Timely!

OK, this is funny and still timely:

Oscar!

As we know, Richard Williams' 1971 made-for-TV adaptation of "A Christmas Carol" controversially won an Academy Award even though it had originally aired on TV.

Here's Scrooge accepting his Oscar:

Pretty fun!

No Pear Tree!

Here's the cover of the TV GUIDE issue from December 18, 1971 which includes the listing for the famous animated version of "A Christmas Carol" directed by Richard Williams:

It gets a mention on the cover, but this family was too popular to be ignored!

Listen!

So, as I often often do, I was looking for a movie to watch on TCM and settled on "Listen, Darling," a 1938 release from MGM.

I had seen it years ago and remembered some of it but not so much as not to be entertained.

Anyway, what caught my eye was that this film was directed by Edwin L. Marin, who was also the director of "A Christmas Carol," another 1938 release from MGM!

This sort of thing makes me start thinking about context (my big thing) and how do those two movies relate and whatnot.

One thing to note is that Edwin L. Marin was the director of five MGM releases that year, which shows that he was efficient, if nothing else, and that he couldn't have spent much time on "A Christmas Carol," so that was not a big "prestige" picture.

I've enjoyed quite a few movies on his résumé, so I'd say he had talent to go along with his efficiency, so a valuable employee in the days when studios were churning out a lot of movies.

The other common thread of "Listen, Darling" and "A Christmas Carol" is that Gene Lockhart appears in both films.

He, of course, plays Bob Cratchit in "A Christmas Carol" and adds a lot to that movie. His role in "Listen, Darling" is smaller, but puts the plot in motion.

The plot (such as it is) of "Listen, Darling" is Judy Garland and her friend Freddie Bartholomew trying to find a suitable husband for Mary Astor, Judy's widowed mother, so she won't have to marry the "drizzle puss" played by Gene Lockhart!

Gene's character is named "Mr. Drubbs" (which has a Dickensian sound to it!) and is just as dull as his name. Gene plays the part very well and comparing this to his performance as Bob Cratchit shows his versatility.

Gene Lockhart is the only actor to appear in the two movies, but I started to wonder if anyone else in "Listen, Darling" would fit into "A Christmas Carol."

The obvious first thought is Freddie Bartholomew, the young British breakout star of MGM's earlier Dickens adaptation of "David Copperfield" from 1935. I think he would have been a good Tiny Tim if MGM had adapted "A Christmas Carol" a couple of years earlier, but even by 1938, Freddie was age 14 and not tiny enough anymore. Not that I think Terry Kilburn was ideal, but don't get me started!

If MGM had wanted to use Freddie in "A Christmas Carol," the best part would have young Ebenezer Scrooge, but that role would have needed to be expanded and it would have thrown everything off by having a box office name (which Freddie had been and sort of still was) play young Scrooge while a non-box office name (Reginald Owen never was) as old Scrooge.

The only other British actor in "Listen, Darling" was Barnett Parker, who plays his typical role of a butler. He could have been shoved into any number of small parts in "A Christmas Carol" if he had been hanging around the lot.

The romantic lead of "Listen, Darling," Walter Pidgeon, was Canadian, but sort of seemed British, but I don't think there was a good role for him in "A Christmas Carol," except maybe Fred, but he was perhaps too mature for that part.

Not British in the least was Alan Hale, who also appears in "Listen, Darling," but I submit that he could have been a great Ghost of Christmas Present, had things lined up that way!

Another thing to note is that Judy Garland also appeared in another 1938 MGM movie directed by Edwin L. Marin, "Everybody Sing," and her father in that movie was played by Reginald Owen and her sister by Lynne Carver ("Bess" in "A Christmas Carol")! 

Everything comes back around!

From a non-"A Christmas Carol" standpoint, "Listen, Darling" is pleasant entertainment showing Freddie Bartholomew just after his peak of stardom and Judy Garland just before hers was to begin!

Here's the trailer for "Listen, Darling," which tells you all you need to know:

Another Edition!

There are so many editions of "A Christmas Carol" out there that you see the occasional one with an eye-catching cover such as this one:

I believe it was published by Arcturus in 2016 and maybe features Arthur Rackham illustrations inside?

It's hard to keep these things straight!

International!

Keeping it random, here's an Indonesian edition of "A Christmas Carol":

I'm always a fan of old school ghost representations!

Here's what I get for a translation of the tagline at the bottom of the cover:

 "nothing for regret can make up for one chance of a wasted life"

I get it!

Curious!

This old school edition of "A Christmas Carol" published by George Harrap & Co. (1920s?) has something interesting on the cover:

This appears to be a reformed Scrooge enjoying a stroll around London, but the building behind him has a sign that would seem to read "The Old Curiosity Shop!"

Does this mean that Scrooge might run into Little Nell?

Hmmm...

So, this is a poster for the 1962 reissue of MGM's 1938 version of "A Christmas Carol":

Three thoughts:

1. This was a viable theatrical reissue in 1962?

2. The Terry Kilburn is good, but the Reginald Owen is off-model!

3. What's with the old school inset illustration? Nothing to do with the movie! And Ann Rutherford is way better looking than this Ghost of Christmas Past!

That is all! 

More McDuck!

This coloring book from 1994 seems interesting:

What catches my eye is that this is billed as "A Christmas Carol" rather than "Mickey's Christmas Carol" so how is the story presented?

I wonder if I can still get a copy for 99 cents?

Early McDuck!

Speaking of Scrooge McDuck, I thought it would be fun to take a peek at his first appearance!

It was in the Donald Duck story "Christmas on Bear Mountain," as presented in Dell's Four Color Comics #178 dated October 1947:

He was very Scroogey at first!

Uncle Scrooge was created by Carl Barks just for this story, but he proved so popular that he was given his own comic book!

McDuck!

 Here's another cool autographed item:

Alan Young did such a great job voicing Scrooge McDuck in "Mickey's Christmas Carol!"

Modern Stone Age!

This is pretty cool:

Signed by Bill Hanna and Joe Barbera!

That Charles Brickens, though - what a ham!

Actual Italian!

So, who do we trust to translate this for us?

Do we go with Julius LaRosa or Lou Monte?

Spanish!

Hey, this seems like a good idea:

There's more info at the Diglot website.

I might try it!

Who Indeed!

Here's an interesting British comic book from 1972:

Easy to guess who that is!

I'd love to see the inside of that issue someday!

I don't know much about the "Valiant" series other than it was published for quite a while and at some point has something to do with "Knockout Comic" for a bit.

My non-Britishness is rally showing!

Very!

Here's another image that I don't know anything about, but which caught my eye:

It appears to take place after the book ends, with a healthy Tiny Tim greeting Scrooge outside the office.

Seems modern in style, but fun!