About
Scrooge (1935) is a British black-and-white Christmas fantasy directed by Henry Edwards, marking the first feature-length sound adaptation of Charles Dickens’s 1843 novella A Christmas Carol. Sir Seymour Hicks, who had long embodied Ebenezer Scrooge on stage, delivers a compelling performance as the miserly moneylender who dismisses Christmas as “humbug.” On Christmas Eve in Victorian London, Scrooge’s disdain for charity and warmth—evident in his harsh treatment of his clerk Bob Cratchit and refusal to donate to the poor—is interrupted by the eerie visitation of his deceased partner Jacob Marley, followed by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come. Through hauntingly atmospheric visuals reminiscent of early German expressionism, these spirits guide him to confront his lonely childhood, lost love, and the grim future that awaits if he does not change. Ultimately, a transformed Scrooge returns to generosity, compassion, and celebration—ordering a feast for the Cratchit family, reconnecting with his nephew Fred, and embracing the spirit of Christmas. Though sometimes critiqued for its abbreviated backstory and modest production values, its faithful storytelling, gothic tone, and nuanced central performance have earned it enduring appreciation among classic holiday films.
