Every year around this time Mme Reclus and I treat ourselves to watching the 1951 film “Scrooge”, with Alastaire Sim in the title role.

Over the years, Jim Carrey, Patrick Stewart, Michael Caine, Tom Hanks, Albert Finney, George C Scott, Tim Curry, Christopher Plummer, Kelsey Grammer, Walter Matthau, Jack Palance, Rich Little, Robert Morse and many other fine actors have played Ebenezer Scrooge, but in my opinion, Sim turned in the finest performance by far. The film also features Michael Hordern as Jacob Marley and Patrick Macnee (remember “Steed” in “The Avengers”), as Tiny Tim.

This version of the Dickens classic not only has fine performances, it captures perfectly the grim misery of 1840s London, the cynicism and desolation of the commercial mentality, and the true decency of common folk celebrating their shared traditions. The whole atmosphere of the film, the photography and the script, are perfect.

The film deftly avoids sliding into the mawkish sentimentality and maudlin commercialism so common in this type of movie, and manages to address the true spiritual and human issues that Dickens wrote about. Its a masterpiece, and if you haven’t seen this version in a while, track it down and enjoy it again. Its a breath of fresh air and genuine sentiment after the smothering of holiday bullshit we get inundated with this time of year…year after year.

While you’re at it, look for a tiny little anachronism. After Scrooge is woken up by his housekeeper from his long night with the Christmas Spirits, he rushes to the window of his bedroom. Next to the window is a mirror, and if you look carefully you can briefly see reflected in it a seated man wearing a necktie (probably one of the movie set crew). A tiny little flaw, and the only one in this perfectly delightful movie.

I do not accept the religious message of the Christmas holiday, and I despise the commercial orgy it has evolved into; but the message and the spirit Charles Dickens wrote about almost two centuries ago is still worthwhile and genuine. And it is still worth considering, and honoring.

Merry Christmas.