Oooh, I LOVE Mr. Potter! Barrymore was an excellent actor, both when he was playing 'good' guys and 'bad' guys. it's too bad we never got to see him as Scrooge--his performance as Potter shows how good he would have been in the role, I think.

I'll have to look into the radio drama.

Just this past year they released the 1937 "Captains Courageous" on DVD, with Spencer Tracy, Freddie Bartholomew, and Lionel Barrymore.  It was beautifully done.  I don't think I've seen a movie with Lionel in it that I didn't like -- he brought a lot to the pictures he was in.

It's sad, but logical the studio brass changed it to a B picture.  Had it remained a high priority production, it would've benefited no doubt from the screenwriting/directing team of John Lee Mahin and Victor Fleming (who'd already made huge hits out of "Treasure Island" and "Captains Courageous").  

Looking forward to coverage of the 1951 "Christmas Carol" (aka "Scrooge") which IS the definitive version.  The best Ebenezer and the most full-bodied realization of the story.  Well, that and "Mickey's Christmas Carol" of course.

Jim Hill returns with yet another installment of his new JHM series. This time around, he talks about the 1978 holiday special where master impressionist Rich Little played every single speaking role in "A Christmas Carol" as a different celebrity