It’s Film Strip
Friday!
Muppet Christmas Carol
Release Date December
11th, 1992
This
is one of my favorite versions of Dickson’s Christmas Carol. This version stays
true to the spirit of the original story. In a book I have that lists and rates
various versions of Christmas Carol it is ranked in the to 10 best and closest
to the original story.
With
a cast of humans and Muppets it is amazing how easily I can set aside the strangeness
and accept each character for who they are.
Michael
Cane as Scrooge is one of the best depictions I’ve seen. At first he is emotionally
tied up. As things move along in the story he starts to accept his emotions and
then they flow and he moves from closed, sad and angry to open, joyful and
caring.
Summary:
One
fateful Christmas Eve, Scrooge is visited by the Ghosts of Christmas Past,
Present, and Future. Together with kind, humble Bob Cratchit (Kermit the Frog)
and his family, the Spirits open Scrooge's eyes -- and his heart -- to the true
meaning of Christmas.
FUN FACTS:
The Muppet Christmas Carol is a 1992 American
musical fantasy-comedy film, and an adaptation of Charles Dickens' A
Christmas Carol. It is the fourth in a series of live-action musical films
featuring The Muppets, with Michael Caine starring as Ebenezer Scrooge.
Although it is a comedic remake with contemporary songs, The Muppet
Christmas Carol otherwise follows Dickens' original story closely. The film
was directed by Brian Henson, produced by Jim Henson Productions, and released
by Walt Disney Pictures.
The Muppet Christmas Carol was the first film
produced after the deaths of Muppets creator Jim Henson and fellow puppeteer
Richard Hunt. The film was dedicated to the memory of both Henson and Hunt, who
died before the film's release.
Plot
In this adaptation of the Christmas story narrated by
Charles Dickens himself (played by Gonzo the Great) with the occasional
commentary of Rizzo the Rat, it is Christmas Eve in 19th century London. The
merriment is not shared by Ebenezer Scrooge (Michael Caine), a surly
money-lender who is more interested in profit than celebration. So cold to the
season of giving is he that his book-keeping staff, including loyal employee
Bob Cratchit (Kermit the Frog), has to plead with him just to have the day off
work during Christmas by pointing out that Scrooge would have no customers on
the holiday and that it would waste coal to sit alone in the office. Scrooge's
nephew, Fred (Steven Mackintosh), arrives to invite his uncle to Christmas
dinner and two gentlemen (Bunsen and Beaker) also come to Scrooge's offices,
collecting money in the spirit of the season to provide a Christmas dinner for
the poor. Scrooge rebuffs his nephew and complains that it is not worth looking
after the poor, as their deaths will decrease the surplus population. Fred is
shocked at his uncle's uncharitable and cold nature, but repeats his
invitation, makes his own donation, and departs.
Later that evening, Scrooge finds himself face to face
with the still mean-spirited spirits of his former business partners, Jacob and
Robert Marley (Statler and Waldorf) who have been condemned to shackles in the
afterlife as payment for the horrible deeds they committed in life. Nonetheless,
they warn him that he will share the same fate, only worse, if he does not
change his ways, and foretell the arrival of three spirits throughout the
night.
Scrooge is first visited by the Ghost of Christmas Past
(voiced by Jessica Fox), a childlike specter who takes Scrooge on a journey
back through time to his youth. He recalls his early school days, during which
he focused on his studies; meeting of a young woman named Belle (Meredith Braun),
with whom he would later fall in love; and the end of their relationship,
despite Scrooge's protests that he would marry her as soon as he feels he has
enough money to provide for them, which Belle knows, given Scrooge's birthing
obsession with money, he will most likely never have.
Scrooge then meets the Ghost of Christmas Present, a
large, festive spirit with a booming voice who lives only for the here and now.
He gives Scrooge a glimpse into the holiday celebration of others, including
Bob Cratchit, and his family who, although poor, are enjoying Christmas together
and reveling in the anticipation of the Christmas goose. The Spirit also shows
Scrooge's own family, who are not above cracking jokes at Scrooge's expense.
Finally, Scrooge meets the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come,
a silent entity, who reveals the chilling revelation that young Tiny Tim (Robin
the Frog) will not survive the coming year, thanks in no small part to the
impoverished existence of the Cratchit family. Furthermore, it is revealed that
when Scrooge's own time has passed, others will certainly delight in his
absence from the world, with four local pig businessmen attending his funeral
only for the free food, and that the laundress, the undertaker and the charwoman
Mrs. Dilber steal the very clothes he has slept in and selling it to a spider fence
named Old Joe (voiced by David Shaw Parker). Upon seeing his headstone in the
cemetery, it is the final epiphany that convinces Scrooge to change his ways,
and makes him vow to celebrate with his fellow man. He returns to his bedroom
on Christmas Day, and Scrooge goes about the town spreading good deeds and
charity. He enlists the help of Bean Bunny, at whom he threw a wreath earlier
in the film, and the two travel around the town gathering items for a Christmas
feast and giving gifts to characters who had previously been wronged by
Scrooge. Scrooge tells his assistant, Bob Cratchit, that he is going to raise
his salary, and pay for his house mortgage. He also plans a feast for
Cratchit's family, and learns to adopt the spirit of Christmas throughout the
year, now encouraged by the addition of new friends.
