The Muppet Christmas Carol is a 1992 American Christmas musical fantasy comedy drama film directed by Brian Henson (in his feature directorial debut) from a screenplay by Jerry Juhl. He is held accountable for his dastardly ways during night-time visitations by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and future. But when the men in black kidnap him, it's up to Kermit and the gang to rescue Gonzo and help him reunite with his long-lost family. But the Muppet Christmas is a splendid modern version which probably Dickens himself would have liked a lot.Other than Disney movies, the singing does not get on the nerves and the comic relief is actually funny. Fred, Scrooge's nephew. When a man inadvertently makes Santa fall off of his roof on Christmas Eve, he finds himself magically recruited to take his place. [30] Director Brian Henson objected to this decision as the concluding song, "The Love We Found", was a direct counterpoint to it. Then all the Cratchit family drew round the hearth, in what Bob Cratchit called a circle, meaning half a one; and at Bob Cratchitâs elbow stood the family display of glass. It received its world premiere in London Leicester Square, which had a Dickensian theme. The soundtrack was digitally re-released by Walt Disney Records on November 6, 2012. [7], English actors David Hemmings, Ron Moody, and David Warner and American comedian George Carlin were considered to portray Ebenezer Scrooge. Then all the Cratchit family drew round the hearth, in what Bob Cratchit called a circle, meaning half a one; and at Bob Cratchit⦠Do Dickens Up Green", "The Muppet Christmas Carol Movie Review (1992)", "Films â review â The Muppet Christmas Carol", "The Muppet Christmas Carol Blu-ray Review", "The Muppet Christmas Carol [Original Soundtrack] - The Muppets - Songs, Reviews, Credits", "Why The Muppet Christmas Carol's song Was cut, But Really Should Have Stayed", "Why is the best part of 'The Muppet Christmas Carol' still missing", "Lost Muppet Christmas Carol song rediscovered", John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together, Lady Gaga and the Muppets Holiday Spectacular, The Muppets Present...Great Moments in American History, Kelly Clarkson's Cautionary Christmas Music Tale, Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas, Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse, Recess Christmas: Miracle on Third Street, My Friends Tigger & Pooh: Super Sleuth Christmas Movie, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Muppet_Christmas_Carol&oldid=1007655630, Short description is different from Wikidata, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Album articles lacking alt text for covers, Wikipedia articles with MusicBrainz release group identifiers, Wikipedia articles with MusicBrainz work identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Edward Sanders, Theo Sanders, Kristopher Milnes, Russell Martin, and, This page was last edited on 19 February 2021, at 06:48. In a 2018 interview with The Big Issue, Henson said he believed that the song was "unlikely" to appear in any further releases of the film, due to The Walt Disney Company losing the video master and negative. Ghost of Christmas Past, a phantom showing things past. The UK has also had similar DVD releases. [33] The digital download release of the film contains the entire "When Love Is Gone" as a bonus feature, in widescreen and in high definition. Her children were cheerfully running around. [12], Henson commented: "'When Love Is Gone' was not in the theatrical release, and is presently missing from some copies of the movie, which is a real shame." In the kitchen you could see Mrs Cratchit preparing Christmas dinner. On Christmas Eve, in 19th century London, Charles Dickens (played by Gonzo the Great) and his friend Rizzo act as narrators throughout the film. A retelling of the classic Dickens tale of Ebenezer Scrooge, miser extraordinaire. This is just a wonderful telling of Charles Dickens great Christmas story. Check out our favorite stills from shows you can stream now on Paramount +. Scrooge goes to the Cratchit house, at first putting on a stern demeanor before revealing he intends to raise Bob's salary and pay off his mortgage. Fozziwig and his mother throw a Christmas party, where Scrooge meets a young woman named Belle, with whom he falls in love. While Dickens and Rizzo abandon the audience to avoid being frightened, the Ghost takes Scrooge into the future. "When Love Is Gone" was a song performed by the character Belle (portrayed by Meredith Braun) as she laments that Scrooge's love of money has replaced his love of her. Peter Cratchit, a son of the preceding. He urges Scrooge to change his life. Miser Ebenezer Scrooge hates Christmas, but then gets a visit from his companion Jacob Marley, who has been dead for seven years. Scrooge and the Ghost visit Fred's house, where Scrooge is made fun of for his stinginess and general ill will toward all. Scrooge is escorted back to the cemetery, where the Ghost points out his own grave, revealing Scrooge as the man who died. A Christmas Carol Picture Scramble Bob Cratchit said, and calmly too, that he regarded it as the greatest success achieved by Mrs. Cratchit since their marriage. Although a central figure of the tale, his passive character is overshadowed by that of Ebenezer Scrooge. 