The Great Muppet Caper (1981)

Director:

Jim Henson

Writers:

Tom Patchett (written by) &
Jay Tarses (written by) ...
(more)

Release Date:

26 June 1981 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Family | Music | Musical

Plot:

Kermit, Gonzo and Fozzie are reporters who travel to Britain to interview a rich victim of jewel thieves and help her along with her secretary, Miss Piggy.

Plot Keywords:

Reporter | Diamond | Jewel Thief | Frog | Bear

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Jim Henson	...	Kermit the Frog / Rowlf / Dr. Teeth / Swedish Chef / Waldorf / The Muppet Newsman / Zeke / Man having Snapshot in Restaurant (voice)
Frank Oz	...	Miss Piggy / Fozzie Bear / Animal / Sam the Eagle / Gramps / Swedish Chef (voice)
Dave Goelz	...	The Great Gonzo / Beauregard / Zoot / Dr. Bunsen Honeydew / Lobbuck Lou (voice)
Jerry Nelson	...	Floyd Pepper / Pops / Lew Zealand / Crazy Harry / Louis Kazager / Slim Wilson / CB Voice / Man in Park (voice)
Richard Hunt	...	Scooter / Statler / Sweetums / Janice / Beaker / Bubba / Monster (uncredited) / Cab Driver (uncredited) (voice)
Charles Grodin	...	Nicky Holiday
Diana Rigg	...	Lady Holiday
John Cleese	...	Neville
Robert Morley	...	British Gentleman
Peter Ustinov	...	Truck Driver
Jack Warden	...	Mike Tarkanian
Steve Whitmire	...	Rizzo the Rat / Lips (voice)
Louise Gold	...	Muppet Performer / Annie Sue Pig / Lou (uncredited) (voice)
Kathryn Mullen	...	Muppet Performer / Chickens / Gaffer the Cat (uncredited) (voice)
Bob Payne	...	Muppet Performer (voice)
Brian Muehl	...	Muppet Performer (voice)
Mike Quinn	...	Muppet Performer (voice)
Robbie Barnett	...	Muppet Performer (voice)
Hugh Spight	...	Muppet Performer (voice)
Brian Henson	...	Muppet Performer (voice)
Caroll Spinney	...	Oscar The Grouch (voice)
Erica Creer	...	Marla
Kate Howard	...	Carla
Della Finch	...	Darla
Michael Robbins	...	Security Guard
Joan Sanderson	...	Dorcas
Peter Hughes	...	Maitre D'
Peggy Aitchison	...	Prison Guard
Tommy Godfrey	...	Bus Conductor
Katia Borg	...	1st Model
Valli Kemp	...	2nd Model
Michele Ivan-Zadeh	...	3rd Model
Chai Lee	...	4th Model
Christine Nelson	...	Girl in Park
Cynthia Ashley	...	Charkie's Water Ballet Performer
Susan Backlinie	...	Charkie's Water Ballet Performer
Sherrill Cannon	...	Charkie's Water Ballet Performer
Christine Cullen	...	Charkie's Water Ballet Performer
Susie Guest	...	Charkie's Water Ballet Performer
Wendy Holker	...	Charkie's Water Ballet Performer
Linda Horn	...	Charkie's Water Ballet Performer
Lee Keenan	...	Charkie's Water Ballet Performer
Darine Klega	...	Charkie's Water Ballet Performer
Lynn Latham	...	Charkie's Water Ballet Performer
Cynthia Leake	...	Charkie's Water Ballet Performer
Kahren Lohren	...	Charkie's Water Ballet Performer
Tricia McFarlin	...	Charkie's Water Ballet Performer
Denise McKenna	...	Charkie's Water Ballet Performer
Melina Lee Phelps	...	Charkie's Water Ballet Performer
Denise Potter	...	Charkie's Water Ballet Performer
Ann Rynne	...	Charkie's Water Ballet Performer
Roberta Ward	...	Charkie's Water Ballet Performer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Suzanne Church	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Patti Dalton	...	Prisoner (uncredited)
Peter Falk	...	Tramp (uncredited)
Kermit the Frog	...	Himself (uncredited)
Ian Hanham	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Trevor Howard	...	Aggressive Man in Restaurant (uncredited)
Danny John-Jules	...	Street Dancer (uncredited)
Rodney Lovick	...	Doorman (uncredited)
David Ludwig	...	Delivery Man (uncredited)
Mary Mazstead	...	Prisoner (uncredited)
Miss Piggy	...	Herself (uncredited)
Cy Town	...	Fashion Show Photographer (uncredited)
Amy Van Gilder	...	Woman having Snapshot in Restaurant (uncredited)

