The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

Director:

Brian Henson

Writers (WGA):

Charles Dickens (novel)
Jerry Juhl (screenplay)

Release Date:

11 December 1992 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Family | Fantasy | Music | Musical

Plot:

The Muppet characters tell their version of the classic tale of an old and bitter miser's redemption on Christmas Eve.

Plot Keywords:

Christmas | Ghost | Muppet | The Muppets | Christmas Eve

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Michael Caine	...	Ebenezer Scrooge
Dave Goelz	...	The Great Gonzo as Charles Dickens / Robert Marley / Dr. Bunsen Honeydew / Betina Cratchit / Rat / Zoot (voice)
Steve Whitmire	...	Kermit the Frog as Bob Cratchit / Rizzo the Rat / Beaker / Bean Bunny / Belinda Cratchit / Beetle / Lips / Pig Gentleman (voice)
Jerry Nelson	...	Tiny Tim / Jacob Marley / Ghost of Christmas Present / Lew Zealand / Ma Bear / Mouse / Mr. Applegate / Penguin / Pig Gentleman / Pops / Rat (voice)
Frank Oz	...	Miss Piggy as Emily Cratchit / Fozzie Bear as Fozziewig / Sam the Eagle as Headmaster of Junior High Graduates / Animal / George the Janitor / Horse and Carriage Driver / Vegetable Salesman (voice)
David Rudman	...	Rat / Peter Cratchit / Old Joe / Swedish Chef (voice)
Don Austen	...	Ghost of Christmas Present (performer) / Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come (performer)
Jessica Fox	...	Ghost of Christmas Past (voice)
Robert Tygner	...	Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come (performer) / Ghost of Christmas Past (performer) / Turkey / Additional Muppets (uncredited) (voice)
Steven Mackintosh	...	Fred, Scrooge's Nephew
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	...	Boy #1
Fergus Brazier	...	Boy #2
Ian Allen	...	Additional Muppet Performer (voice)
James Barton	...	Additional Muppet Performer (voice)
David Shaw Parker	...	Old Joe (voice)
Simon Buckley	...	Additional Muppet Performer (voice)
Craig Crane	...	Additional Muppet Performer (voice)
John Eccleston	...	Additional Muppet Performer (voice)
Ken Haines	...	Additional Muppet Performer (voice)
Christopher Leith	...	Additional Muppet Performer (voice)
Angie Passmore	...	Additional Muppet Performer (voice)
Judy Preece	...	Additional Muppet Performer (voice)
Dave Sholer	...	Additional Muppet Performer (voice)
Mark Alexander Todd	...	Additional Muppet Performer (voice)
Victoria Williams	...	Additional Muppet Performer (voice)
Joan Barton	...	Additional Muppet Performer (voice)
Dave Buldeck	...	Additional Muppet Performer (voice)
Sue Dacre	...	Additional Muppet Performer (voice)
Geoff Felix	...	Additional Muppet Performer (voice)
William Todd-Jones	...	Ghost of Christmas Past / Additional Muppets (voice)
Anthony Lymboura	...	Additional Muppet Performer (voice) (as Anthony Limborgila)
Peter Passmore	...	Additional Muppet Performer (voice)
Sally Preisig	...	Additional Muppet Performer (voice)
Tim Rose	...	Additional Muppet Performer (voice)
John Thirtle	...	Additional Muppet Performer (voice)
Ian Tregonning	...	Additional Muppet Performer (voice)
Robbie Barnett	...	Additional Muppet Performer (voice)
Marcus Clarke	...	Additional Muppet Performer (voice)
Taylor David	...	Additional Muppet Performer (voice)
Kate Frost	...	Additional Muppet Performer (voice)
Ronnie Le Drew	...	Additional Muppet Performer (voice)
Rebecca Magan	...	Additional Muppet Performer (voice)
Nigel Plaskitt	...	Additional Muppet Performer (voice)
Peter Robbins	...	Additional Muppet Performer (voice)
Kaefan Shaw	...	Additional Muppet Performer (voice)
Ian Thom	...	Additional Muppet Performer (voice)
Simon Williamson	...	Additional Muppet Performer (voice)
Phill Woodfine	...	Additional Muppet Performer (voice)
Mike Quinn	...	Pig Gentleman / Undertaker (voice)
Karen Prell	...	Daughter Mouse / Ghost of Christmas Past (performer) / Additional Muppet Performer (voice)
David Alan Barclay	...	Additional Muppet Performer (voice) (as David Barclay)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Louise Gold	...	Mrs. Dilber / Spider / Additional Muppets (voice) (uncredited)

