For a film made in 1938, this A Christmas Carol has a lot going for it. In fact, it's probably the most underrated version of the classic Dickens story ever filmed.

Reginald Owen is a spot-on Scrooge, making like miserable for his devoted assistant Bob Cratchitt (Gene Lockhart). In this version of the story, Cratchitt is fired on Christmas Eve due to an ill-timed snowball, but Bob is so irrepressible that he blows his last shilling on delicious foodstuffs for his family, including the wee, crippled Tiny Tim (Terry Kilburn).

That night, a trio of celebrated ghosts arrive and show Scrooge the error of his miserable, stingy, cruel ways -- culminating in a visit to the future and his forgotten gravesite. Next morning, our man is cured, tossing out jobs, raises, and goodwill toward men.

At less than 70 minutes long (in keeping with the original material's status as a short story), the film is hardly complex. And that's fine. Here we see a story in a rather pure form -- full of drama and (surprisingly) humor. The special effects are even pretty good for the era.

Most viewers will still remember other versions of the film more readily, but this is one worth seeking out 'round holiday time.