 Lionel Barrymore (qv) was originally set to play Scrooge, but had  to back out due to illness. Barrymore instead suggested his friend  Reginald Owen (qv) take over the role. Barrymore did not perform  the radio version of "A Christmas Carol" in 1938 so that it would  not interfere with the success of the picture, and he appeared in a  special trailer for it called  _Fireside Chat with Lionel Barrymore, A (1938)_ (qv), which was  produced by Frank Whitbeck (qv) and directed by  Edwin L. Marin (qv).