Cast
- Michael
Caine as Mr. Ebenezer Scrooge
- Jessica
Fox as Ghost of Christmas Past (voice)
- Steven
Mackintosh as Fred
- Meredith
Braun as Belle
- Robin
Weaver as Clara
- David Shaw Parker as Old Joe (voice)
Muppet Performers
- Dave
Goelz as:
- The
Great Gonzo as Charles Dickens: The film's narrator.
- Waldorf
as Robert Marley: Scrooge's former business partner and Jacob Marley's
brother.
- Dr.
Bunsen Honeydew as Himself
- Betina
Crachit as Herself
- Zoot as
Himself
- Pig
Businessman
- Whatnots
- Steve
Whitmire as:
- Kermit
the Frog as Bob Cratchit: An underpaid worker of Ebeneezer Scrooge.
- Rizzo
the Rat as Himself
- Beaker
as Himself
- Bean
Bunny as Himself
- Belinda
Crachit
- Lips as
Himself
- Laundress
- Pig
Businessman
- Inkspots
- Rats
- Whatnots
- Jerry
Nelson as:
- Robin
the Frog as Tiny Tim Cratchit: The youngest son of Bob Cratchit.
- Statler
as Jacob Marley: Scrooge's former business partner and Robert Marley's
brother.
- Ma Bear
as Herself
- Floyd
Pepper as Himself
- Lew
Zealand as Himself
- Voice
and Face Performance of Ghost of Christmas Present
- Mr.
Applegate
- Father
Mouse
- Prisoner
- Pig
Businessman
- Rat
Bookkeepers
- Penguins
- Inkspots
- Singing
Food
- Frank Oz as:
- Miss
Piggy as Emily Cratchit
- Fozzie
Bear as Fozziwig
- Sam the
Eagle as the Schoolmaster
- Animal
as Himself
- George
the Janitor as Himself
- Mr.
Bitte
- Vegetable
Vendor
- David
Rudman as:
- Peter
Cratchit: The middle son of Bob Cratchit.
- The
Swedish Chef as Himself
- Performer
of Old Joe
- Beggar
on Crutch
- Karen
Prell as:
- Daughter
Mouse
- Performer
of Ghost of Christmas Past
- Mike
Quinn as:
- Pig
Businessman
- Turkey
Vendor
- Undertaker
- Louise
Gold as:
- Cockney
Woman
- Mrs.
Dilber: A winged insect who works as Ebeneezer Scrooge's charwoman.
- Robert
Tygner as:
- Performer
of Ghost of Christmas Past
- Performer
of Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come
- William
Todd Jones as:
- Performer
of Ghost of Christmas Past
- Don
Austen as:
- In-Suit
Performer of Ghost of Christmas Present
- In-Suit
Performer of Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come
Production
The Muppet Christmas Carol was directed by Jim
Henson's son Brian. Taking over the puppeteering role of Kermit, originally
performed by Jim Henson before his death in 1990, was Steve Whitmire (Whitmire
had already first performed Kermit in the 1990 CBS special The Muppets
Celebrate Jim Henson, aired six months after Henson's death). It was shot
in Shepperton Studios, England and Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Despite the use of Muppets throughout filming and a
humorous spin on much of the story, this film is a fairly close adaptation of
the original story. The story proper is interspersed with scenes of a narrator
(Gonzo playing Dickens), who, along with the characters, recites many of
Dickens's original words. One notable difference from the original story is the
addition of Jacob Marley's brother, Robert, who was not present in Dickens'
story, to allow the use of both Statler and Waldorf. It is suggested this name
was chosen as an oblique reference to musician Bob Marley. Another alteration
involved changing the name of the character Fezziwig to Fozziwig, as Fozzie
Bear played the role. Another difference is that whilst in the film, the Ghost
of Christmas Present is perpetually jolly and cheerful, the novel counterpart
was regularly grim and stern to Scrooge. In contrast, this adaption is unusual
in that it presents The Ghost of Christmas Present as aging during the course
of his visit, as he does in Dickens' novel. The human forms of Ignorance and
Want, shown as hideous, animalistic children in the novel, are absent from the
film (as is also the case with several other adaptations).
This is the first Muppet film in which the story revolves
around characters played by human beings, specifically, Ebenezer Scrooge, as
played by Michael Caine. The rest of the cast consisted of mostly Muppet
performers. Several pivotal roles — in particular, the three Christmas Spirits
— were portrayed by specially-created Muppet characters. It was at one time
considered that well-known Muppets would be cast in these roles (Miss Piggy, Scooter,
and Gonzo, specifically) before it was decided that it would detract from the
ominous effect the spirits would need to convey. Only the Ghost of Christmas
Present is clearly a Muppet (albeit a giant one), while the Ghost of Christmas
Past is an ethereal childlike spirit and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come is
a cloaked and terrifying figure as per tradition. The Ghost of Christmas Past
effects were created by making a special puppet that was operated in a tank of
water and then green-screened into the film, to make it look like it was
floating.
