Follow That Bird (1985)

Big Bird is sent to live far from Sesame Street by a pesky social worker. Unhappy, Big Bird runs away from his foster home, 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 (voice)
Richard Hunt	...	Gladys the Cow / Feathered Friends Owl (voice)
Kathryn Mullen	...	Feathered Friend's Magistrate / Grouch Diner Patron (voice)
Jerry Nelson	...	Count von Count / Herry Monster (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 Big Bird away to live with a wacky family of Dodo birds. After a long week and feeling homesick, Big Bird decides that he has had enough and sets out back to Sesame Street. Word gets around and Big Bird is totally unaware that his friends are in search of him. But Big Bird better watch out because both Miss Finch and two unsuccessful carnival owners 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

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:

Toronto International Studios, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,415,626, 4 August 1985, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$13,961,370, 31 December 2004

Company Credits

Production Co:

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

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The Feathered Friends' letterhead states that their headquarters are at 45 Peabody Street, Boston, Massachusetts.

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Goofs

When the State Trooper tells the Sleaze Brothers they can tell they're version of their story to the judge Sid cries and Sam turns his head away from the Trooper but in the next shot when the Trooper tells Sid to be a man Sam's head is turned directly at the Trooper and in the next shot his head is turned away from the Trooper to which he tells Sid to shut up and turns his head back to the Trooper.

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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, the Count gives a final tally.

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Connections

Referenced in Cinemassacre's Monster Madness: Is It Horror? (2015)

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Soundtracks

Working On My Atitude
By Troy Seals and Eddie Setser
Performed by Ronnie Milsap

User Reviews

Jim's overlooked classic!

stars: Dave Thomas and Joe Flaherty. cameos: Waylon Jennings, Chevy Chase, Sandra Bernhard, John Candy and others.

Muppeteers: Carol Spinney as Big Bird and Oscar.

Frank Oz as Bert, Grover and Cookie Monster.

Jim Henson as Ernie and Kermit the frog.

Martin P. Robinson as Telly and Snuffolupogous.

Jerry Nelson as the Count.

Richard Hunt as Gladys, Sully, Elmo and others.

Great movie! It's about a group of birds deciding that Big Bird is lonely and relocating him with an adopted Bird family. Because he doesn't like the family, he runs away. Kermit the frog comes on the news telling everyone and Maria, Gordon, Oscar, The Count, Telly, Grover, Cookie Monster, Ernie, Bert and many others go searching for him by car, by helicopter and by flying(Super Grover). Great family fun for everyone. Even though it is based on an educational TV show, there isn't any numbers or learning here. It's got some really fun and funny moments and will has a sentimental value in my heart! rated G. 84 mins. my rating-A minus.