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This 1938 production is probably the first good film adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Although slightly corn-ball and even treacly, it features lovely black-and-white photography and solid production values – artificial but appropriate for the story – all in the service of good-natured, uplifting entertainment, which should appeal to fans of old-fashioned Hollywood-style film-making.

This early sound adaptation of Charles Dickens’ immortal A Christmas Carol (1843) is slow in pace and static in execution, of interest to film historians and completists.

Jimy Carrey is far from the first actor to embody the cold-hearted old sinner conceived and created by author Charles Dickens in his 1843 novel. Dozens of actors have played variations of the role on stage, screen. But what of the source material? Charles Dickens original literary version of the story is a genuine classic in its own right that deserves to be read. In fact, it would probably be a better investment of your time and money if you were to pick up a copy of the novel instead of running out to see the new film.