Directed by
Brian Henson

Writing credits (WGA)
Charles Dickens		(novel "A Christmas Carol")
Jerry Juhl		(screenplay)

Produced by
Martin G. Baker	....	producer
David Barron	....	line producer
Brian Henson	....	producer
Jerry Juhl	....	co-producer
Frank Oz	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Miles Goodman

Cinematography by
John Fenner		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Michael Jablow

Casting by
Suzanne Crowley		(as Suzanne Crowley)
Mike Fenton
Gilly Poole

Production Design by
Val Strazovec

Art Direction by
Dennis Bosher
Alan Cassie		(supervising art director)

Set Decoration by
Michael Ford

Costume Design by
Ann Hollowood
Polly Smith

Makeup Department
Eric Allwright	....	makeup artist
Lois Burwell	....	makeup department head
Betty Glasow	....	key hair stylist
Sian Grigg	....	makeup artist
Chris Lyons	....	special effects teeth

Production Management
Pete Coogan	....	production manager (as Peter Coogan)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Bernard Bellew	....	assistant director: second unit (as Bernie Bellew)
Callum McDougall	....	key second assistant director
Crispin Reece	....	first assistant director
Richard Whelan	....	second assistant director
Nick Willing	....	second unit director

Art Department
Harry Alley	....	painter
Joseph Alley	....	carpenter
Philip Babbage	....	plasterer
Ronald Bede	....	chargehand stagehand
Steven Bede	....	stagehand
John Behan	....	carpenter
David Bubb	....	stand-by carpenter
Harold Burst	....	plasterer
Zoe Cain	....	storyboard assistant
Adam Campbell	....	painter
John Campbell	....	painter
Kelvin Carter	....	carpenter
William Clayton	....	plasterer
Mel Coleman	....	plasterer (as Melvyn Coleman)
Joe Dipple	....	chargehand stand-by propman (as Joseph Dipple)
Bob Douglas	....	prop storeman
Rashna Elavia	....	painter
Barry Fowler	....	chargehand plasterer
Colin Fox	....	drapes master
George Giles	....	plasterer laborer
Frederick Gunning	....	carpenter
Jack Hammerton	....	chargehand carpenter
Brian Hartnoll	....	stand-by painter
J.F. Henry	....	carpenter
Geoff Hubbard	....	carpenter (as Martin Hubbard)
Mark Impey	....	stand-by stagehand: second unit
Reginald Keywood	....	chargehand carpenter
Roy Martin	....	painter
Hugh McKenzie	....	carpenter
Terence Meadows	....	stagehand
Marina Morris	....	art department assistant
Ronald Nicholls	....	stand-by stagehand
David Nicoll	....	scenic artist
Paul Nott-Macaire	....	carpenter
Dennis Pack	....	carpenter
Brian Payne	....	property master
Ken Perkins	....	dressing propman
Harry Portlock	....	carpenter
Ken Powell	....	hod plasterer
Ron Quelch	....	production buyer
Douglas Regan	....	painter
Eric Regan	....	chargehand painter
Syd Regan	....	painter (as Sidney Regan)
James Reynolds	....	carpenter
Steven Sallybanks	....	scenic artist
Donald Sargent	....	carpenter
Michael Sarley	....	storyboard artist
Richard Shackleton	....	hod carpenter (as Dick Shackleton)
Dennis Simmonds	....	chargehand dressing propman
Vic Simpson	....	construction coordinator
Dan Sweetman	....	storyboard artist
Kenneth Thursby	....	carpenter
Bradley Torbett	....	stand-by propman
J.C. Townsend	....	wood machinist
Sarah 'Toad' Tozer	....	draughtsman (as Sarah Tozer)
Anthony Vice	....	plasterer
Robert Voysey	....	plasterer
Roger Willis	....	carpenter
David Wood	....	draughtsman
Eddie Young	....	stand-by carpenter: second unit
Edwin Young	....	carpenter

