MGM Studio News (December 3, 1938)

Dickens * Immortal 'Christmas Carol' Comes to Life In Yuletide Treat “A Christmas Carol,” based on Charles Dickens’ classic story, brings to life Scrooge, Tiny Tim, the Cratchits, and the rest of the immortal characters in the Yuletide tale in Metro-Coldwyn-Mayer’s production, released for the holiday season. Directed by Edwin L. Marin and produced by Joseph L. Mankie- wicz, the picture follows the original story almost to the letter. Replicas of old London streets and homes of 1 840, and replicas of the quaint Christmas celebrations were worked out by careful research, as were the costumes of the Dickens period. Reginald Owen plays Scrooge, the miser, and Terry Kilburn, new find among boy actors, the crippled Tiny Tim. Gene and Kathleen Lockhart play Bob Cratchit and his wife, and their daughter June plays their daughter Belinda in the pic- ture. The romantic leads are played by Lynne Carver as Bess and Barry Mackay, English leading man, as Fred, Scrooge’s nephew. Ann Rutherford, Leo C. Carroll, Lionel Braham, Matthew Boulton, Ronald Sinclair and others comprise the cast. Mankiewicz Barrymore Stars In Christmas Carol Exploitation Trailer Lionel Barrymore, long and fond- ly associated with the Charles Dick- ens’ character of “Old Scrooge” in the beloved story of “A Christmas Carol,” appears in the special trail- er produced by M-G-M for this holiday attraction, Barrymore opens the trailer, which is titled “A Fireside Chat with Lionel Barrymore,” by introducing Reginald Owen in the character of Scrooge. Edwin Marin, the director of the picture, directed Barrymore in the special scene. One of the most elaborate pieces of set construction in the picture is a replica of the shops on Threadneedle Street in London, in which crowds make merry on Christmas Eve. Another authentic set represents the home of the Cratchits, where the traditional Christmas celebra- tion, with its roast goose, plum pudding, and Christmas greenery, is enacted. Hugo Butler adapted the story to the screen. So accurately is the original fol- lowed that even the stage directions in many cases were copied verbatim out of the book, Dickens’ own descriptions be- ing used for the varied details. ♦ ♦ ♦ Marin Supplies His Own Traps* Edwin L. Marin’s penchant for picking up odds and ends of interest in auction houses and antique shops has netted him a profit. The director, on days off, often amuses himself collecting objects that take his fancy. He had them stored in his cellar. Assigned to direct Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” he was engaged in in- spection of sets and details. The property man complained of difficulties in obtain- ing pewter mugs, old jugs, kitchen uten- sils and other articles of the period. “Better go through my cellar and see if you can find anything,” suggested Marin. The property man returned with a wagon load. ♦ ♦ ♦ CLOCK TURNED BACK The clock was set back a day when the prints of “A Christmas Carol” were shipped to Australia and New Zealand. They went by air to New York, to Eng- land on the Queen Mary, then by air from England to the Antipodes. One calendar day was gained by shipping them East instead of West, due to difference in time around the earth. ♦ ♦ ♦ FAMILY AFFAIR Gene and Kathleen Lockhart, appear- ing as Mr. and Mrs. Bob Cratchit in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s “A Christmas Carol,” have appeared on the stage and screen, as man and wife, more than two hundred times. Quaint Old English Yule Customs Faund in Screen Research Quaint old London of I 834, reproduced for a motion picture, disclosed many cus- toms almost forgotten in this modern day, when streets and homes were built, and peopled with players in the pictur- esque costumes of the time, for “A Christ- mas Carol,” Charles Dickens’ classic tale of the Yuletide. Candles and oil lamps were the illumi- nation of homes. Cas had just been per- fected and was in some of the wealthier residences. Paper bags were unkown in stores. Groceries were usually placed in cornucopia-shaped rolls made of wrap- ping paper by merchants. These and hundreds of other odd facts were assembled by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer for research in the picture. Mistletoe and its uses were tracked down, and it was discovered that the custom of kissing under this plant was a survival of a de- tail of an ancient Druidic marriage rite. It was Prince Albert, it was disclosed, who introduced the Christmas tree into England. Of Teutonic origin, the first tree in London was set up in Windsor Castle in 1840. ♦ ♦ ♦ Actor Spends Two Hours for Makeup Reginald Owen, who plays Ebenezer Scrooge in “A Christmas Carol,” Metro- Goldwyn-Mayer’s filmization of the Charles Dickens story, devoted two hours daily to make-up for the part. His char- acter was designed from the illustrations in Dickens’ first edition of the story. ♦ * ♦ PLAYED EVERY ROLE Leo G. Carroll, appearing as Marley’s ghost in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s “A Christmas Carol,” has appeared on stage and screen, as every male character men- tioned in the Christmas story. ♦ ♦ ♦ AUTHENTIC SETTING A complete replica of Threadneedle Street in London in 1840 was constructed for “A Christmas Carol.” CHARLES DICKENS' “A CHRISTMAS CAROL” with REGINALD OWEN GENE LOCKHART KATHLEEN LOCKHART TERRY KILBURN BARRY MacKAY LYNNE CARVER Screen 1 May' by HUGO BUTLER A METRO-COLDWYN-MAYER PICTURE Directed by EDWIN L. MARIN Produced by Joseph L. Mankiewicz CAST Ebenezer Scrooge. ....— Bob Cratchit ^ Mrs. Cratchit..... Tiny Tim t. Fredj Bess ! Marley’s Ghost Spirit of Christmas Present Spirit of Christmas Past Spirit of Christmas Future Young Scrooge Reginald Owen Gene Lockhart ..Kathleen Lockhart ..Terry Kilburn Barry MacKay Lynne Carver Leo G. Carroll Lionel Braham Ann Rutherford D’Arcy Corrigan Ronald Sinclair