Naturally, we have no interest in the fact that this is the first American film adaptation of
the Dickens’ classic. None at all. We just want to know one thing: Does Scrooge actually
travel through time in this one? According to
a contemporaneous review
in Moving Picture World:
[list]
[*] Looking into a fire, Scrooge sees a
vision of his boyhood and his lost sweetheart, but does not (from the description) interact
with them.[/*]
[*] Scrooge then follows the spirit to the homes of Cratchett and his
nephew, but these sound to be in the present. He does, however, interact with each, showering
them with money and promising to devote himself to the happiness of others.[/*]
[/list]
Based on this, the conclusion up in the ITTDB Citadel is that the 1908 version
has no more than illusory time travel.
— Michael Main
1 English variant