Rating: 5 STARS - The Best "A Christmas Carol" Out Of All The Versions!!!!!
This 1938 MGM adaptation of Dicken's ageless classic, "A Christmas Carol," is absolutely hands down the best version out of all the other movie versions that have been attempted, but unfortunately it is the least known of all. This is a must see for those attempting to find the best Scrooge movie out there. Why it hasn't been relesed on DVD yet is a true mystery, but the VHS version is still in good enough condition for one to add to his or her collection, at least until a DVD version is finally released.

MGM's casting of Reginald Owen as the miserly Ebeneezer Scrooge in their 1938 production was the best decision they ever made. He is a natural, and absolutely the most believable Scrooge I have ever witnessed. Moreover, the screenplay helps him by cohesively flowing from one scene to the next, while at the same time continuing to reveal the most depth and christmas spirit within his character, as well as within all the other supporting characters.

Compared to all the other portrayals of Scrooge out there, Reginald Owens is the only actor who gives true love and meaning to his character. This allows the viewer to actually witness Scrooge's frozen heart slowly melt away as the movie unfolds, to reveal a sincere and genuinly kind old man, who, in the end, actually wants to truly help his fellow human being.

Personally, I don't understand why the other reviewers applaud Simm's portrayal of Scrooge in a later version of this movie, as I found Simm's personality to be much too abrasive and a bit overacted [especially the scenes where he is laughing after he has supposedly found redemption]. However, in contrast to the poor acting by Simms, Reginald Owen's character is acted with an honest sincerity and love that grows deeper and deeper after each succesive visit from the three spirits of Christmas. This allows his character to slowly transform into his new and redeemed self as each new scene unfolds. You can actually feel his heart opening up to receive the Christmas spirit and love that is meant to be shared during the holiday season, which is something that the other less believable movie versions try to hold back until the very last visit from the spirit of Christmas future [but then it is much too late to be believable, or to be viewed as a sincere transformation].

Finally, this MGM version is the only adaptation that shows substantial interaction between Scrooge, his nephew, Fred, and Bob Crachit's family at the very end. It is only through this in depth amends with Bob Crachit and his entire family, that a sincere sense of completion is created. For example, Scrooge actually gives some indication of what will transpire in the very near future for Crachit, for his sons, and for his nephew, Fred, who he names as his new business partner. I found a similar sense of a fulfulling conclusion to be lacking in the other movie versions. For all these reasons, I thoroughly recommend this 1938 MGM version of "A Christmas Carol."

-- David Harrison Levi -- David Levi Communications & Entertainment, Inc. All Rights Reserved copyright 2004