I watch this film every single year. Since 2016, I've been reading the book every year too. I absolutely love the story, and this version stays very true to the book. In many ways it's quite tragic for a Christmas story, but it has a wonderfully uplifting ending, and a strong message that everyone should listen to. "I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year." (I still prefer the Muppets' version though!)

One of the very best versions of this Dickens Classic

I remember seeing this for the 1st time in the Upper Midwest 6-7 years ago as it was, for some reason, the only version i could currently stream at Christmas that year at my family's house (and was on cable, too). I learned after why this version is widely considered the darkest and most emotionally intense classical adaptations of Charles Dicken's "A Christmas Carol" (discounting the 2019 FX/BBC miniseries, which I still need to see yet). It can be a bit drier at times dialogue wise, but the set backdrops really add ambiance behind this. The producer Renown Pictures filmed this film at Nettlefold Studios in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, England using authentic Victorian-era sets, locations, and costumes to create a convincing atmosphere. The cobbled streets, gas lamps, narrow alleys, and fog-drenched visuals were designed to reflect the grime, poverty, and elegance of Dickensian London—making the 1951 version feel both intimate and haunting. The film’s art direction leaned into postwar realism - you can feel the soot and sorrow in the sets, adding to the film’s heavy emotional tone. This adaptation of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" is one of the first versions to delve into Scrooge's emotional and psychological transformation, not just his behavior. The actor playing Ebenezer named Alastair Sim is probably my favorite depiction, too. I still personally like the 1935 version better as a family freindly nostalgic depiction, but this is a welcome counterpart. As an interesting side note, Michael Hordern, who played Marley’s Ghost, later voiced Scrooge in the 1971 animated version, too.

One of the most iconic adaptions of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, Scrooge is a compelling tale of redemption. When a stingy businessman is visited by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future he learns the error of his ways. Alistair Sim gives a stellar performance that would define the Scrooge characters for years to come. And director Brian Desmond Hurst does an impressive job at capturing the feel and tone of the Dickens’ novel. Additionally, screenwriter Noel Langley adds some interesting backstory to Scrooge in how and why he adopted such a ruthless business ethic. Scrooge is a powerful film that realizes the literary classic as never before.