As I type this we have the 1938 movie A Christmas Carol, being shown on TCM, on as background noise. I smiled when I observed June Lockhart as Belinda Cratchit in the cast with her father, Gene, and her mother, Kathleen. That must have been an experience for her.
She’s still alive. She’s 99 years old and remarkably little changed since 1938. She’s apparently reasonably vigorous and remains in touch with the many who’ve played her children over the years including Billy Mumy, Angela Cartwright, Marta Kristen (Lost in Space) and Jon Provost (Lassie).
My favorite version is Sim’s 1938 portrayal. Many people like George Scott’s version, but I decidedly do not.
I completely missed the June Lockhart connections, so thanks for that. Of course, I’m generally so obtuse about casting that I didn’t tumble to Patrick Macnee’s playing the little boy until he began being the intro to the movie.
FWIW, a list of all the plays and movies from Wiki:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adaptations_of_A_Christmas_Carol
PS. “Goodbye, Mr Chips” with Robert Donat is excellent, too. A useful film in this time of continuous war.
Sims’s version was in 1951. IMO it’s definitive. Reginald Owen played Scrooge in the 1938 version.
I don’t know if I’ve mentioned it before but Robert Donat is my favorite actor. I would describe him as a character actor handsome enough for leading man roles. The 39 Steps in which he plays the lead is my favorite movie. I think his portrayal of Edmond Dantes in The Count of Monte Cristo is definitive. Goodbye, Mr. Chips. The Adventures of Tartu. Knight Without Armour. If you haven’t seen Vacation From Marriage, you have a treat in store. Seek it out. It costars Deborah Kerr. They play a married couple who are bored with their marriage and old before their time. They both serve during World War II. By the end of the war he’s bold, adventurous, and dashing and she’s glamorous and fun-loving. Will they be able to stand each other?
Terry Kilburn, the boy playing Colley (all versions as boys) in Goodbye, Mr. Chips, is still alive, too. He’s 98.