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:

It's Big Adventure! It's Big Laughs! It's Big Bird on the Big Screen!

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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

According to Noel MacNeal, after filming the footage of Big Bird on the farm with the kids, the filmmakers discovered that the film was badly scratched and unusable. The actors, crew and performers had to return to the same location, but it was months later and in winter. Many of the green leaves the audience sees are spray-painted, and after each take, the kids would run to put their coats on.

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Goofs

When Big Bird is first arriving with the Dodos' home by car, they turn onto the street where they live and the speed limit sign says 40 km/h. They are supposed to be in the USA where all speed limit signs say mph. (The movie was filmed in Canada.)

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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 Scream: The Inside Story (2011)

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Soundtracks

Ain't No Road Too Long
By Jeff Pennig, Jeff Harrington and Stevan Pippin (as Steve Pippin)
Performed by Waylon Jennings, Roscoe Orman (uncredited), Alaina Reed-Hall (uncredited), Frank Oz (uncredited), Jerry Nelson (uncredited), and Caroll Spinney (uncredited)

User Reviews

great music and movie for the whole family even the kids

Follow That Bird is a five star event that has spectacular music. In my opinion Follow That Bird is a movie the whole family will enjoy. My favorite part is when the Muppet patrons order tossed salad and the Muppet Grouch cook gives them what they ordered via slingshot. Big Bird of Sesame Street is much smarter than the DoDo family of Canary Road. Like their name the Dodos behave extremely ridiculous and Big Bird would rather return to his familiar surroundings Sesame Street. Sandra Berhnard played a Grouch waitress and John Candy played the state trooper both were excellent. The movie was filmed in Canada. The scenery was peaceful rural farmland with fields of corn. Other notable characters, Sally Kellerman sweet voice suited Miss finch. Buy the movie you will love it!