Sound Department
Philip Alton	....	assistant sound editor
James Ashwill	....	foley mixer (as Jim Ashwill)
Bob Baron	....	adr mixer
Gerry Bates	....	sound playback operator
Catherine Calleson	....	assistant sound editor
Ceri Davies	....	apprentice sound editor
Joe Dorn	....	adr supervisor
Gary Gegan	....	sound re-recording mixer
Nerses Gezalyan	....	foley recordist
Howell Gibbens	....	adr editor
Mark J. Harris	....	sound recordist (as Mark Harris)
Michael Harris	....	sound mixer: second unit (as Mike Harris)
Gary A. Hecker	....	foley artist (as Gary 'Wrecker' Hecker)
Derek Holding	....	adr editor
Matthew Iadarola	....	supervising re-recording mixer
Doug Kent	....	sound effects editor
Nick Lowe	....	dialogue editor
Bobby Mackston	....	supervising sound editor
James Matheny	....	dialogue editor
Chris Munro	....	sound mixer
Ian Munro	....	sound mixer: second unit
Graham Nieder	....	sound maintenance
Dan O'Connell	....	foley artist
Charleen Richards	....	adr mixer (as Charlene Richards)
John Rotondi	....	sound engineer: Y4
John Salter	....	boom operator: second unit
Lawrence Sibley	....	sound engineer
Steve F.B. Smith	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby
Greg Steele	....	adr recordist
Becky Sullivan	....	adr editor

Special Effects by
Chris Barton	....	creature shop
Arthur Catten	....	model maker
James Chai	....	foam/mold lab supervisor
Simon Clutterbuck	....	special effects: Jim Henson's Creature Shop
Jamie Courtier	....	model maker
Dave Crownshaw	....	special effects technician
Malcolm Evans	....	model maker
Louis Glickman	....	model maker
James Gresham	....	model maker
Tamzine Hanks	....	model maker
David Harris	....	special effects supervisor
Ron Hone	....	senior special effects technician
Chris 'Flimsy' Howes	....	key model maker
Chris 'Flimsy' Howes	....	model lead
Darren May	....	senior special effects technician
Roger Nichols	....	senior special effects technician
John Stephenson	....	creative supervisor: Jim Henson's Creature Shop
Tom Sturgess-Lief	....	model maker
Neil Swan	....	senior special effects technician (as Neil Swann)

Visual Effects by
Bob Ballan	....	motion control engineer: miniature unit
Martin Body	....	visual effects
Nicholas Brooks	....	visual effects
Carol Brzezinski	....	visual effects
Gary Cross	....	gaffer: model unit
Steve Cutmore	....	visual effects
Andrea D'Amico	....	digital visual effects producer: CIS Hollywood
C. Marie Davis	....	visual effects producer
James DeValera Mansfield	....	effects animator
Paddy Eason	....	visual effects
Andrew Eio	....	motion control programer
Doug Forrest	....	visual effects
Stuart Galloway	....	motion control engineer: miniature unit
Paul Gentry	....	visual effects supervisor
Pete Hanson	....	studio manager: CFC
Simon Harris	....	visual effects editor
David Hays	....	visual effects
Kent Houston	....	visual effects
Joni Jacobson	....	compositor
Dave Kervinan	....	compositor
Peter Koczera	....	compositor
Don Lee	....	digital compositor
Roz Lowrie	....	visual effects
Ben Morris	....	model maker: Jim Hensons Creature Shop
Danny Mudgett	....	compositor
Mark Nelmes	....	digital compositor
Tim Ollive	....	visual effects
Price Pethel	....	compositor
Steve Rundell	....	visual effects
David B. Sharp	....	model supervisor
Antoine Simkine	....	visual effects executive producer: Duboi
Janek Sirrs	....	visual effects
Val Wardlaw	....	visual effects
Janet Yale	....	visual effects
Rip Hampton O'Neil	....	director of reseach and development: DuboiColor (uncredited)
Kim Libreri	....	senior software engineer (uncredited)
David Smith	....	optical cameraman: Peerless Camera (uncredited)