57 of 64 people found this review helpful. Three ghosts take Scrooge through Christmases past, present and future. The 29-year-old Londoner played Bob Cratchit in the 2019 BBC adaptation of A Christmas Carol and has appeared in films like Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk, The Favourite, Mary Queen of Scots and Harriet. A 2012 standalone DVD release of the film uses the same disc from the 2005 release, so it also contains the song. At one o'clock, Scrooge is visited by the childlike Ghost of Christmas Past, who takes him back in time to his childhood and early adult life, with Dickens and Rizzo hitching a ride too. With Michael Hordern, John Le Mesurier, Bernard Lee, Patricia Quinn. Instead, the song appeared in (and was played during) the end credits scene. [31], The song is included on all of the 1993 VHS and LaserDisc releases. Scrooge and the spirit then visit Bob Cratchit's house, learning his family (Mrs. Cratchitt is played by Miss Piggy) is content with their small dinner. [17] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale. Gonzo is contacted by his alien family through his breakfast cereal. What is Smoking Bishop? They visit his lonely school days and then his time as an employee under Fozziwig (Mr. Fezziwig from the original story, played by Fozzie Bear), who owned a rubber chicken factory. The soundtrack album peaked at number 189 on the Billboard 200 chart. It was first released on VHS in the US on November 5, 1993, in the UK on November 15, 1993 and later on DVD in both countries. Bob Cratchit, clerk to Ebenezer Scrooge. E Stage, Shepperton Studios, Shepperton, Surrey, England, UK. "[5] He took inspiration for the role from "Wall Street cheats and embezzlers, I thought they represented a very good picture of meanness and greed". [27], The film's original score was composed by Miles Goodman with songs written by Paul Williams. Though he is treated poorly by Scrooge, he is shown to be very loyal to his boss. Tim Cratchit ("Tiny Tim"), a cripple, youngest son of Bob Cratchit. "[24] Anthony McGlynn of Screen Rant called The Muppet Christmas Carol "a work of genius on every level" and "the greatest Christmas movie ever made", praising the original songs that were written for the film and Michael Caine's performance as Scrooge.[25]. "[20] On the television program Siskel & Ebert, his partner Chicago Tribune film critic Gene Siskel gave the film a Thumbs Down although he was favorable towards Michael Caine's performance. Bob Cratchit is Ebenezer Scrooge's underpaid clerk in the classic story A Christmas Carol. Overcome with remorse, Scrooge tearfully vows to change his ways. Scrooge rejects his nephew Fred's invitation to Christmas dinner, dismisses two gentlemen (played by Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and Beaker) collecting money for charity, and tosses a wreath at a carol-singing Bean Bunny. "[16] On Metacritic, the film has a score of 64 out of 100, based on 27 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". [5][7] However, the idea was scrapped in favor of new Muppet characters that would better underline the ominous nature. FXâs A Christmas Carol is an original take on Charles Dickensâ iconic ghost story by Steven Knight (Taboo, Peaky Blinders).The FX Original movie is a spine-tingling immersion into Ebenezer Scroogeâs dark night of the soul. However, most of them are different arrangements than what appear in the film. I am going to play Scrooge as if it is an utterly dramatic role and there are no puppets around me. As a verb, that can mean to drink a lot and be noisy, or to wander from house to house singing carols. He is held accountable for his dastardly ways during night-time visitations by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and future. The classic Disney animated characters play the roles in this animated retelling of the Charles Dickens masterpiece. Following Jim Henson's death in May 1990, talent agent Bill Haber approached his son Brian with the