Two early classic Silent British Film Productions with Seymour Hicks & Russell Thorndike as Scrooge

Also includes two George Cricks’ productions, the Biscuit Works and Making Christmas Crackers, plus a 1962 Documentary.

Barcode: 0714119183744

U Cert UK PAL Region Free

Previously lost in the vaults and rarely seen for many years, these two British made engaging versions of ‘A Christmas Carol’ feature two contrasting but equally inspired interpretations of the role of Ebenezer Scrooge. Seymour Hicks gives us a lively and theatrical take on the role with a much more unsettling, menacing and hunchbacked take on the miser of all misers from Russell Thorndike. Both films feature impressive and notable camera effects for their age, dramatic scenes are cleverly superimposed into the 1913 version and, in the 1926 production, very effective manifestations of the ghosts. The earlier version boasts slightly more impressive settings and in the later version, the setting is more claustrophobic in its feel. Sir Seymour Hicks (1871 – 1949), like his contemporaries Barnaby Williams and Frank Pettingell, had already cemented a solid reputation as a leading interpreter of a Dickens’ character onstage. He had first played Scrooge just aged thirty in 1901 and continued to prolifically perform as him throughout his entire career. He arguably provided his definitive performance on film in the 1935 sound version of ‘Scrooge’ when closer to the characters’ perceived age and with all those years of experience digested into that performance. However here we have that fascinating record of Hicks’ ‘Scrooge’ first captured on celluloid. Also look out for a cameo from Hicks’ wife and regular collaborator, Ellaline Terriss. Russell Thorndike (1885 – 1972) is better known today for this other career and, arguably, his first love as a novelist. Most notably the Doctor Syn stories of swashbuckling sea piracy and smuggling skulduggery with a tinge of Folk Horror (the double-life and persona of the title character possibly a reflection of Thorndike’s own contrasted working life).  As an actor he had great ability, although often overshadowed by his sister Sybil, he was also celebrated for playing varied Shakespearian and classical characters. Largely having a career on the stage, he made some sparse but notable film appearances such as this, and it is worth noting that his last screen credit was in the ITV Series ‘Tales from Dickens’ (in an excerpt from ‘David Copperfield’). Not surprisingly his interpretation of Scrooge is one that finds a worthy place within the Christmas Carol canon. Of course at the end of the story, both actors delightfully convey the joy and sheer delight for Scrooge, when he finally finds his redemption and the story’s warm hearted Festive message.

The silent Christmas Carol films are accompanied by evocative recordings of Hely-Hutchinson’s A Carol Symphony, the sounds of Victorian music boxes, Corelli’s "Christmas Concerto” and excerpts from Delius’ North Country Sketches.

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Condition: New & Sealed

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