The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

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

Director:

Brian Henson

Writers:

Charles Dickens (novel), Jerry Juhl (screenplay)

Stars:

Michael Caine, Dave Goelz, The Great Gonzo

2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michael Caine	...	Scrooge
Dave Goelz	...	The Great Gonzo as Charles Dickens / Robert Marley / Dr. Bunsen Honeydew / Betina Cratchit / Rat / Zoot (voice)
The Great Gonzo	...	Charles Dickens
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 Cratchit / Jacob Marley / Ghost of Christmas Present / Lew Zealand / Ma Bear / Mouse / Mr. Applegate / Penguin / Pig Gentleman / Pops / Rat (voice)
Rizzo The Rat	...	Self
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

Storyline

A retelling of the classic Dickens tale of Ebenezer Scrooge, miser extraordinaire. He is held accountable for his dastardly ways during night-time visitations by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and future.

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Plot Keywords:

christmas eve | muppet | ghost | christmas movie | miser | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Family | Fantasy | Musical

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Certificate:

G

Did You Know?

Trivia

First Muppet movie where Kermit the Frog isn't the lead role.

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Goofs

When Scrooge is lighting the lamp to perform a search of the house, it is an obvious electric light. Since the film is presented as a theatre-play where The Muppets use whatever props are available, this can be seen as deliberate.

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Quotes

Ebenezer Scrooge: It's Bob Cratchit's house. Oh, yes, spirit. A place of joy and laughter. Thank you for bringing me here.
[looking up and down the street]
Ebenezer Scrooge: It's so quiet. Why is it so quiet, spirit?
[the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come gestures towards the Cratchit house, and he peers through the window]
Betina Cratchit: Oh, Mother, you're crying again.
Miss Piggy: Oh, no, it's just the lamplight, it hurts my eyes.
Ebenezer Scrooge: Not Tiny Tim?

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Crazy Credits

The opening credits feature the names of the Muppet characters as the Christmas Carol characters they portray. (Kermit The Frog as Bob Cratchet, etc). The ending credits list the voice actors and puppeteers themselves.

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Alternate Versions

The musical sequence "The Love is Gone" is missing from the UK DVD versions of the film.

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Connections

Referenced in AniMat's Crazy Cartoon Cast: The Big Comeback (2018)

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Soundtracks

Thankful Heart
Music and Lyrics by Paul Williams
Performed by Michael Caine

User Reviews

One of the must-see holiday classics

While the 1951 Alistair Sim version of A Christmas Carol is the most faithful to the original Dickens story, A Muppet Christmas Carol possesses heart, whimsey, and a joy that is so very much lacking in our evermore commercialized holiday season. Michael Caine's performance as Scrooge easily surpasses those of Reginald Owen (1938), George C. Scott (1984) and Patrick Stewart (2001). There is a more genuine degree of transformation and redemption in his characterization than has often been portrayed. This makes the story a truly wonderful experience both for adults as well as for children.

The use of the Muppets in the various roles makes for a lively film experience. Statler and Waldorf as Jacob & Robert Marley are appropriately heckling as they seek to convince Scrooge to change his ways. Kermit the Frog is a wonderfully sympathetic Bob Crachit just as Miss Piggy is appropriately and aggressively belligerent Mrs. Crachit. Perhaps one of the better-inspired comedy bits comes with the arrival of Scrooge and the Ghost of Christmas Past at Scrooge's former workplace, described as "Fozziwig's Rubber Chicken Factory." Such bits are frequent and help to keep the story fun. Paul Williams' music score and songs are eminently singable and leave the viewer with a lasting memory.

A Muppet Christmas Carol has joined the pantheon of classic holiday films, easily ranking alongside Holiday Inn, White Christmas and A Christmas Story. It is the opinion of this reviewer that for those whom holiday films have become a part of holiday celebration should make this a part of their seasonal experience. One might even complete the film humming the tunes and thinking better of themselves as well as of their fellow humans. In other words, Henson and company have made Dickens story as memorable as Dickens himself wished it to be.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 December 1992 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Muppet Christmas Carol

Filming Locations:

Shepperton Studios, Shepperton, Surrey, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$12,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$5,010,109, 13 December 1992

Gross USA:

$27,281,507

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$32,319,318

Company Credits

Production Co:

Walt Disney Pictures, Jim Henson Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min 89 min (video)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1