Directed by
Jim Henson

Writing credits
Tom Patchett		(written by) &
Jay Tarses		(written by) and
Jerry Juhl		(written by) &
Jack Rose		(written by)

Produced by
David Lazer	....	producer
Frank Oz	....	producer
Bruce Sharman	....	associate producer
Martin Starger	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Joe Raposo

Cinematography by
Oswald Morris

Film Editing by
Ralph Kemplen

Casting by
Michael Barnes

Production Design by
Harry Lange

Art Direction by
Terry Ackland-Snow
Charles Bishop
Leigh Malone

Costume Design by
Joanne Green
Julie Harris
Calista Hendrickson
Danielle Obinger
Mary Strieff

Makeup Department
Joan Carpenter	....	hair stylist
Stuart Freeborn	....	makeup supervisor

Production Management
Dick Gallegly	....	production manager: USA
Donald Toms	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Nick Laws	....	assistant director
Christopher Newman	....	second assistant director
Dusty Symonds	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Terry Ackland-Snow	....	effects designer
George Ball	....	property master
Alan Booth	....	construction manager
Ron Burkett	....	supervising painter
Robyn Hamilton-Doney	....	set dresser (as Robyn Hamilton Doney)
Bill Stallion	....	storyboard artist
John Stevenson	....	storyboard artist (uncredited)

Sound Department
Joe Gallagher	....	assistant sound editor
Bill Rowe	....	sound re-recordist
Nicholas Stevenson	....	sound editor
Peter Sutton	....	sound recordist
Don Wortham	....	boom operator

Special Effects by
Paul Slootweg	....	special effects technician
Brian Smithies	....	special effects supervisor

Visual Effects by
Roy Field	....	opticals

Stunts
Kiran Shah	....	stunt double: Miss Piggy
Colin Skeaping	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Maurice Arnold	....	senior assistant camera
Derek V. Browne	....	camera operator
Murray Close	....	still photographer
Tim Dodd	....	clapper loader
Vince Goddard	....	electrician
Ian Kelly	....	video engineer supervisor
Steve Kitchen	....	electrician
Charles Lagus	....	underwater photographer
Jason Lehel	....	camera trainee
Albert Werry	....	aerial photographer

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Betty Adamson	....	wardrobe supervisor
Joanne Green	....	muppets' costumes
Calista Hendrickson	....	muppets' costumes
Danielle Obinger	....	muppets' costumes
Carol Spier	....	muppets' costumes
Mary Strieff	....	muppets' costumes

Editorial Department
Marcel Durham	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Michael Clifford	....	music editor
Marcus Dods	....	conductor
Dick Lieb	....	orchestrator
Joe Raposo	....	conductor
Joe Raposo	....	music arranger
Joe Raposo	....	orchestrator
Joe Raposo	....	songs: music and lyrics by
John Richards	....	music recordist
James Tyler	....	orchestrator
Graham Walker	....	music coordinator
George Hamer	....	orchestra contractor (uncredited)

