A true classic of the holiday season. The weakest of the years listed is the 1938. Originally supposed to star Lionel Barrymore he injured his leg which effectually led to him being wheelchair bound, instead stared Reginald Owen. The main redeeming factor of this film was the Lockhart family. Gene Lockhart (the judge from the 1947 version of “Miracle on 34th Street” [another true classic]) his wife Kathleen and uncredited was June Lockhart (Lassie [1954], Lost in Space [1965]) their daughter who played “Belinda.”
1951 and 1984 had the better scripts, but to me the 1984 version is the best of the all of them. Starring George C. Scott, I highly recommend they all be watched and each person seriously think about their own behavior and actions as they do, because there are a lot of Scrooges out there in the real world today and it is saddening.

(1938)
Base story: 2 out of 5 swords
Acting: 3 out of 5 swords
Special effects: 3 out of 5 swords.
Overall: 2.66 swords out of 5 swords

(1951)
Base Story 3 out of 5 swords
Acting: 3 out of 5 swords
Special effects: 3 out of 5 swords
Overall: 3 swords out of 5 swords

(1984)
Base Story: 4 out of 5 swords
Acting: 5 out of 5 swords
Special effects: 3 out of 5 swords
Overall: 4 swords out of 5 swords