idea of filming an adaptation. An animated retelling of Charles Dickens' classic novel about a Victorian-era miser taken on a journey of self-redemption, courtesy of several mysterious Christmas apparitions. [8] Established Muppet characters were initially written to portray the ghosts, with various accounts stating Robin the Frog or Scooter was to be the Ghost of Christmas Past, Miss Piggy to be the Ghost of Christmas Present, and Gonzo (before he was written to portray Dickens) or Animal as the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. Adapted from the 1843 novella A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, it stars Michael Caine as Ebenezer Scrooge, alongside Muppet performers Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, Jerry Nelson, and Frank Oz portraying various roles. Although artistic license is taken to suit the aesthetic of the Muppets, The Muppet Christmas Carol otherwise follows Dickens's original story closely.[4]. The story being so good, you would have to try had to make a bad movie out of it. A Muppet fanatic with some help from his 2 human compatriots must regroup the Muppet gang to stop an avaricious oil mogul from taking down one of their precious life-longing treasures. The Muppets Take Manhattan: Original Soundtrack, Muppet Treasure Island: Original Soundtrack, "How we made: The Muppet Christmas Carol", "The 'Rainbow Connection' Connection And Other 'Muppet Christmas Carol' Facts", "Brian Henson On What Makes 'A Muppet Christmas Carol' So Special And His Father's Legacy", "14 Things You Might Not Know About 'The Muppet Christmas Carol, "14 Things You Didn't Know About "The Muppet Christmas Carol, "Ghosts of Music Past: 'The Muppet Christmas Carol' songwriter Paul Williams undergoes a metamorphosis no less powerful than Scrooge's", "Weekend Box Office : 'Home Alone' Passes $100 Million", "Weekend Box Office Results for December 11-13, 2015", "The Muppet Christmas Carol â Review/Film; Kermit, Etc. [5] Longtime Muppets writer Jerry Juhl was hired to write the script and decided to insert Charles Dickens as the stand-in narrator in order to remain faithful to the original prose of the written material. . Nevertheless, Kehr praised Val Strazovec's production design and John Fenner's cinematography believing its "shadowy, naturalistic lighting creates a new look for a puppet film", but derided Paul Williams's songs as unmemorable. Scrooge also takes pity on Bob's ill son Tiny Tim (played by Robin the Frog). And then nephew Fred, played by Dominic West, arrives in the street outside and peers in through the window pane from which Bob has, thoughtfully, wiped away the frost a few scenes earlier. View production, box office, & company info. Was this review helpful to you? Make up the fires and buy another coal scuttle before yo dot another i, Bob . [9] Henson later offered the role to Michael Caine, who replied: "I'm going to play this movie like I'm working with the Royal Shakespeare Company. The site's consensus states, "It may not be the finest version of Charles Dickens' tale to grace the screen, but The Muppet Christmas Carol is funny and heartwarming, and serves as a good introduction to the story for young viewers. (1992). Looking for something new to add to your Watchlist? [3] Despite being a modest box office success, The Muppet Christmas Carol did not have a large effect during its theatrical release, having to face competition from Home Alone 2: Lost in New York and Disney's own Aladdin. I'll raise your salary, and endeavor to assist your struggling family, and we will discuss your affairs this very afternoon, over a Christmas bowl of smoking bishop, Bob! An old bitter miser who rationalizes his uncaring nature learns real compassion when three spirits visit him on Christmas Eve. He is also Taylor Swift's other half, the assumed inspiration for her song London Boy, and the co-writer on her latest album Folklore. Then all the Cratchit family drew round the hearth, in what Bob Cratchit called a circle, meaning half a one; and at Bob Cratchit⦠On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 76% based on 49 reviews, with an average rating of 6.71/10. . Directed by Moira Armstrong. Murray Chapman . Kermit and his friends spend Christmas staging a surprise visit to Fozzie Bear's mother's farm. Read our editors' picks for the movies and shows we're watching in March, including "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier," Boss Level, and Zack Snyder's Justice League. Goodman previously scored several films that were directed by Muppet performer Frank Oz.