If you got the chance to see Charles Rock as Scrooge in the 1914 British silent film version of "A Christmas Carol," I hope you agree with me that the movie holds up pretty well!
It's fortunate that this production still exists in such a clear print that appears to be complete.
The twenty-odd minute runtime means that a lot of details need to be omitted, but they do manage to get a lot in. It's similar to the condensation from a half-hour radio or TV show, or 78rpm record set.
So, let's do a quick run-through of the plot points they included!
The film starts off with Bob Cratchit decorating the office with a couple of sprigs of holly and adding a bit of coal to the fire. Both of these things are naturally not met with approval by Scrooge when he enters, as he throws the holly on the floor!
Scrooge's nephew stops by with his wife. They both greet Bob in a pleasant manner. When the welcome from Scrooge is much less pleasant, the wife leaves while the nephew stays a bit longer until invited to leave! I don't think we ever learn that his name is Fred.
The charity solicitors drop in and have the expected success with Scrooge. They do get a small donation from Bob, however, which has popped up in other adaptations and is always a nice touch. I wonder when that bit of business first appeared?
Right before the office is closed up, a group of carolers start singing outside the window. We see a couple of different perspectives, which is fun. Not fun for the carolers, though, as Scrooge chases them away.
We then get some cross-cutting of Scrooge having dinner and going to his house and Bob going to his home. It looks like there are three young Cratchit kids, including Tiny Tim. There doesn't appear to be a Martha, so Tiny Tim hides instead.
When Scrooge gets home, he sees Marley's face in the knocker and Marley's Ghost appears to Scrooge in his room. What's interesting is that we see Marley's Ghost pull a string that rings the bell in Scrooge's room. Usually the bell(s) just ring without explanation, so this is different!
Marley's Ghost doesn't hang around for long, but he warns Scrooge that three spirits will visit him that night.
As with any other adaptation of this length, we only have time for a scene or two with each of the spirits.
The Ghost of Christmas Past shows old Scrooge a lonely Christmas at school and Fezziwig's Christmas Party.
The Ghost of Christmas Present brings Scrooge to his nephew's house. It looks like it's Fred himself who plays blind-man's buff rather than Topper. He toast Scrooge, but oddly calls him Mr. Scrooge, not Uncle Scrooge. Whatever the case, Mr./Uncle Scrooge is pretty pleased!
They also drop in at Bob Cratchit's house for a quick look at his family's Christmas dinner. They really only see Bob toast Mr. Scrooge.
The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come only gets the chance to show Scrooge his own tombstone before bringing him back.
The scenes with the three spirits make it clear that you need to know the story to follow along, as there's not really enough there otherwise. I don't consider this a flaw, as this is the case with many adaptations.
When Scrooge wakes up, he's aware that it's Christmas morning, so he doesn't need to ask a kid out the window.
He does meet the kids who were caroling earlier and fives them some money. Then he immediately runs into the charity solicitors and offers them £100 pounds (I love making that pound symbol!).
Since he didn't talk to a kid out the window, Scrooge stops by the poulterer's himself and buys a turkey. Oddly, he instructs the delivery boy to tell Bob that the turkey is a gift from Mr. Scrooge. This spoils the effect of Scrooge's joke the next morning, but the point is that Scrooge is now generous.
We see the turkey get delivered and Scrooge go to his nephew's house for Christmas dinner.
Next comes the day after Christmas, as Scrooge arrives at the office before Bob. In a very nice piece of character development, Scrooge sees the holly he had thrown on the floor. He feels regret for his previous actions and puts it back up as a decoration. Great silent, non-hammy acting from Charles Rock here.
Despite having received the turkey from Scrooge, Bob is tricked by Scrooge's feigned meanness, then really does look like he thinks Scrooge is crazy when he doubles Bob's salary!
We get one last scene that takes place "in the days to come," as per the inter-title. We see Scrooge and his nephew and wife enter the Cratchit's house. It's decorated for Christmas, but it's unclear if this taking place in literally "days" or at a future Christmas. Everyone looks the same, but the point is that they're all happy.
I think it Bob who says, Merry Christmas. God bless us every one!" before the final fade.
So, a condensed, but faithful adaptation!
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