The Muppet Christmas Carol
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| The Muppet Christmas Carol | |
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| Directed by | Brian Henson |
| Produced by | Brian Henson |
| Written by | Charles Dickens (novel) Jerry Juhl (screenplay) |
| Starring | Michael Caine Dave Goelz Steve Whitmire Jerry Nelson Frank Oz |
| Music by | Miles Goodman |
| Cinematography | John Fenner |
| Editing by | Michael Jablow |
| Release date(s) | 11 December 1992 |
| Running time | 85 min. |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| All Movie Guide profile | |
| IMDb profile | |
The Muppet Christmas Carol was the fourth feature film to star The Muppets, and the first produced after the death of Muppets creator Jim Henson. Released in 1992, it is one of many film adaptations of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol.
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[edit] Synopsis
In this adaptation of the Christmas story narrated by Dickens himself (played by The Great Gonzo), it is Christmas Eve in 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.
Later that evening, Scrooge finds himself face to face with 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. They warn him that he will share the same fate if he doesn't change his ways, and foretell the coming of three spirits throughout the night.
Scrooge is first visited by the Ghost of Christmas Past, a child-like 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; the meeting of a young woman named Belle (Meredith Braun), with whom he would later fall in love; and the final parting between Belle and Scrooge, despite Scrooge's protests that he would marry her as soon as he had enough money. Later, Scrooge meets the Ghost of Christmas Present, a somewhat forgetful entity 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, and Scrooge's own family, who aren't above cracking jokes at Scrooge's expense. Later, Scrooge meets The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, a silent entity, and 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. It is this final epiphany that jolts Scrooge back into humanity, and makes him vow to celebrate with his fellow man. Scrooge plans a feast for Bob Cratchit and his kin and learns to adopt the spirit of Christmas throughout the year.
[edit] Production notes and trivia
- The film was directed by Jim Henson's son, Brian Henson. Despite the use of Muppets throughout filming and humorous spin on much of the story, this film is a fairly close adaptation of the original story. The film is even interspersed with scenes of a narrator (Gonzo playing Dickens), who, along with the characters, recites many of Dickens's original lines.
- This is the first of the Muppets movies in which the focus of the story revolves around characters played by human beings. Specifically, Michael Caine played Ebenezer Scrooge. The rest of the cast was fleshed out with Muppet performers, including Kermit the Frog as Bob Cratchit, Miss Piggy as Cratchit's wife, Robin as Tiny Tim, and Fozzie Bear as Fozziwig ("Fezziwig" in the original story), owner of "Fozziwig and Mom's", a rubber chicken factory, and described by Scrooge as being "hard and ruthless as a rose petal."
- Notably, 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.
- Steve Whitmire took over the role of Kermit following the death of Jim Henson and performed him in this movie.
- Near the end of the film, Scrooge and company pass by a store called "Micklewhite's." Michael Caine's real name is Maurice Micklewhite.
- Near the end of the film, Scrooge and company pass by a store called "Statler and Waldorf's," the names of the heckler muppets portraying Jacob and Robert Marley.
- In the original story Jacob Marley appears alone and is not accompanied by a brother called Robert. It is suggested this name was chosen as an oblique reference to musician Bob Marley.[citation needed]
- David Hemmings, Ron Moody, David Warner, and George Carlin were among the actors who were considered for the role of Scrooge.[citation needed]
- Years after its release Leslie Grantham announced in interviews he auditioned for the role of Scrooge but didn't get the part as he wasn't that big a name.[citation needed]
- The album reached #189 on the Billboard 200.
- This is the first Muppet movie produced by The Walt Disney Company. The Muppets featured in the film would later be purchased by Disney.
[edit] Soundtrack listing and notes
As with all Muppet movies but Muppets From Space, this one was done as a musical. The soundtrack included performances by the Muppet characters as well as Caine. Songs from the film include Scrooge by the Muppet performers, One More Sleep 'Til Christmas by Kermit, Marley and Marley by Statler & Waldorf, When Love is Gone by Meredith Braun, It Feels Like Christmas by the Ghost of Christmas Present, Bless Us All by Robin, and Thankful Heart by Caine. When Love is Gone was cut out of the original 1992 theatrical release as producers thought it would slow down the film a bit but put it back in for the video release and TV airings. This song was once again cut from the 10th Anniversary Edition of the film released on DVD. Two other songs were written but cut from the film; "Room In Your Heart", performed by Dr. Bunsen Honeydew & Beaker, and "Chairman of the Board", performed by Sam the Eagle. These songs were recorded, but cut from the script before filming began. Both songs appear on the motion picture soundtrack released by Jim Henson Records.
[edit] External links
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| Feature films | The Muppet Movie (1979) · The Great Muppet Caper (1981) · The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984) · Jim Henson's MuppetVision 3D (1991) · The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) · Muppet Treasure Island (1996) · Muppets from Space (1999) |
| Television specials | A Muppet Family Christmas (1987) · The Muppets at Walt Disney World (1990) · It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie (2002) · The Muppets' Wizard of Oz (2005) |