Stunts
Fred Buchholz	....	muppet stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Kenneth Atherfold	....	dolly grip (as Kenny Atherfold)
Ivan Bartos	....	director of photography: second unit
Richard Blanshard	....	still photographer
Mike Brewster	....	camera operator (as Michael Brewster)
Bob Bridges	....	video assist coordinator
Jeremy Brookner	....	video technician
Kevin Brookner	....	video technician
Gary Cross	....	gaffer electric: second unit
Mark Evans	....	electrician (as Giffer Evans)
Mike Evans	....	focus puller: second unit
Micky Flynn	....	electrician
Leigh Gold	....	second assistant camera
Ron Green	....	gaffer
Robert Gurney	....	electrical rigger
Nienke Hendriks	....	clapper loader
Sid Hinson	....	rigger (as Sidney Hinson)
Paul Kemp	....	electrician
Philip Kenyon	....	dolly grip: second unit (as Phil Kenyon)
Pat Killeen	....	rigger
Terry Mcguinness	....	electrician
Alan McPherson	....	electrician: second unit
William Richards	....	stand-by rigger: second unit (as Bill Richards)
Bill Sansom	....	chargehand rigger
Mel Sansom	....	rigger (as Melvyn Sansom)
Steve Sansom	....	stand-by rigger
John Seale Jr.	....	first assistant camera
Gary Spratling	....	focus puller
Peter Versey	....	camera operator: second unit
Paul Wells	....	best boy electric

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Lisa Boquist	....	costumes
Carol Craddock	....	costumes
Barbara S. Davis	....	muppets' costumes
Carmel Dundon	....	costumes
Victoria Ellis	....	costumes
Charlotte Finlay	....	wardrobe supervisor
Daria Gibson	....	assistant costume designer
Ann Hollowood	....	costume design consultant
Liz McGarrity	....	costumes
Connie Peterson	....	muppet costume supervisor
Stephen Rotondaro	....	muppets' costumes
Carol Spier	....	muppets' costumes
Muriel Stockdale	....	costumes

Editorial Department
Vaune Kirby Frechette	....	assistant editor (as Vaune Kirby)
Dale E. Grahn	....	color timer
Michael Muhlfriedel	....	assistant editor
Tristan Mullane	....	apprentice editor
Theresa Repola Mohammed	....	negative cutter
Angela Robinson	....	assistant editor (as Angela Terry Robinson)
Paul Topping	....	assistant editor
Eric Wiler	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Carolyn Bahr	....	assistant music editor
Tom Boyd	....	musician: oboe soloist
Emile Charlap	....	orchestra contractor
Sandy DeCrescent	....	orchestra contractor
Michael Farrow	....	additional music recordist
Nancy Fogarty	....	music editor
Robert Hathaway	....	music editor (as Bob Hathaway)
Robert Kraft	....	executive music producer
Joel Moss	....	music mixer
Joel Moss	....	music recordist
James Thatcher	....	musician: french horn
John Moses	....	musician: clarinetist (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Brian Weske	....	driver: Michael Caine

