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A Christmas Carol (Ultimate Collector's Edition)(B/W & Color) | 
 enlarge | Actors: Alastair Sim, Jack Warner, Kathleen Harrison, Mervyn Johns, Hermione Baddeley
Studio: VCI Entertainment
Category: DVD
List Price: $19.99
Buy New: $10.49
You Save: $9.50 (48%)
New (29) Used (8) Collectible (1) from $10.49
Rating:  122 reviews
Format: Black & White, Color, Digital Sound, Full Screen, Subtitled, Ntsc
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Number Of Discs: 2
Running Time: 86 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 5 x 4 x 1
MPN: 8500
UPC: 089859850028
EAN: 0089859850028
Theatrical Release Date: 1951
Release Date: October 23, 2007
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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Product Description
Alastair Sim's tour-de-force performance as the ultimate miser Ebenezer Scrooge has almost single-handedly made this beloved version of Charles Dickens' story into one of the best-loved Christmas films of all time. Some of Britain's best filmmakers united behind Sim who was joined by a delightful cast of accomplished and acclaimed English actors; creating what many today believe to be the best and most faithful production of Dickens' immortal tale. Cranky and curmudgeonly Scrooge learns the error of his unkind ways and is taught the true meaning of the holidays when he is visited by the ghost of his late business partner and the spirits of Christmas past present and future. BONUS FEATURES: Original B&W 4x3 Version from an all new digital transfer Optional 16x9 Version Enhanced for Widescreen Monitors Bonus Colorized Version Scrooge (1935 Seymour Hicks Version) Audio Commentary by Marcus Hearn & George Cole "Spirit of Christmas Past" George Cole remembers Alastair Sim "Richard Gordon Remembers George Minter & Renown Pictures" "Charles Dickens His Life & Times" Original American Theatrical Trailer Original British Theatrical Trailer Before & After Restoration Comparison Optional English & Spanish Subtitles Optional Narrative for the Blind Photo & Press Book Gallery Cast Bios. SPECS: 2-DVD9s; Dolby Digital; 86 minutes; Color & B/W; 1.33:1 Aspect Ratio & Optional 4x3 & 16x9 Enhanced versions; Year - 1951. Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA UPC: 089859850028 Manufacturer No: 8500
Amazon.com
This is the desert-island choice of the many versions of A Christmas Carol, with a magnificent, full-bodied portrayal of Ebenezer Scrooge by Alastair Sim that leaves everyone else in the dust. Lean and direct, this film's version of the story wastes no time trying to impress viewers with the magical nature of the spirits' visitations. Director Brian Desmond Hurst keeps the focus on Scrooge's life story, beautifully simplifying and underscoring the theme of lost women with a haunting musical refrain from the folk song "Barbara Allen." Sim's commitment to the role is at times astonishing; his Scrooge's Christmas-morning ecstasy is a marvel of giddy technique. Watch for Patrick Macnee (Steed in The Avengers) as the young Jacob Marley--the actor made his screen debut in this 1951 production. --Tom Keogh On the DVD
This ultimate collectors' edition is crammed with special features, on both discs.
Amazon exclusive video:
George Cole, who played the
young Ebenezer Scrooge, reflects.Watch here Find out what's new on
this restored version of A Christmas Carol. Watch here Never-before-seen U.S. and
U.K. trailers. Watch here | Film (and Charles Dickens) fans won't want to miss a single screen. The audio commentary by Marcus Hearn and George Cole adds depth and perspective to Sim's amazing performance, and the groundbreaking special effects for the time. Cole also gives a homey remembrance of working with Sim during World War II and living in the English countryside to avoid the Blitz. One of the most compelling extras is a short bio of George Mintner, the film's executive producer who would go on to found his own successful distribution company, Renown Pictures. An unlikely film mogul, the British Mintner was shy and bookish, but managed to build a reputable mini-studio in the '50s, out of the Hollywood limelight. He produced mostly B-movies, though after A Christmas Carol (originally titled Scrooge), he produced another Dickens adaptation, The Pickwick Papers. There's a great mini-bio of Dickens, who grew up in the poverty that later fascinated him in his writings. Other extras include the colorized version (what were people thinking back in the '80s?), cast bios, original trailers, and a features that more film companies might want to consider, an optional narration for the blind. Nothing is left out for film fans--God bless us, every one.--A.T. Hurley Beyond A Christmas Carol 
1938 version starring Reginald Owen | 
1984 version starring George C. Scott | 
1999 version starring Patrick Stewart | Stills from A Christmas Carol
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| Customer Reviews: Read 117 more reviews...
