Christmas is not a time of celebration for the tight-fisted Ebenezer Scrooge (Alistair Sim). Scrooge turns aside all charity, treats his overworked clerk Bob Cratchit (Mervyn Johns) with contempt and regards all kindness as 'humbug'. One night, Scrooge is visited by the ghost of Jacob Marley (Michael Hordern), his late business partner.