seemed much older, Reginald Owen was only 4 years older than Gene Lockhart.
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