A Christmas Carol Campbell Playhouse 23 December 1938
The Campbell Playhouse presents A Christmas Carol, broadcast 23 December 1938. Starring Orson Welles as Ebenezer Scrooge, substituting for an ill Lionel Barrymore. Marvel at Orson's command of the dialogue, and the sentiment behind it, and that he was 23 years old at the time.
This recording is part of the Old Time Radio collection.
Kapitel
| A Christmas Carol | 1:00:47 |
Bewertungen
A Take of Two Broadcasts
Robert F Brown
The definitive version of this tale. Although Lionel Barrymore is identified with the radio tradition of "A Christmas Carol," ironically, the best production of it is without him. He was ill and unable to make it to New York in 1938, so Orson Welles filled in for him. Compare this to the 1939 broadcast and the difference in energy levels is readily apparent. At the end of the 1939 broadcast, Mr. Welles had to ad lib for several minutes because the production ran short largely because so much of the role of Scrooge was pared back to spare Mr. Barrymore's health. Not so in 1938. The broadcast is not only more energetic, but tauter, and richer thanks to Mr. Welles.
I disagree
BixLives
Lionel Barrymore DEFINED this adaptation, and without him, I find it empty. Mr. Barrymore had, and died slowly of R. A.; a hideous death. Yet, always in great PAIN, Lionel Barrymore performed this classic many times in various forms. Every film or audio programme you have heard from Mr. Barrymore was performed in a level of pain the average person will never likely understand. Wells was brilliant, but he was still a boy of hubris in 1938. Barrymore was THE greatest character actor of several generations. Wells could not hold a candle to Barrymore in this role.
Spectacular!!!
🇺🇸Divine Old Glory🇺🇸
Absolutely divine, but, let’s face it; Orson Wells was quite aware of his excellence. Charles Dickens, likely his most popular novel, as it should be, is simply as close to perfect as any. Damn near!!! God bless !! Merry Christmas!!!!!