Other crew
Paul Andrejco	....	muppet designer
Heather Asch	....	muppet designer
Brian Bailey	....	production accountant
Dan Bateman	....	production assistant
Abigail Belknap	....	muppet designer
Mary Brehmer	....	muppet designer
Edward G. Christie	....	muppet designer
Jill Colley	....	production coordinator
Craig Crane	....	puppeteer
John Criswell	....	animatronic effects
Sarah Dean	....	assistant accountant
Isabelle Dufour	....	muppet designer
Henri Ewaskio	....	muppet designer
Matty Eyre	....	production assistant
Patty Farr	....	muppet designer
Adam Fausset	....	production assistant
Craig Stuart Garfinkle	....	midi production consultant
Pat Garrett	....	choreographer
Jon Gellman	....	muppet designer
Jim Glavan	....	muppet designer
James Hammer	....	muppet designer (as Jim Hammer)
Paul Hartis	....	muppet designer
Rollin Krewson	....	muppet builder (as Rollie Krewson)
Ronnie Le Drew	....	puppeteer
Laurent Linn	....	muppet designer
Peter MacKennan	....	muppet builder
Sharon Mansfield	....	script supervisor: second unit
Tim Miller	....	creative supervisor: Muppet workshop, New York
Tom Newby	....	muppet builder
Lissa Ruben	....	script supervisor
David Rudman	....	puppeteer: "Peter Cratchit", "Old Joe" and "Swedish"
Valerie Simon	....	muppet workshop coordinator
Carolyn Taylor	....	unit publicist
Ann Thrift	....	accounting assistant
Ann Timinelli	....	muppet designer
Reginald Turner	....	double: Mr. Caine
Brian Weske	....	personal assistant: Michael Caine
Jean-Guy White	....	muppet designer
Michael Wick	....	puppet fabricator
Darryl Worbey	....	muppet workshop
Mark Zeszotek	....	muppet builder
Jane Howell	....	puppet builder (uncredited)
David Skelly	....	muppet builder (uncredited)

Thanks
Jim Henson	....	in loving memory of
Richard Hunt	....	in loving memory of

Production Companies

• Walt Disney Pictures (presents)
• Jim Henson Productions (from)

Distributors

• Buena Vista Pictures (1992) (USA) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (Sweden) (1993) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (1993) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• C.B. Films (1993) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Gaumont Buena Vista International (GBVI) (1993) (France) (theatrical)
• Prooptiki (1992) (Greece) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1994) (USA) (TV)
• Audio Visual Enterprises (1993) (Greece) (video)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD) (special edition)
• Buena Vista Home Video (1994) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Walt Disney Home Video (1993) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Walt Disney Home Video (2002) (USA) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Composite Image Systems (CIS) (visual effects)
• Computer Film Company, The (CFC)
• EFilm (visual effects)
• Jim Henson's Creature Shop
• Peerless Camera Company (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Shepperton Studios  movie studio
• Arkadon  motion control services
• BMG Recording Studios, New York  music recorded at
• Lee Lighting  grip and lighting equipment
• Palmbrokers  greenery (uncredited)
• Samuelson Film Service  camera equipment provided by
• Skywalker Sound  post-production sound services
• Sony Studios  music recorded at

Also Known As:

Runtime:

85 min | USA:89 min (video version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:G | Finland:S | Germany:o.Al. | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | UK:U | USA:G (Approved No. 32180) | Canada:G | Iceland:L | Portugal:M/4 (dubbed version)

Filming Locations:

Shepperton Studios, Shepperton, Surrey, England, UK

Company:

Walt Disney Pictures

Trivia:

There is a store called "Micklewhite". Michael Caine's real name is Maurice Micklewhite.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Bob closes the door when he gets home with Tiny Tim, the latch does not close, yet it is closed in the next scene.

Quotes:

Ebenezer Scrooge:You're a little absent-minded, spirit.
Ghost of Christmas Present:No, I'm a LARGE absent-minded spirit!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Atop the Fourth Wall: Batman: Noel (#5.52)" (2012)

Soundtrack:

When Love Is Gone

The Muppets are for life, not just for Christmas!

