Follow That Bird (1985)

Big Bird is sent to live far from Sesame Street by a pesky social worker named Miss Finch. Unhappy, he runs away from there, prompting the rest of the Sesame Street gang to go on a cross-country journey to find him.

Director:

Ken Kwapis

Writers:

Tony Geiss, Judy Freudberg

Stars:

Caroll Spinney, Jim Henson, Frank Oz

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Caroll Spinney	...	Big Bird / Oscar the Grouch / Bruno the Trashman (voice)
Jim Henson	...	Kermit the Frog / Ernie (voice)
Frank Oz	...	Cookie Monster / Bert / Grover / Additional Muppets (voice)
Richard Hunt	...	Gladys the Cow / Feathered Friends Owl / Additional Muppets / Grouches (voice)
Kathryn Mullen	...	Feathered Friend's Magistrate / Grouch Diner Patron / Little Girl / Additional Muppets (voice)
Jerry Nelson	...	Count von Count / Herry Monster / Additional Muppets (voice)
Paul Bartel	...	Grouch Cook
Sandra Bernhard	...	Grouch Waitress
John Candy	...	State Trooper
Chevy Chase	...	Newscaster
Joe Flaherty	...	Sid Sleaze
Waylon Jennings	...	Truck Driver
Dave Thomas	...	Sam Sleaze
Laraine Newman	...	Mommy Dodo (voice)
Brian Hohlfeld	...	Daddy Dodo (voice)

Storyline

Eccentric and lovable Big Bird lives a very carefree life with his friends on Sesame Street. But his happiness is cut short when a strict social worker named Miss Finch sends him away to live with a wacky family of Dodos. After a long week and feeling homesick, he decides that he has had enough and sets out to get back to Sesame Street. Word gets around and he is totally unaware that his friends are in search of him. But he better watch out because both Miss Finch and the Sleaze Brothers are also after him for their own purposes.

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Plot Keywords:

travelling | journey | running away | foster child | song | 

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Taglines:

The First Sesame Street Movie Ever.

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Genres:

Adventure | Comedy | Family | Music

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Certificate:

G

Did You Know?

Trivia

This was Ken Kwapis' directorial debut.

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Goofs

When Big Bird, Ruthie, and Floyd are singing "Easy Goin' Day," in the shots of the water pump taken from Big Bird's side of the trough Floyd is holding a reddish-orange watering can directly under the spout, but in the reverse shots of Big Bird from Floyd's side, it is nowhere to be seen.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Announcer: Ladies and gentlemen, would you please rise for the Grouch Anthem.
Oscar the Grouch: No, no, no! With the Grouch Anthem, you stay sitting down! Down in front there!

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Crazy Credits

In the closing credits, the Count counts the crew members. At the end of the closing credits, he gives a final tally.

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Connections

Referenced in The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years (1986)

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Soundtracks

Easy Goin' Day
By Jeff Pennig, Jeff Harrington and Stevan Pippin (as Steve Pippin)
Performed by Caroll Spinney (uncredited), and Alyson Court (uncredited)

User Reviews

What a great childrens film that is fun for parents too!

This is a wonderful film for children ages 8 and under. Parents of children that age will be very grateful for a childrens film which has zero bathroom humor or any other crudity. Now I am no prude, but in a day and age when young children are treated to scenes of wart hogs with gas (Lion King) or the sight of a dog hiking it's leg to relieve itself with a commentary(Homeward Bound), it is just nice to have something completely harmless for the little ones. I had to comment because this film deserved more than just to have a listing of: In Memory of Waylon Jennings. This film is a credit to the wonderful creativity of people like Jim Henson, who put quality children programs ahead of the easier, poorly made childrens fare.

Michael

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English American Sign Language

Release Date:

2 August 1985 (USA)

Also Known As:

Sesame Street Presents: Follow that Bird

Filming Locations:

Cinespace Film Studios - 11030 Highway 27, Kleinburg, Ontario, Canada

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,415,626, 4 August 1985

Gross USA:

$13,961,370

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$13,961,370

Company Credits

Production Co:

Children's Television Workshop (CTW), Henson Associates (HA), Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1