It is also the first Muppet film to not include any Sesame
Street characters in its production.
Release
Critical reception
Disney appeared to have high expectations for the film,
being their widest-released film of the holiday season and the second widest
release under the Walt Disney Pictures banner that year. Yet despite being a
modest box office success, The Muppet Christmas Carol did not make much
of an impact during its theatrical release, having to face competition from Home
Alone 2: Lost in New York and Disney's Aladdin. The film grossed a
total of $27,281,507 domestically. Critical reception, however, was mostly
favorable. It currently has a 69% on Rotten Tomatoes with the consensus being,
"It may not be the finest version of Charles Dickens' tale to grace the
screen, but The Muppet Christmas Carol is funny and heartwarming, and serves as
a good introduction to the story for young viewers." Over the years, reception
of the film has become much more positive, with many reviewers claiming it as
not only one of the best Muppet films, but also as one of the best adaptations
of Charles Dickens's original story and a quintessential Christmas movie.
Home media
This is the first Muppet film co-produced and
released by Walt Disney Pictures – and the rights to the Muppets featured in
the film would later be purchased by Disney. Other than the film's theatrical
releases, the film has also been made available on home video formats. It was
released on VHS in the US on September 10, 1993, in the UK on November 19 and
twice on DVD in Region 1. The first DVD release on October 8, 2002 was in a
fullscreen-only format. Walt Disney Home Entertainment re-released the film on
DVD on November 29, 2005 in conjunction with Kermit the Frog's 50th anniversary
celebration; this time the DVD contained both full-screen and widescreen
presentations. The film was also released in Region 2.
Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment released a
"20th Anniversary Collector's Edition" on Blu-ray, DVD and digital
copy on November 6, 2012. The release did not include the film's extended cut
or "When Love is Gone".
Music
The film's original score was composed by Miles Goodman with
songs written by Paul Williams. Williams previously worked with the Muppets on
the soundtrack to The Muppet Movie in which he and Kenneth Ascher were
nominated for an Academy Award for writing "Rainbow Connection."
Soundtrack
The Muppet Christmas Carol: Original Motion Picture
Soundtrack contains all of the songs from the movie, with
performances by the Muppet characters as well as Caine, including the songs
"Room in Your Heart" and "Chairman of the Board" that were
recorded but never filmed. As with all Muppet movies (except Muppets from
Space), The Muppet Christmas Carol was done as a musical. The
soundtrack album reached #189 on the The Walt Disney Company. The soundtrack
also became available to purchase at the iTunes Store the same day as the
film's Blu-ray release.
Track listing
- "Overture"
- Instrumental
- "Scrooge"
- Cast
- "Room
in Your Heart" - Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and Beaker
- "Good
King Wenceslas" - Muppet Brass Buskers
- "One
More Sleep 'til Christmas" - Kermit
- "Marley
and Marley" - Statler and Waldorf
- "Christmas
Past" - Miles Goodman
- "Chairman
of the Board" - Sam the Eagle
- "Fozziwig's
Party" - Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem
- "When
Love is Gone" - Belle (Meredith Braun)
- "It
Feels Like Christmas" - Ghost of Christmas Present
- "Christmas
Scat" - Kermit and Tiny Tim
- "Bless
Us All" - Tiny Tim and Family
- "Christmas
Future" - Miles Goodman
- "Christmas
Morning" - Miles Goodman
- "Thankful
Heart" - Scrooge
- "Finale:
When Love Is Found/It Feels Like Christmas" - Scrooge, Tiny Tim,
Ghost of Christmas Present, and Cast
- "When
Love Is Gone" - Martina McBride
"When Love is Gone"
"When Love is Gone" was a song performed by the
character Belle (Meredith Braun) that was cut from the original 1992 theatrical
release by Walt Disney Studios, who believed that the scene would not appeal to
young children. The movie plays with an obvious, jarring edit when the film is
played with the song missing. Brian Henson objected to their decision,
believing that the song was integral to the plot (the concluding song,
"When Love is Found," is a direct counterpoint to it), and the song
was subsequently restored to the VHS and laserdisc editions. This song was also
cut from the 10th Anniversary Edition of the film released on DVD (widescreen
only; however, the fullscreen version has the song). The song was also not
included on the Blu-ray, or the DVD disc that is packaged with the Blu-ray
combo pack released in 2012. Two other songs were written but dropped from the
production early on: "Room in Your Heart", performed by Dr. Bunsen
Honeydew and Beaker, and "Chairman of the Board", performed by Sam
the Eagle. These songs were recorded, but removed from the script before
filming began. Both songs appear on the motion picture soundtrack released by
Jim Henson Records.
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