At least in the DVD version of "A Christmas Carol" that I have. (No aspect ratio information stated, however. It looks like it may have originally been 1:66, but if there are any Brittish Cinematographer Society buffs out there who know about a "1:37" ratio, please chime in!).
My version is the one narrated by Patric McNee (aka, "Young Marley", and also aka John Steed later, in The Avengers), which, although a tad overly sentimental, is a nice inclusion specifically because McNee was an original cast member. One needn't risk a sugary overdose of it, though, because the menu (rusticly-rendered over an antique book b.g.), also offers a straight forward chapter selection as well, unfettered by the optional narration.
As to "Scrooge's scream", when the door to his chamber flies open, following those deeply eerie close shots of the door and hand bells that ring, yet do not move, and Scrooge flies from his chair spilling porridge, backing up aside his miserly fire..., oh yes, it's definitely there.
And I thank you for pointing it out in your other thread, because I paid particular attention to it this time. Not a girlish scream; not a shout, but a kind of gutteral yelp, that bottoms-out on an almost animal note. Verrrrry nicely rendered by Mr. Sim.
Previously when viewing this, my favorite version of all the "Christmas Carol" film adaptations, I would say the most noticeable scream in the piece is the late Jacob Marley's (Michael Horden's) chain-rattling howl -- "Man of the world, DO you believe in me, or NOT?!", soon followed by his absolutely-spine-curdling banshee shriek, "'BUSINESS'?! ManKIND was my 'Business'...!" That just quite plainly just scared the s**t out of me first time I heard it, and still gives me the willies.
And then of course there's Scrooge's wildly pathetic, abandoned wail when TGOCF slides that alabaster hand toward his grave. Heh, heh...
All-in-all, I'd have to say the '51 Alistair Sim version of "CC" remains the benchmark, not only for Sim's astonishing performance, but as one of the genuinely great ghost stories on screen as well.
"You'll be wanting the WHOLE day off tomorrow, I suppose...?"
Bah Humbug-ly,
SOT
__________________ "By My Prickley, Long-Stemmed Nose,
Something Wicked This Way Grows...!"
www.crumpkinspumpkins.com
I have a feeling this is what's called the "Emerald Edition," the DVD case is framed in green? This is supposed to be the best version out there, and it was sold out when I went looking for it! It's got the scream, as you have explained. The version I bought (the two-disc so-called "Ultimate Collector's Edition") doesn't have that scream!
I bought the Ultimate Collector's Edition? Ultimate SUCKER'S Edition is more like it.
See, Scrooge isn't just afraid of ghosts, or of Marley's ghost. A part of his mind is aware that he's a bitter, angry person who's been causing a lot of suffering for years. And he's scared of facing that truth. That's why his scream has such meaning for me, I guess...
__________________
"WHAT'S out there?"
"I don't know.......it was little and brown, and low to the ground!"
Welllll, I'm checking out the DVD case right now, and it's kind of green, on the back, with a sort or sepia-ish, colorized portrait of Sim on the front. (Scary teeth, those.)
Maltin quote and four stars also on the cover.
VCI Entertainment, www.vcient.com, looks like the distributor. Got it at the NOHO Frys.
"Beware them both, but most of all, BEWARE THIS BOY..." (that'd make a nice signature line, eh?)
__________________ "By My Prickley, Long-Stemmed Nose,
Something Wicked This Way Grows...!"
www.crumpkinspumpkins.com
This is STRANGE...your packaging sounds just like mine. Is yours a 2-disc set like mine?
Patrick MacNee is featured on disc 2, and he introduces the colorized version of the film. He's sitting on a set with a bunch of Christmas decorations.
On disc 1--I double-checked, just to be sure I wasn't imagining this--the initial scream is definitely missing.
There are snowflakes with iridescent glitter on the outer cardboard sleeve packaging (it's a cardboard slipcase-type thing that goes over the plastic keep case), and there is a 2007 copyright date on the back.
__________________
"WHAT'S out there?"
"I don't know.......it was little and brown, and low to the ground!"
This is STRANGE...your packaging sounds just like mine. Is yours a 2-disc set like mine?
Patrick MacNee is featured on disc 2, and he introduces the colorized version of the film. He's sitting on a set with a bunch of Christmas decorations.
On disc 1--I double-checked, just to be sure I wasn't imagining this--the initial scream is definitely missing.
There are snowflakes with iridescent glitter on the outer cardboard sleeve packaging (it's a cardboard slipcase-type thing that goes over the plastic keep case), and there is a 2007 copyright date on the back.
Okay: mine's a single disc -- NOT colorized. Weird -- MacNee's host appearance is used on both editions (same set by your description, I'm sure). I have a speculation that he did the gig for a local station TV station -- I do recall seeing this broadcast, many years ago -- and whoever the distributor (s) is (are), they licensed it for the DVD release.