Other crew
Maurice Arnold	....	video coordinator
Leslee Asch	....	muppet builder
Leslee Asch	....	muppet designer
Martin G. Baker	....	location manager
Sidney G. Barnsby	....	production assistant supervisor
Bi Benton	....	production assistant
Allen Burry	....	publicist
Edward G. Christie	....	muppet builder
Edward G. Christie	....	muppet designer
Lyle Conway	....	muppet builder
Lyle Conway	....	muppet designer
Patsy de Lord	....	production assistant
Faz Fazakas	....	muppet technical design
Nomi Frederick	....	muppet builder
Nomi Frederick	....	muppet designer
Michael K. Frith	....	muppet design consultant
Joan Garrick	....	muppet builder
Joan Garrick	....	muppet designer
Jane Gootnick	....	muppet builder
Jane Gootnick	....	muppet designer
Larry Jameson	....	muppet technical design
Ann Keeba-Tannenbaum	....	muppet builder
Ann Keeba-Tannenbaum	....	muppet designer
Bernard J. Kingham	....	production executive
Faye Kreinberg	....	muppet workshop research
Tad Krzanowski	....	muppet technical design
Janet Kuhl	....	muppet builder
Janet Kuhl	....	muppet designer
Kathy Lazar	....	muppet builder
Kathy Lazar	....	muppet designer
Cheryl Leigh	....	script supervisor
Anita Mann	....	choreographer
Robert McCormack	....	muppet workshop supervisor
Perry McLamb	....	muppet builder
Perry McLamb	....	muppet designer
Tom McLaughlin	....	muppet builder
Tom McLaughlin	....	muppet designer
Maria McNamara	....	muppet builder
Maria McNamara	....	muppet designer
Tim Miller	....	muppet builder
Tim Miller	....	muppet designer
Will Morrison	....	muppet workshop coordinator: New York
Tom Newby	....	muppet builder
Tom Newby	....	muppet designer
Richard L. O'Connor	....	production executive
Connie Peterson	....	muppet builder
Connie Peterson	....	muppet designer
Colin Prescott	....	hot air balloon coordinator
Monica Rogers	....	production assistant
Tim Rose	....	muppet technical designer
Adam Samuelson	....	louma crane technician
Amy Van Gilder	....	muppet doctor
Jeremy Whiffen	....	hot air balloon coordinator
Caroly Wilcox	....	muppet building department supervisor
Caroly Wilcox	....	muppet designer
Marc Wolff	....	helicopter pilot

Production Companies

• Henson Associates (HA)
• Incorporated Television Company (ITC)

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1981) (USA) (theatrical)
• Associated Film Distribution (AFD) (1981) (USA) (theatrical)
• Hoyts Distribution (1981) (Australia) (theatrical)
• CBS/Fox (USA) (video) (1980s)
• CEL Home Video (1980s) (Australia) (VHS)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1984) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video
• Walt Disney Home Entertainment (2005) (worldwide) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Atlantic Records  soundtrack
• CTS Studios  music recorded and mixed at
• Coca-Cola Company, The  sponsoring (television airing)
• Graphimation  titles
• London Independent Players  orchestra (uncredited)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:G | Sweden:Btl | UK:U | USA:G (Approved No. 25701) | Finland:S | Portugal:M/6 | Singapore:PG | Iceland:L | Canada:PG | Argentina:Atp

Filming Locations:

Elstree Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

Henson Associates (HA)

Trivia:

Third highest-grossing Muppet film, earning $31,206,251 during its run at the box office.

Goofs:

Factual errors: When Gonzo, Kermit, and Fozzie are thrown out of the plane, they all land in the same area, but since the plane was moving they should be spread far apart.

Quotes:

[First lines]
Kermit:[In a hot air balloon] Pretty nice up here, isn't it?
Fozzie:Kermit? What if we drift out to sea? What if we're never heard from again? What if there's a storm? Or - we get struck by lightning?
Gonzo:That'd be neat.
Kermit:Listen, nothing's gonna happen. These are just the opening credits.
Fozzie:Oh. Where are they?
[Title card appears]
Fozzie:Wow!
Kermit:The Great Muppet Caper.
Fozzie:Nice title.

Movie Connections:

References "Sesame Street" (1969)

Soundtrack:

The First Time It Happens

"The First Time It Happened..."

This is one of my all-time favorites! I am 23 and I still need to view this movie at least once a year. Jim Henson was at the height of his creative powers when this was made, and it shows brilliantly. As opposed to "The Muppet Movie", the songs aren't as dated, and the celebrity cameos have been cut back which lessens the distraction from the Muppets themselves. The cameos of John Cleese, Sir Peter Ustinov, Sir Robert Morley, and Jack Warden all are funny and fit the plot's movement. The highest performance praise though, must go to Dame Diana Rigg and Charles Grodin, who may have deserved an Academy Award for being the only human ever to attempt to make love to Miss Piggy! ("Miss Piggy, don't put a wall between us...we could have had the world on a silver platter") I also love the music, especially the number in the Dubonett Club, which harkens back to the old-time musicals, with just a hint of satire. Even after seeing "The Score" and "Ocean's 11", the Muppet heist scene is still the most entertaining I've ever seen! My advice is swallow your pride, grab the kids, and "check right in, to the Happiness Hotel"! (SAY CHEESE!)