MovieChat Forums > Scrooge (1951) Discussion > Marley Deathbed Scene

Marley Deathbed Scene

posted 3 years ago by CoriSCapnSkip (2754)
5 replies | jump to latest

Unnecessary and a bit troubling. We know from the book that Scrooge didn't go to Marley's deathbed during business hours. The movie has it that he went after closing. What bothers me is the implication that Marley repented or at least had serious second thoughts on his deathbed. The CW on repentance is if you do it even at the last moment, you are forgiven and eligible for Heaven or at least not being forced to wander the earth in chains. Therefore either Marley didn't truly repent, or God was very hard-hearted and said, "Too little, too late."

[–] strntz (12773) 2 years ago

This version does take a few liberties with Dicken's novella, improving it some ways and detracting from it in others.

Regarding Marley and his repentance - it seems to me that repentance when you *know* you are hours from dying wouldn't carry a lot of weight. If he was merely sick and got back to work the following week, he'd still be the same prick he was before he realized his time on Earth was done in the deathbed scene, so I think a lifetime of being a jerk can't be made up in the last minutes with repentance.

Scrooge repented but actually did put his good intentions to work by being better to his nephew, Cratchit, and saving Tiny Tim's life.

[–] CoriSCapnSkip (2754) 2 years ago

Some people would agree that last-minute repentance wouldn't make up for a lifetime of jerkdom but a lot of people believe it counts.

[–] liscarkat (19398) a year ago

God probably considers each individual case of deathbed repentance, vetting for sincerity. If he figures the dead guy was just BSing to save his ass, then STRAIGHT TO HELL!

[–] [deleted] a year ago

CW?

[–] liscarkat (19398) 4 months ago

Common Wisdom? Just guessing.