Born into a working-class family in east Belfast, Brian Desmond Hurst (1895–1986) rose to become one of Northern Ireland’s greatest and most prolific film directors – a towering figure whose legacy we proudly celebrate today.
He learned his craft alongside the legendary John Ford during the silent film era, going on to bridge the worlds of Hollywood’s Golden Age, British commercial cinema, and Irish cultural storytelling with remarkable skill.
In partnership with Northern Ireland Screen, we are delighted to mark the 75th Anniversary of Hurst’s beloved ‘A Christmas Carol’ with this special screening. Featuring an unforgettable, era-defining performance by the legendary Alastair Sim as Scrooge, this cherished adaptation of Charles Dickens’ timeless novella stands as the finest and most faithful version of the story ever brought to screen – a true jewel in Hurst’s remarkable body of work.
Crotchety Victorian businessman Ebenezer Scrooge (Alastair Sim) has no use for festivity, even at Christmas. After resentfully allowing timid clerk Bob Cratchit (Mervyn Johns) to have the holiday to spend with his loving wife and family, Scrooge is swept into a nightmare. The ghost of his late partner, Jacob Marley (Michael Hordern), appears, warning that Ebenezer will be visited by three more spirits who will show the coldhearted man the error of his parsimonious behavior.