This film carried Universal"s "Bluebird Photoplay" brand,[a] designating a more mainstream feature and a bigger budget than a red feather production.

As the days pass, the older man, who was defined by greed and coldness, is now a living testament to the power of redemption and the transformative spirit of Christmas.

However, these films integrated "Scrooge" or "Christmas Carol" into their titles, rendering them more suitable and tailored explicitly for seasonal viewing.

[d] In his book "The Universal Story - The Complete History of the Studio and its 2,641 films," Clive Hirschhorn states Carl Laemmle (c. 1867-1939) produced around ninety-one feature movies in 1916.

With her established name, prior acting experience, and a history of collaboration with Rupert Julian, Vernon appeared to be an ideal fit for the role.

[42] The studio desired one of their beauties to portray the character of Caroline, which ultimately led to the selection of southern belle Roberta Wilson for the role.

Rupert Julian (born Thomas Percival Hayes) (1879 – 1943) was 37 years old when he undertook the dual roles of director and actor in this film.

This year would mark the first time he directed a feature film, a Bluebird Photoplay titled Naked Hearts released by Universal on May 10, 1916.

With a substantial body of work already under his belt, Rupert Julian had acted in an impressive total of eighty movies and directed twenty-eight before undertaking the dual responsibilities of a director and the leading role of Ebenezer Scrooge.

All of these details of Scrooge's past rescue him from being merely the stage villain of the opening pages and show him to possess an emotional depth, a regret for lost opportunities.

"[47] Thus, at its core, "A Christmas Carol" is a Christian morality tale serving as a reminder that even the most hardened hearts can be softened and redeemed to embrace compassion and find redemption.

"There will be an all-year interest in "The Right to be Happy," as the lesson of benevolence "A Christmas Carol" presents has no particular season".Universal bravely approached this timeless tale from a fresh perspective while preserving the original novella's essence.

By doing so, the film aimed to become a year-round morality play, where the central theme revolved around Scrooge's profound change, with Christmas serving as an incidental backdrop.

In her book "Charles Dickens: A Life" Claire Tomalin argues that Scrooge's conversion carries a powerful Christian message: " .

[49] By using this concept of Redemption, or the act of being saved from sin or evil, emerges as a paramount theme throughout the movie, appealing to audiences all year round.

Having recognized that a crucial aspect of the moral message conveyed the idea of individual control over one's destiny, the decision to implement this change resulted in the new title, A Right to be Happy.

The movie fan would have an explanation for why Scrooge is the embodiment of values contrary to Christmas, including greed, selfishness, and a lack of goodwill toward others.

Universal hoped this film, brimming with its heartfelt emotions and redemption, would resonate so profoundly with the audience that it becomes relevant every day of the year.

In 1930, Clawson achieved a notable milestone in his career when he received Academy Award nominations for Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay) in not just one but four different films.

Elliott Clawson died in Vista, California, on July 24, 1942 On March 15, 1915, Carl Laemmle officially opened the world's largest motion picture production facility, Universal City Studios, on a 230-acre converted farm.

When this film was released, there were no extravagant premieres in New York or Los Angeles, no theater searchlights, and no star-studded cast members in attendance.

[74] The December 23, 1916 issue of the "Moving Picture World," states:Rupert Julian's screen version of the Dickens classic, "A Christmas Carol," was originally set for Dec. 18, but it will now be shown Dec. 25, as a feature of exact timeliness.

[75]the reception to be given in honor of the following world-famous personages: Old Scrooge Tiny Tim Bob Cratchit and the only universally - loved, sure enough, graveyard inhabitant Marley's Ghost on (day and date here) Advertising is essential for the success of a movie because it helps attract paying customers to the theater, resulting in higher box office revenues.

Universal's trade journal, The Moving Picture Weekly usually published marketing tips for films in a section named "Putting It Over."

However, in the Christmas issue of December 16, 1916, the magazine published advertising insights for this picture as part of its comprehensive coverage of this film.

Among the included recommendations were: An article published in Wid's Films and Film Folk dated December 21, 1916, suggested: " the name of Dickens should help to bring in the patronage, particularly if you will handle this as a special proposition, making a direct appeal to the schools, the literary societies and the women's clubs"[77] Movie reviews played a vital role for both theater owners and fans, offering crucial perspectives.

The opinions shared in reviews, which were published in different trade magazines, were indispensable in the process of deciding whether to book a movie for screening or to watch it as a viewer.

Sometimes in ensemble scenes, we are conscious, for instance, of the spirit of the boisterous American girl, rather than the subdued and dignified feminine of the England of Dickens' day,' but dealing with generalities, we are pleased.

By reading these assessments, picture house owners could determine the viability of a film deciding whether it was likely to attract audiences and generate the desired financial returns in their locale.

This is certainly a boost for the Bluebird pictures, as this choice was made after looking over twelve different makes of pictures.We ran your photoplay, "The Right to Be Happy," last Friday night, and I am writing to let you know that we considered it one of the finest that we have ever had.