The Muppet Christmas Carol

Director: Brian Henson

Overview

Brian Henson, the son of Muppet founder Jim Henson, took over directing duties after the untimely death of his father for The Muppet Christmas Carol, a sluggish re-telling of the Charles Dickens tale. Michael Caine, surrounded by legions of fuzzy, felt puppets, plays it straight as the crotchety Ebenezer Scrooge, an old miser who could care less about Christmas and the joy the season brings. Working for the skinflint is his faithful employee Bob Cratchit (Kermit the Frog), who begs Scrooge for a day off for Christmas. Scrooge reluctantly agrees and goes home on Christmas Eve filled with bile at the holiday merrymakers. But then he is visited by the sprits of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, and Scrooge, after revisiting his sorrowful past, hate-filled present, and doomed future, turns over a new leaf and becomes the most generous and celebratory person in town.

Product Details

Release Date:	12/15/2015
UPC:	0786936848748
Original Release:	1992
Source:	Walt Disney Video
Language:	English
Sales rank:	13,316

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Michael Caine	Ebenezer Scrooge
Steve Whitmire	Bob Cratchit (Kermit the Frog)/Rizzo the Rat/Beaker
Frank Oz	Emily Cratchit (Miss Piggy)/Fozziwig (Fozzie Bear)/Animal
Dave Goelz	Charles Dickens (The Great Gonzo)/Robert Marley
Jerry Nelson	Tiny Tim Cratchit/Jacob Marley/Ma Bear
David Rudman	Peter Cratchit/Swedish Chef
Steven Mackintosh	Fred
Robert Tygner	Actor,Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come
Don Austen	Actor
Karen Prell	Ghost of Christmas Past
Jessica Fox	Ghost of Christmas Past
Ian Allen	Additional Muppet Performer
Donald Austen	Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come
David Barclay	Additional Muppet Performer
Robbie Barnett	Additional Muppet Performer
James Barton	Additional Muppet Performer
Mike Bayliss	Additional Muppet Performer
Simon Buckley	Additional Muppet Performer
Dave Bulbeck	Additional Muppet Performer
Marcus Clarke	Additional Muppet Performer
Craig Crane	Additional Muppet Performer
Sue Dacre	Additional Muppet Performer
Taylor David	Additional Muppet Performer
John Ecclestone	Additional Muppet Performer
Geoff Felix	Additional Muppet Performer
Kate Frost	Additional Muppet Performer
Dave Geolz	Robert Marley
Ken Haines	Additional Muppet Performer
Ronnie LeDrew	Additional Muppet Performer
Christopher Leith	Additional Muppet Performer
Anthony Lymboura	Additional Muppet Performer
Rebecca Nagan	Additional Muppet Performer
Angie Passmore	Additional Muppet Performer
Peter Passmore	Additional Muppet Performer
Nigel Plaskitt	Additional Muppet Performer
Gilly Poole	Actor
Judy Preece	Additional Muppet Performer
Sally Preisig	Additional Muppet Performer
Peter Robbins	Additional Muppet Performer
Gillie Robic	Additional Muppet Performer
Tim Rose	Additional Muppet Performer
Kaefan Shaw	Additional Muppet Performer
Dave Showler	Additional Muppet Performer
John Thirtle	Additional Muppet Performer
Ian Thom	Additional Muppet Performer
Mark Alexander Todd	Additional Muppet Performer
Ian Tregonning	Additional Muppet Performer
Simon Williamson	Additional Muppet Performer
Victoria Willing	Additional Muppet Performer
Phil Woodfine	Additional Muppet Performer
Meredith Braun	Belle
Robin Weaver	Clara
Raymond Coulthard	Young Scrooge
Russell Martin	Young Scrooge
Theo Sanders	Young Scrooge
Kristopher Milnes	Young Scrooge
Edward Sanders	Young Scrooge
Anthony Hamblin	1st Boy
Fergus Brazier	2nd Boy
David Parker	Old Joe
The Muppets	Actor
Miles Goodman	Composer
Paul Williams	Composer

Technical Credits

Jerry Juhl

Brian Henson	Director,Producer
Frank Oz	Executive Producer
Martin G. Baker	Producer
David Barron	Producer
Gilly Poole	Casting
Jerry Juhl	Screenwriter

Editorial Reviews

Charles Dickens's original story did not feature a narrating rat, dancing penguins, or a tadpole on crutches as Tiny Tim. Leave it to the Muppets to correct these grievous oversights. Brian Henson joyfully carries on his father's legacy with this surprisingly faithful adaptation of Dickens's timeless holiday tale of miserly Scrooge (a game Michael Caine), who learns to stop with the "bah, humbug" and love Christmas after all. There is just the right touch of Muppet irreverence. For intstance, when Scrooge threatens to fire his put-upon staff of rat accountants for complaining about the cold, they respond with a rousing version of "Island in the Sun." The mostly Muppet cast includes Kermit as Bob Cratchit, with Miss Piggy as his wife (their brood comprises girl pigs and boy frogs). Hecklers Statler and Waldorf steal the show with a song-and-dance extravaganza as the ghosts of the gleefully greedy Marley brothers, Jacob and (get this, reggae fans) Robert. There are also roles for Fozzie Bear, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and Beaker, and Sam the Eagle. The story's gloomier aspects are lightened up a bit for young audiences, but as Gonzo self-importantly observes, "This is culture."

Barnes & Noble - Donald Liebenson