Search - Scrooge/Beyond Tomorrow on DVD

Christmas Carol fans beware -- 17 minutes are edited out!

Sierra Donovan | Victorville, CA United States | 11/29/2001

(1 out of 5 stars)

"I'm reveiwing the Marengo Films DVD with Scrooge & Beyond Tomorrow. These are classic films, and the quality is fine --(Scrooge is scratchy, but watchable, and Beyond Tomorrow looks quite good) -- HOWEVER, huge chunks are missing from Scrooge, starting with the original opening credits!
Originally, this began with an atmospheric sequence of someone pulling a book from a shelf and turning pages to reveal the credits. This version just has a simple title card. And the opening scene is a disaster! The original film opens with the 2 charity workers coming to Scrooge's office and being shown the door a few minutes later. Gone completly! It's a deadly cut because it removes the fact that Jacob Marley has been "dead these seven years", that he was Scrooge's partner, and that he died "this very night". In fact, Marley isn't mentioned 'til he shows up at Scrooge's house!
Also, all the dialog about prisons, workhouses and "the surplus population" is gone, so when the Ghost of Christmas Present uses Scrooge's words against him the meaning is completely lost. That's as far as I got so I'm not sure what else is gone.
I have an old VHS of the film from Front Row -- the quality is pretty poor, but the film is complete. It lists the running time as 78 minutes, this DVD is 61! So -- good films, good quality, but too much missing to be worth seeing. If you want Beyond Tomorrow, great! If you want Scrooge, keep looking."

A hit and a miss

05/27/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

""Beyond Tomorrow" is a low budget little Christmas film that is well worth the watch. It's about 3 businessmen who are killed in a plane crash and their ghosts come back to help a young couple find love and happiness. This film will leave you with a warm, fuzzy feeling. But...BEWARE... the second film on this disc is an adaptation of "A Christmas Carol" titled "Scrooge" that is a 61 minute abridgement of a 78 minute film. Many key scenes have been deleted. Buy this disc for "Beyond Tomorrow" but go elsewhere for the complete version of "Scrooge"."

A Classic DVD Collection !

Susan Gilbert | Hartford, CT | 12/13/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I recently bought a DVD Double Feature from Marengo Films, that was billed as " A Classic Christmas " It features a 1935 version of Scrooge and a film from 1940 called Beyond Tomorrow. Scrooge is a version that I have never seen before, it is a British production and is one of the best versions of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol made into a film ever. Beyond Tomorrow is a total gem, seeing that I bought this DVD only for Scrooge, I was happy to discover a film that is on the same level as It's A Wonderful Life. I'm serious, this film is great! Why is it unknown? The film is about a young couple brought together on Christmas Eve by three aging and lonely lawyers in New York City. This is a must for your DVD Christmas collection. Hats off to Marengo Films."

Early British Christmas Double Feature on DVD !

forrie | Nashua, NH United States | 11/06/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I'm a die hard "A Christmas Carol" fan. This little known 1935 English (Black & White) film starring Sir Seymour Hicks is one of the first talking versions of this holiday classic. Digitally remastered from the best available masters the audio track is clean & clear. The picture quality is that of a very scratched film copy. Very dark in nature this is still a holiday treat for those "Scrooge" admirers.The second feature "Beyond Tomorrow" (1940 Black & White)is a very nice surprise and a delightful story. This remastered copy is very good, both audio and video. The story is about 3 rich old men who are constantly betting on anything. This holiday they bet if they throw 3 wallets out the window into the street with some money in it that no one will return it. One of the old men believes that there is good in the world & someone will return it. And indeed a poor young man & woman does. The human side of society capture these old mens hearts and the holidays will never be the same.Good value with these rare holiday treats."