Odd and unsatisfying adaptation of the classic book makes some comic additions and some major omissions, both of which are detrimental. Gone are the details of Scrooge's past including the death of his sister, the end of his engagement, commitment to greed, his meeting of Marley and the takeover of Fezziwegg's business. You know, the parts that explain how and why he became a heartless miser. The comic bits are just fluff that add nothing.
The acting is another major issue. I am able to adjust my gauge of performance based on the era a film was made and 1938 is still relatively early on in cinema's history. However, there is far better acting to be found in other Thirties…

Throughout the years, I have watched almost every version of this story put to celluloid. But for some unknown reason, I never came to view the MGM version from 1938, starring Reginald Owen as Scrooge. Well, after finally righting this wrong, I find that I wasn't missing much. This is by far, the worst adaptation of my favorite Christmas classic. The performances as a whole, are wholly unbelievable and largely over the top. Terry Kilburn, who was outstanding as four generations of the Colley family, in Goodbye Mr. Chips, plays Tiny Tim as if he's suffering from an intake of too much sugar, topped with a dollop of ADD. He's too manic and cheery to play the suffering, yet hopeful…