 A Christmas Carol-Alstair Sims November 30, 2008
Kenneth N. Sullivan
This is without a doubt the best version of the Charles Dicken's classic ever made. If you only have one Christmas film in your collection it should be this one.
 REVIEW OF THE SINGLE DISC B&W COLOR RELEASE 1989! November 29, 2008
! MR. KNOW IT ALL ;-b (TRI STATE AREA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
VCI Entertainment released a single disc version of this film almost 20 years ago. The print on it is faded and the color process is a bit fake looking. I can only hope that this new 2 disc edition from the same company is much better!....I would think so after 20 years.
The film itself is considered a classic by many, but this particular version is dated and stagey! It's slow moving with Alastair Sim being the only shinning light! I never saw this version as a kid and I think that is why I'm a bit critical of it. I have no fond memories of this movie, although I love the story! For those of you who love this version, please enjoy it as much as you like! I won't be spending my holidays watching this film version ever again! My DVD version(the single disc VCI edition from 89') has a washed out transfer, bad coloring and not much in the way of extras, including a vintage cartoon version of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. Maybe the 2 disc edition has enough going for it, to make me love this film?
True restoration November 23, 2008
R. H. Ulmer (Bay Area)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Because I read several negative reviews of this restoration I purchased the disc with some misgivings. I'm happy to report that my misgivings were not justified. Now, no one is harder to please than me when it comes to DVD image and sound quality. This is the best looking version of this film I've seen to date. Overall detail is vastly improved over the previous release as is contrast. I can see textures in clothing I've never seen before, as well as detail in shadows that were lacking in previous releases. The sound is 100% improved (even the Dolby Surround is effective). While there is some footage that is a bit degraded it quite minimal and accounts for only a minute or two of the entire film.
Overall, a great restoration job!
 YOU CAN'T TOP ALISTAIR SIM'S SCROOGE. November 21, 2008
Alan Beumann (Somewhere In America)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Ever since I can remember, Christmas hasn't been Christmas without at least one viewing of this film. Even waaaay back to the days before VCRs and 300 cable channels, living in a small Arkansas town, my brother and I would scour the TV guide that came in the Sunday paper to see if it was coming on one of the three channels we got. (How did we survive?)
I also have the 2002 disc, and comparing them on my setup it's obvious that alot of care has gone into the restoration efforts. However (here comes the nit-pick)...watch the scene where the door to Scrooge's sitting room flies open in advance of Marley's entrance. Scrooge leaps up from his chair and cowers against the wall...his mouth is opening BUT YOU CAN'T HEAR HIM UTTER HIS CRY OF FEAR! This, to me, is shoddy audio engineering...since of course it's loud and clear on the 2002 version. Someone apparently dropped the audio out when the transfer was being done. Yes, I know this is a very, very minor point, but it's still a point. So I actually give the disc creators 4 stars. If they were as dedicated to the full restoration of this film as the packaging would have us believe, they wouldn't have missed something so trivial.
A Christmas Carol (Ultimate Collector's Edition)(B/W & Color) November 10, 2008
Terry Fedick (BC Canada)
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
I don't really have to write anything do I?????
The life of a Scrooge transformed by the Love of a friends. Watch both though I do really prefer the black & white one just being nostalgic.
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