Back in the Seventies, right after the 1970 Albert Finney musical version of SCROOGE had its network television debut, I remember a radio broadcast of Lionel Barrymore's version of A CHRISTMAS CAROL, into which had been cut some of the musical numbers from the Finney film. Does anyone else remember such a broadcast?
About two years ago, I picked up a CD of Orson Welles playing Scrooge for a Campbell's Soup broadcast of CHRISTMAS CAROL. It had become an annual tradition for Barrymore to play the part, but because of health issues Welles filled in for him, assuring us at the end of the broadcast that Barrymore would be back the next year. (MGM wanted Barrymore for their film version of Dickens' tale, but because of his illness the actor suggested Reginald Owen for the role.) Since recordings of Barrymore's CAROL are around, does anyone know why Welles replaced Barrymore that year, rather than just broadcast a recording of an earlier Barrymore performance? (Nothing against Orson Welles, but I do think Barrymore's Scrooge was a better interpretation.)
About two years ago, I picked up a CD of Orson Welles playing Scrooge for a Campbell's Soup broadcast of CHRISTMAS CAROL. It had become an annual tradition for Barrymore to play the part, but because of health issues Welles filled in for him, assuring us at the end of the broadcast that Barrymore would be back the next year. (MGM wanted Barrymore for their film version of Dickens' tale, but because of his illness the actor suggested Reginald Owen for the role.) Since recordings of Barrymore's CAROL are around, does anyone know why Welles replaced Barrymore that year, rather than just broadcast a recording of an earlier Barrymore performance? (Nothing against Orson Welles, but I do think Barrymore's Scrooge was a better interpretation.)
