About
Scrooge, or Marley’s Ghost (1901) is the earliest surviving cinematic adaptation of Charles Dickens’ beloved novella A Christmas Carol. Directed by Walter R. Booth and produced by pioneer filmmaker R. W. Paul at Paul’s Animatograph Works, this six-minute black-and-white silent "trick" film condenses Dickens's 80-page tale into a series of twelve visual tableaux. It uniquely combines the roles of the three spirits into the singular figure of Jacob Marley—played draped in a sheet—who haunts Ebenezer Scrooge (Daniel Smith) and delivers spectral visions of his past, present, and grim future. Innovative for its time, the film makes early use of cinematic techniques such as dissolves, superimposition—most notably Marley's face appearing on Scrooge’s doorknocker—and the first known use of intertitles on screen. Though the surviving footage, preserved by the British Film Institute, is fragmentary (about 3½ minutes), it clearly demonstrates the filmmakers' ambitious aim to adapt a famous story with minimal text, relying on audience familiarity and visual storytelling. Despite its stage-bound style, the film remains a fascinating artifact of early cinematography and festive storytelling.
