DVD editions...


There are several public domain shoddy, abreviated versions floating around; avoid them at all costs. IMAGE has put out a kind of pricy disc that is a HUGE improvement over these other versions, and runs 78 minutes. The picture quality has a few problems and looks to be a conversion from PAL to NTSC so it has its own issues but is STILL the best available...however...

LEGEND FILMS will be putting out a DVD the Fall of 2007 that features digitally RESTORED versions of the film, one colorized and one B/W. Legend has done a bang up job in their past digital restorations; making these look pristine again and have sidestepped the colorizing controversy a bit by including the B/W versions as well, fully restored. I suspect this will give us the best version by far available of the 1935 film of this classic.

reply

Oh no, the Legend Films release is a shocking disappointment. It's only the hour-long cut of the film, not the full 78 minute edition. Equally sad from them was their release of KILLER SHREWS, which used a horribly scratched print. (Given their status for film restoration, it's a travesty that better quality prints of that particular title can be found on a number of bargain labels. SHREWS and SCROOGE seem to be something of a rush job from them, unlike the titles found in their "Ray Harryhausen Presents" series.) To date, Image still is the best source for the 1935 SCROOGE, in terms of running time and print quality.

reply

I have the DVD from Westlake Entertainment (released 2004), and it has the full 78 minute running time. The print is scratchy, as we might expect, but this is more evident in some places than in others which are virtually scratch-free. The audio is about as good as one can get for 1935, but it too is good, given the film's age. And at K-Mart for around $4, this DVD was a bargain!

The cinematography of this film is the best of any film version of the story, and Hicks, for all intents and purposes, must be considered the definitive Scrooge, having played him on stage hundreds of times and even on film once before this one, in 1913.

While this film is often overlooked and forgotten, I think we can all agree that it stands up there well with the other more well known film versions and is well worth viewing.


"Snozberries? Who ever heard of a snozberry?"

reply

I've also had the Westlake edition, as well as another. Probably, to date, Image has the best looking version of the complete cut, but even that could stand some improvement.

reply

I picked up the PC Treasures release, and it's not a good transfer. Still, it was only $1. On the packaging, though, it says Sir Cedric Hardwick is playing Scrooge.

reply

I still consider Sim the definitive Scrooge. Hicks could play Scrooge a thousand times and never touch Sim's portrayal. Hicks is good, but too "acty" for me, if that is a term. He plays it likehe's on the stage instead of in a movie with a sound department, etc. The Ghost of Christmas Past isn't even finished with him and Hicks is ready to cave. At least Sim, up until he sees his own tombstone, tries to convince the spirits they should give it up and they should try to change a younger man. I did like this version of Cratchit, though, a great deal.

ZOLTAN!

reply

He does play it like he's on stage, but then, you'll find that's the case with actors in many films of the early to mid 30s, when sound was in its infancy and actors who were accustomed to voice work were accustomed to using their voices in the theatre.

I agree, though, that Hicks doesn't even approach Sim. Still, I enjoy this version of the film.

reply

[deleted]

That version is only 60 minutes. Try to find the 78 minute version. Save yourself.

reply

I have the DVD and VHS versions and both are 78 min. Got lucky and bought for 5.00 in Wallgreens 2009

reply

The version I have is off the 2 Disc DVD of the Alastir Sims 1951 version, which I feel to be the best version and an example of how to adapt a story right, they take liberties but add to it when they do, anyway, this film is on the 2nd disc as a bonus feature and while the quality isn't very good its only 59 minutes long and the acting is pretty good, Reginald Owens version is my 2nd favorite and George C Scott is my 3rd but this now falls into the 4th spot, However, what is extra on the 78 minute version?

reply