---In FairfieldLife@{{emailDomain}}, <authfriend@...> wrote:
For the last (and best) 15 minutes of the magnificent British film of
Dickens's Christmas Carol starring Alastair Sim (1951), start the video at
about 1 hour, 11 minutes: from the last moments of Scrooge's nightmare, in
which the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come shows Scrooge his own grave, to the
transformed, redeemed Scrooge, philanthropist and "second father" to Tiny Tim.
The scene Christmas morning in which he scares his housekeeper (the brilliant
Kathleen Harrison) half to death with his ecstatic antics at the realization
that he has another chance at life is one of the most joyous and thrilling in
film, IMHO.
Then watch for the brief, wordless scene at about 1:20 between Scrooge and his
nephew's maid as he screws up his courage to join the ongoing Christmas party
and end the estrangement with his family. Check out the looks he and the maid
exchange just before he opens the door. Only the Brits can handle that level of
subtlety and delicacy. One of my very most favorite movie moments.
Of course the entire film is very much worth watching. Bhairitu should
especially enjoy the earlier part, in which capitalism is demonized. ;-) But
for uplift, the last quarter-hour just can't be beat.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XNKe1cGucY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XNKe1cGucY
My husband I watch this every year. It is a tradition. It is the best version.
I love the black and white.