In another week or so, Ebenezer, a new version of Charles Dickens’ classic novella, A Christmas Carol, will hit the movie theaters. Johnny Depp, if you can believe it, will portray the main character, the curmudgeonly, miserly Ebenezer Scrooge. I, for one, have no plans to go and see this “dark comedy,” as it is billed. Not now, not ever.
To date there have been over one hundred film and TV versions of A Christmas Carol, with Scrooge portrayed by such luminaries as the late, great Patrick Stewart, Michael Caine, George C. Scott, Albert Finney, Jim Carrey, and many others. But for me, there is only a single film version of this meaningful story: the one from 1951, titled A Christmas Carol (original title: Scrooge). That’s because of its star, the fine Scottish actor, Alistair Sim. Many others, besides me, feel the same way. I watch it every year, and will do so again next month. That is no humbug.
Alistair Sim as Ebenezer Scrooge.
Johnny Depp as Ebenezer Scrooge.