[28]. Traditionally, Christmas is a time to wassail. The novel The Life and Times of Bob Cratchit gives Bob backstory, detailing how he came to work at Scrooge and Marley's, how he got married, and other events before the story began. than I have given you for many a year. The compound in the jug being tasted, and considered perfect, apples and oranges were put upon the table, and a shovel-full of chestnuts on the fire. 1. The Muppet characters tell their version of the classic tale of an old and bitter miser's redemption on Christmas ⦠It is something to lighten up your soul. Awakening in his bedroom on Christmas Day, Scrooge decides to surprise Bob's family with a turkey dinner and ventures out with Bean, Dickens, Rizzo, and the charity workers to spread happiness and joy around London. Walt Disney Home Entertainment re-released the film in the US on DVD on November 29, 2005, in conjunction with Kermit the Frog's 50th anniversary celebration; this time the DVD contained both full-screen and widescreen presentations. A Christmas Carol: 1938 Michael Medwin: Scrooge: 1970 Dennis Day: The Stingiest Man in Town: 1978 Bob Crandall (played by Dick Sargent) A Bionic Christmas Carol: 1976 The character of Bob Crandall is a composite character combining aspects of Fred and Bob Cratchit. Williams previously worked with the Muppets on the soundtrack to The Muppet Movie (1979) in which he and Kenneth Ascher were nominated for an Academy Award for writing "Rainbow Connection". . The 2002 and 2005 DVD releases do retain the song, but only in the 89-minute full-screen version of the film, not in the 86-minute widescreen version on the same disc. Muppet characters we have known for decades like Kermit and especially Gonzo are having great moments.This is the perfect Christmas movie to watch with kids. Use the HTML below. Scrooge leaves for home while the bookkeepers celebrate Christmas. [15] Ultimately, The Muppet Christmas Carol grossed a total of $27.3 million in North America. [22] Likewise, Variety praised the production design and criticized Williams's songs, writing Muppets Christmas Carol is "not as enchanting or amusing as the previous entries in the Muppet series. In contrast to the shops Scrooge has just passed, the Cratchits' feast is a triumph of spirit over straitened circumstances. The list includes Ebenezer Scrooge, Fezziwig, Bob Cratchit, Jacob Marley and more. As with all Muppet films (except Muppets from Space), The Muppet Christmas Carol was shot as a musical. [13] However, the film opened in sixth place, initially reported to have collected $5.9 million in box office estimates,[14] which was later revised to $5 million. . The Voiceless: The common depiction of the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. The song has appeared on all releases of the soundtrack recording. This is the first Muppet film co-produced and released by Walt Disney Picturesâand the rights to the Muppets featured in the film would later be purchased by the studio's parent company. The ghost took Scrooge to Bob Cratchitâs house â a very poor little dwelling. Christmas drinks. [8] After the script was submitted for approval to ABC, the executives of Walt Disney Pictures offered to purchase the script for a feature film instead of a television release. The fourth theatrical film in The Muppets franchise, it was the first film to be produced following the deaths of Muppets creator Jim Henson and performer Richard Hunt, with the film being dedicated to both of them. Richard E. Grant, on the other hand, gives us a Bob Cratchit that is nervous and subservient, just as you imagine Bob Cratchit to be. Kermit and his friends go to New York City to get their musical on Broadway only to find it's a more difficult task than they anticipated. But there is a lively kiddie version of the Dickens tale, one that very young viewers ought to understand. Kermit the Frog, The Great Gonzo, and Fozzie Bear are reporters who travel to Britain to interview a rich victim of jewel thieves and help her along with her secretary, Miss Piggy. Tiny Tim was Bob Cratchit⦠Scrooge and the Ghost witness a group of businessmen discussing the death of an unnamed colleague, saying they would only attend the funeral if lunch was provided. Cratchit is Scrooge's employee, a low-paid clerk with a large family. The performances are by the Muppet characters as well as Caine, and the album also includes the songs "Room in Your Heart" and "Chairman of the Board" that were recorded but never filmed. Haber told Henson that "Christmas Carol is the greatest story of all time, you should do that" and later informed Henson that he sold the idea to ABC as a television film. It is included with the deleted scene in the "extras" of the movie now available to Disney+ subscribers. [18], Janet Maslin, reviewing for The New York Times, summarized the film as not a "great show of wit or tunefulness here, and the ingenious cross-generational touches are fairly rare. Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Santa's clumsy son Arthur sets out on a mission with Grandsanta to give out a present they misplaced to a young girl in less than two hours. His loyal employee Bob Cratchit (played by Kermit the Frog) and the other bookkeepers request to have Christmas Day off since there will be no business for Scrooge on the day, to which he reluctantly agrees. The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come then approaches Scrooge, appearing as a tall, silent, cloaked figure. [12] Additionally, the buildings in the London street scenes were constructed by hand but diminished in size in order to achieve the appearance that the streets were relatively longer. The movie was released by Walt Disney Pictures on November 6, 2009. [26] The release doesn't include the film's extended cut. I'll raise your salary and endeavor to assist your struggling family. The Muppet characters tell their version of the classic tale of an old and bitter miser's redemption on Christmas Eve. But nothing can really diminish the late Jim Henson's irresistibly appealing characters.â[23], Giving the film three stars out of five, Almar Haflidason of the BBC wrote the film is "liberal but fun adaptation of a classic" that "turns out to be quite touching as Muppet movies go. In a den, Scrooge recognizes his charwoman, his laundress, and the local undertaker trading several stolen possessions of the deceased to a fence named Old Joe. Ebenezer Scrooge (Michael Caine), a cold-hearted, bad-tempered and selfish money-lender, does not share the merriment of Christmas. Directed by Brian Henson. We need warmth and cheer, Bob Cratchit! Characters Bob Cratchit, his son Tiny Tim, and Scroogeâs nephew Fred, all influence Scrooge in his journey of transformation. [6] Henson stated that Gonzo was chosen because he was the least likely choice to play Charles Dickens,[7] while Rizzo the Rat was added to inject some humor and serve as a Greek chorus. A Christmas Carol is a 2009 animated 3D movie adaptation of the Charles Dickens story of the same title. Written by Make up the fires, and buy a second coal-scuttle before you dot another i, Bob Cratchit!" Walt Disney Pictures appeared to have high expectations for the film, being their widest-released film of the holiday season and the second-widest release under the Disney banner that year. The first US DVD release on October 8, 2002, was in a full-screen-only format. The Muppet Christmas Carol is a 1992 American Christmas musical fantasy comedy drama film directed by Brian Henson (in his feature directorial debut) from a screenplay by Jerry Juhl.The fourth theatrical film in The Muppets franchise, it was the first film to be produced following the deaths of Muppets creator Jim Henson and performer Richard Hunt, with the film being dedicated to both of them. Two tumblers, and a custard-cup without a handle. 10 Other Christmas Stories The Muppets Could Adapt For Disney+, Long Lost The Muppet Christmas Carol Song Has Been Found, Listen Right Now, UK-Ireland box office starts December slowly as select English cinemas reopen, 20 Holiday Movies to Stream and Watch With Family, Holiday Streaming Picks: Classics to Enjoy, Movie Characters With Anti-Holiday Spirit, Film and TV I Own that I Haven't Watched Yet, The Most Fascinating Fantasy of the 1990s, Sam the Eagle as Headmaster of Junior High Graduates, Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come (performer). A retelling of the classic Dickens tale of Ebenezer Scrooge, miser extraordinaire. Get a sneak peek of the new version of this page. The song titled "When Love Is Gone" is only included on some home media releases of The Muppet Christmas Carol which are now out of print. In his house, Scrooge encounters the shackled ghosts of his late business partners Jacob and Robert Marley (played by Statler and Waldorf), who warn him to repent his wicked ways or he will be condemned to suffer in the afterlife like they were, informing him that three spirits will visit him during the night. However, a different DVD was used for the 2012 Blu-ray combo pack which does not contain the song. [11] During filming, in order to allow for the Muppets and the human actors to be in the shot, floors had to be removed and re-inserted, with Michael Caine having to walk across narrow planks between the Muppets and their performers. When the musical sequence "It Feels Like Christmas" ends with the crane shot, the short buildings became visibly seen in the background, in which Brian Henson explained on the DVD audio commentary that they were aware of the problem during shooting, but eventually decided that the closing shot was worth it as they believed not many people would notice the error.