Charles Dickens 1843 novella 'A Christmas Carol' serves as one of greatest influences, besides the birth of Christ, in how we celebrate the holiday. Cinema has embraced the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, the cantankerous money lender whose stingy habits disappear after visits from four ghosts during Christmas Eve. The first full-length motion picture with sound of the Dickens' book is November 1935 "Scrooge," starring Sir Seymour Hicks in one of the most defining roles of the penny-pinching small businessman.
Before the 1935 version, Britain and Hollywood produced eight silent films on the 19th-century tale, the first a 1901 five-minute version. Seymour Hicks, who had played the grumpy old character in over two thousand stage performances since 1901, was in the 1913 film "Scrooge." Most critics agree the reason to watch 1935's "Scrooge" is because of Hicks' performance. "Hicks makes a terrific Scrooge," writes film reviewer Morgan Lewis. "He harrumphs with the best of them, and has an air of petulant irritation about him. As Scrooge undergoes his spiritual transformation during the course of the night, so does Hicks' performance gradually warm up. He's even more fun to watch once Scrooge has been redeemed; there's such a childish glee about him that it's hard not to laugh."
The 1935 "Scrooge" differs in many ways from the other adaptations. Only one ghost, Christmas Present, is fully defined and visible on the screen. Marley's Ghost is audibly heard, but besides a short burst showing his face on the door knocker, he's unseen. Christmas Past is simply a shadowy shape while Christmas Yet to Come has only a pointing finger as his only presence. But Scrooge can clearly see them all. Rare in cinema is the scene showing Tiny Tim dead in the 1935 film.
"Scrooge" marked English actor Robert Morley's first screen appearance as an uncredited Rich Man. He began on the British stage in 1928 at 20, and constantly switched between the stage and the film studio sets throughout his acting career until the 1980s. Morley is known for his famous quip on the egos of actors: "It is a great help for a man to be in love with himself," Morley noted. "For an actor it is absolutely essential."
Before the 1935 version, Britain and Hollywood produced eight silent films on the 19th-century tale, the first a 1901 five-minute version. Seymour Hicks, who had played the grumpy old character in over two thousand stage performances since 1901, was in the 1913 film "Scrooge." Most critics agree the reason to watch 1935's "Scrooge" is because of Hicks' performance. "Hicks makes a terrific Scrooge," writes film reviewer Morgan Lewis. "He harrumphs with the best of them, and has an air of petulant irritation about him. As Scrooge undergoes his spiritual transformation during the course of the night, so does Hicks' performance gradually warm up. He's even more fun to watch once Scrooge has been redeemed; there's such a childish glee about him that it's hard not to laugh."
The 1935 "Scrooge" differs in many ways from the other adaptations. Only one ghost, Christmas Present, is fully defined and visible on the screen. Marley's Ghost is audibly heard, but besides a short burst showing his face on the door knocker, he's unseen. Christmas Past is simply a shadowy shape while Christmas Yet to Come has only a pointing finger as his only presence. But Scrooge can clearly see them all. Rare in cinema is the scene showing Tiny Tim dead in the 1935 film.
"Scrooge" marked English actor Robert Morley's first screen appearance as an uncredited Rich Man. He began on the British stage in 1928 at 20, and constantly switched between the stage and the film studio sets throughout his acting career until the 1980s. Morley is known for his famous quip on the egos of actors: "It is a great help for a man to be in love with himself," Morley noted. "For an actor it is absolutely essential."