"A Christmas Carol" (1951) - Charles Laughton - Part 4

The 1951 recording of "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Laughton for RCA Victor does not have a long running time, only roughly 16 minutes, so they naturally have to cut a lot from the original story.

As always, the question is what they kept, what they cut and whether they added anything different.

I feel that it's good news that nothing was really added. It really seems that Charles Laughton is reading the book to us, as most of what he's reading is verbatim. I could listen to him just reading the book in the manner that Patrick Stewart did so many years later.

So, what do we have?

Side One starts with Mr. Laughton introducing himself then getting down to things. We hear Scrooge interacting with his nephew Fred and reluctantly giving Bob Cratchit the next day off. Scrooge goes home and sees Marley's face in the knocker and Marley's Ghost appears. Marley's Ghost does go "oooohhh" a lot, as I had mentioned. It's a fun ghostly effect for kids.

Side Two has the Ghost of Christmas Past appear and we're told he's dressed in a white tunic and holding a sprig of holly. The spirit takes Scrooge to Fezziwig's warehouse for the Christmas party and Fezziwig's dancing is described in detail. No Dick Wilkins, though! Then we get the breakup scene with Belle. The past is done and the Ghost of Christmas Present calls out to Scrooge as the side ends.

Now Side Three mostly features the Cratchits' Christmas dinner with Tiny Tim and all. The spirit also conducts Scrooge on a whirlwind tour of other Christmas celebrations. This spirit disappears very quickly and Scrooge is confronted by the phantom that is the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come!

Side Four needs to wrap it up so we quickly go from the other businessmen to Scrooge's forlorn body to the Cratchits' house without Tiny Tim to Scrooge seeing his own grave. We know the drill, so Scrooge is back with his bedpost. He talks to the boy out the window and we're told he sends a turkey to Bob Cratchit and goes to church. Scrooge is comically mumbling in the background at times. Scrooge beats Bob to the office next morning, raises his salary and Tiny Tim and Mr. Laughton both say that famous line!

So, a pretty quick trip through the story, but still a lot crammed in.

Lots of fun!