The number of Christmas films that would work well at any other time of the year can be counted on the fingers of a mitten, but THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL is definitely one of them. Right from the glorious opening shot, as Brian Henson's camera glides over a convincing Dickensian townscape before coming to rest in a snowy town square teeming with surreal and hilarious activity (fans of the show will get a big kick out of the speaking vegetables and the brief cameo by lunatic boomerang fish salesman Lew Zealand), you know you're in for something very special. Gonzo, the self-styled connoisseur of pain, and his wisecracking little pal Rizzo the rat take centre stage as the storytellers, setting the scene just before Michael Caine as Scrooge (in one of his very finest performances) strides around the corner and an already unfeasibly busy film bursts into stunning, detailed and endlessly rewatchable life. The set design in this film is just amazing - check out the amount of action taking place at the windows, in the gutters, in the doorways and almost everywhere else - and the animation of the puppet characters never ceases to be charmingly convincing. The production design is also remarkably good - there's an early example during the first song, when the appearance of Caine causes a sudden shift in the lighting and atmosphere from the warm glow of Gonzo's prologue to an almost eerie pale blue light. Although Rizzo actually remarks on this, the change is so subtle you probably won't notice it until your second or third viewing, but you certainly will appreciate it, subconsciously or not. Rather than getting bogged down in special effects and technical wizardry for its own sake, the scenes that utilize visual trickery are smoothly incorporated into the flow of the story rather than being imposed upon the film as self-conscious "set pieces" - take, for example, the Spirit of Christmas Past's flight over London (our attention is with Gonzo's death-defying method of hitching a ride), or the ever-changing size of the Spirit of Christmas Present (clue - look in the background during the brief glimpse of the party being held in the mousehole), or the location segues during the Spirit of Christmas Past's visitation. This approach benefits the film immensely, as it never distracts or misleads the viewer - a lesson the Disney company still refuses to take on board, as even their finest efforts are invariably laden with "showstoppers" that stick in the mind long after the rest of the film has faded into distant memory. But the most remarkable aspect of this beautifully subversive take on the beloved Dickens classic is that the core story, with all its attendant pathos, humour and timeless theme of welcome redemption, is neither diluted or stripped of its resonating power. Whilst the Disney animated version, in which Donald Duck played the unscrupulous miser, fell on its face with its ceaseless romanticism and stylization, this "Muppetational" version retains not just a Dickensian mood but, with the narration of Gonzo and much of the human players' dialogue, a truly Dickensian flavour as well.

Besides, what's not to love about this film? It's virtually flawless. Kermit, as Bob Cratchit, remains one of the most loveable and endearing characters in the Muppet repetory company. Everything about this self-effacing little green frog is funny - the way he walks (slightly stooped), his half-dazed eyes, his voice, his ultra-expressive face...and if you don't double up laughing at his acapella sing-song with his nephew Robin (here cast, inevitably, as Tiny Tim) as they come skipping over the hill on Christmas day, then you should hire a stonemason to carve the word CYNIC onto your heart. And yes, Robin gets to sing again, Jerry Nelson making his voice sound uncannily like a child's with the charming "Bless Us All", a logical companion piece to "Halfway Down The Stairs". Waldorf and Statler, perhaps the show's ultimate cult figures, are finally rewarded with a scene-stealing turn as the ghostly Marley brothers, backed up by a chorus line of singing cash boxes (it's the Muppets, remember!); Fozzie bear is suitably overwhelmed as Fozziwig, the rubber chicken manufacturer (and his use of an ear trumpet in the closing scenes provide the hapless would-be comedian with his biggest laugh for decades); Bunsen and Beaker get some decent scenes as a pair of charity collectors (is it just me, or does Beaker flip the bird at Scrooge at the end of their first scene together?!); Miss Piggy makes a fine wife for Cratchit, and Animalgets a well-deserved close-up, although Dr Teeth and the Electric Mayhem are hardly suited to playing slow waltzes! Paul Williams's songs, on first hearing, are servicable rather than memorable, but after a couple of viewings they'll be as hard to get out of your head as "Rainbow Connection", and ultimately emerge as one of the reasons this film stands up to repeated viewings so well.

THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL is a delightful family film, possibly too good for kids, but definitely worth dusting off at any time of the year, especially when you're feeling blue. Jim Henson would have been proud of this one.