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, Steve Whitmire

1 win & 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)
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)
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

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:

miser | christmas | christmas eve | muppet | ghost | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Family | Fantasy | Musical

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Certificate:

G

Details

Official Sites:

Henson.com

Country:

USA UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 December 1992 (USA)

Also Known As:

Die Muppets Weihnachtsgeschichte

Filming Locations:

Shepperton Studios, Shepperton, Surrey, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$12,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$27,281,507

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

Did You Know?

Trivia

One of the few films where the opening credits list the starring roles and say what characters they are playing (though it's mostly Muppets). Occasionally they will do this with one of the actors.

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Goofs

When Cratchit is singing and carrying Tiny Tim down the street on his shoulders, the floor keeps moving underneath him after he stops walking.

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Quotes

Ebenezer Scrooge: What right have you to be merry? You're poor enough.
Fred: What right have you to be dismal? You're rich enough.
Rizzo the Rat: He's got 'im there. The old boy's speechless!
Ebenezer Scrooge: If I could work my will, every idiot who goes around with "a Merry Christmas" on his lips would be cooked with his own turkey and buried with a stake of holly through his heart!
Rizzo the Rat: Well, not quite speechless.

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Crazy Credits

The closing credits include a credit for "Rizzo's personal caterer".

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Connections

Version of Scrooge (1970)

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Soundtracks

When Love Is Gone
Music and Lyrics by Paul Williams
Performed by Martina McBride

User Reviews

Charming re-telling of a classic story

This is an excellent re-telling of Dickens' classic, with the added twist of Muppet humor and charm. The Muppet characters fit Dickens' characters so well that it would be easy to think he had them in mind while writing. The music adds a magic to the movie that brings out all the emotion that Dickens wrote into the original novel.

This will be hard to top!