[12]. Dickens narrates how Scrooge became a second father to Tiny Tim, who escaped death. With Michael Caine, Kermit the Frog, Dave Goelz, Miss Piggy. The Ghost then transports Scrooge to Bob's house, discovering Tiny Tim has died. [21], Also from The Chicago Tribune, Dave Kehr reviewed the film as "a talky, plodding film that seems likely to bore children and adults in equal measure." The song itself was deleted from the original 1992 theatrical edition by Jeffrey Katzenberg of Walt Disney Studios, who believed that the following scene would not appeal to young children. The compound in the jug being tasted, and considered perfect, apples and oranges were put upon the table, and a shovel-full of chestnuts on the fire. The Muppet Christmas Carol You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. [34] However, on December 9, 2020, Henson confirmed to BBC Radio 2 that the original film negative featuring the entire footage of the song had been found by Disney archivists and would be included in all future 4K releases. The film was released in the United States on December 11, 1992, by Buena Vista Pictures Distribution. A tearful Scrooge dismisses the Ghost as he returns to the present. Scrooge: A merrier Christmas, Bob, my good fellow! Then the door opened and Bob Cratchit came in with Tiny Tim upon his shoulders. It received modest box office success and mostly positive reviews. "[19] Chicago Sun-Times film critic Roger Ebert, who gave the film three stars out of four, praised the technical achievements, but felt it "could have done with a few more songs than it has, and the merrymaking at the end might have been carried on a little longer, just to offset the gloom of most of Scrooge's tour through his lifetime spent spreading misery. However, the song "When Love Is Gone" and its accompanying scene can be viewed in its entirety on the full-screen version of the anniversary edition of The Muppet Christmas Carol, though it is cut in the widescreen format. At two o'clock, Scrooge meets the gigantic, merry Ghost of Christmas Present, who shows him the joys and wonder of Christmas Day. In addition to theatrical releases, the film has also been made available on home video formats. Scrooge and the Ghost go to a cemetery, where the latter fades away. Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? [10], Production took place at the Shepperton Studios, England. [7] The LaserDisc version includes the only widescreen presentation of this song ever released.[32]. Kermit and his newfound friends trek across America to find success in Hollywood, but a frog legs merchant is after Kermit. But you'll be too busy looking out for the assorted Muppets to care much. "A merrier Christmas, Bob, my good fellow, than I have given you for many a year! Scrooge, the Cratchits, and the neighborhood celebrate Christmas. The Ghost of Christmas Present abruptly ages, commenting that Tiny Tim will likely not survive until next Christmas. . Title: However, the Ghost shows Scrooge how Belle left him after he chose money over her. Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment released a 20th anniversary collector's edition on Blu-ray, DVD, and digital copy on November 6, 2012. And the fate of Tiny Tim is a cause for tears again and again, no matter how often you watch the film.Merry Christmas! What is 'The Muppet Christmas Carol' about? I will never wink, I will never do anything Muppety. It is the first Muppets film to be produced by Walt Disney Pictures, whose parent company acquired the Muppets franchise in 2004. Less pleasing are the forgettable songs that offer both clumsy word construction and dire music that eats away at the aesthetic quality of the movie. In A Christmas Carol, the newly reformed Scrooge promises to discuss Bob Cratchitâs new salary over a bowl of Smoking Bishop. The Muppet Christmas Carol: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack contains all of the songs from the film, which were written by Paul Williams, as well several cues from the score by Miles Goodman. Due to time restraints, Disney+ were unable to include the new full version on their Christmas 2020 broadcasting of the film.[35]. Mr. Fezziwig, a kind-hearted, jovial old merchant. Exceptions are when established characters in a show are playing that ghost. Are the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet-to-Come played by muppets or actors? 2.