"Scrooge's scream" is definitely in -- could the "colorized" version have omitted it for some reason? No cardboard slipcase at all, just a standard DVD clamshell. Copyright on mine is "2004", for packaging design.
"Special Features" include:
MacNee's intro/hosting
Interactive Menus
Cast Bio
& "Bonus Technicolor Cartoon",
"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" (Which, I think, is directed by M.Fleisher, but I'll have to confirm that, because as I recall, aside from its pedigree it's rather insipid, and I haven't watched it twice.)
The 1951 Renown Film Production copyright is listed has being renewed (no date).
The mystery deepens, eh...?
"We are not yet finished, Ebenizer...!"
Bah Humbug-ly,
SOT
__________________ "By My Prickley, Long-Stemmed Nose,
Something Wicked This Way Grows...!"
www.crumpkinspumpkins.com
Mine is a VCI release also, and appears to feature different material. I wish I had your version!
Yes, personally, I think the missing scream in this new restored version is someone's mistake...the sound, by the way, has been processed all around, and is noticeably tweaked.
Here's how the two disc set breaks down, regarding the scream:
Disc 1: 4x3 ratio with optional surround audio. No scream.
Disc 1: 16x9 ratio with optional surround audio. No scream.
Disc 2: Colorized 1.33 version, mono only. Has scream!
The colorized version appears to have been done in the 80's (as colorization jobs go, this is pretty primitive, and is probably one of the first done) and features an untampered-with soundtrack.
In the restoration special features there is a brief documentary on the new restoration of the film, in which it is mentioned that VCI was given access to original soundtrack elements and that they used these do create their own new surround remix. Here is where I think the scream was accidentally omitted.
__________________
"WHAT'S out there?"
"I don't know.......it was little and brown, and low to the ground!"
TA and I both started separate threads about this at about the same time, and, discussing in in PMs, we agreed it best to consolidate them here. As the comments TA posted under the parallel thread in "Horror Discussion" are valuable to both threads' exploration of the '51 Alistair Sim "Christmas Carol", with his permission I am reposting them here --
On 12-12-07,
tomanderson wrote:
"Well, here's ... the long-awaited thread for discussing the movie that many people consider to be the best film adaptation of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol." Think chain-rattling ghosts and the sufferings of the damned have nothing to do with the Christmas spirit? Think again.
For a long time it was a holiday tradition to tell frightening ghost stories around the fire at Christmastime. This was so when Dickens wrote his novella, and he wove in elements of morality and social commentary. The character of Scrooge has spent much of his lifetime ignoring his own cruelty and greed, causing much suffering to those around him. His belated enlightenment is traumatic and terrifying for him at first, and delving into the sadness and unpleasantness of his self-examination is how he earns his eventual transformation. In a very entertaining--and frightening--way, the 1951 film distills the essence of Dickens' profound story.”
(and additionally)
“Anyway, the first thing I wanted to mention was that I saw this movie when I was really young, well before I ever picked up the book. And from Marley's ghost onward, it generally scared me pretty good!
A friend of mine likes to say, "You only need to do the big scare ONCE. After that, the audience is so freaked out, they'll jump at any little thing you throw at them." Well, Marley's ghost did that for me. His horrible unearthly howls of torment were really awful to hear, and I was creeped out by the way he dragged his chains. As soon as Marley appeared, I knew the movie was dead serious.”
SOT’s reply there was:
“The BIG scare, up front. Yes! Nice observation, that. Works so well in "CC", thanks to Michael Horden's convincingly baleful, tour-de-force Marley, that by the time TGOCF shows up and extends that bloodless, artfully pointing finger, there's (for me) an almost unspeakable terror about him. I remember the first time I saw it thinking, almost begging, ‘Don't let him open that shroud -- PLEASE, don't show us what's under there...’
Begging other HF Members’ indulgence, this now consolidates this thread here. I know TA and I will welcome comments and observations from others in the community here who may appreciate this film’s uniquely terrifying aspects, particularly appropriate for discussion in this festive season!
‘Are there no prisons...? Are there no workhouses...?’”
Bah Humbug-ly,
SOT
__________________ "By My Prickley, Long-Stemmed Nose,
Something Wicked This Way Grows...!"
www.crumpkinspumpkins.com
No aspect ratio information stated, however. It looks like it may have originally been 1:66, but if there are any Brittish Cinematographer Society buffs out there who know about a "1:37" ratio, please chime in!
The 1951 film was meant to be shown at a 1:1.37 screen ratio, as all 35mm films were at the time.
This film must really be good, because I admired it five, ten, fifteen years ago, always marveling at how meaningful and emotional it was; and even now, when I see it it's like seeing something that is still fresh and new. I see things I never noticed before--there is a density of detail that is just so surprising.
All this in a movie that has some truly scary, creepy stuff in it!
__________________
"WHAT'S out there?"
"I don't know.......it was little and brown, and low to the ground!"
"Scrooge's Scream", a "Christmas Carol" thread...
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