The Muppet Christmas Carol Review

The Muppet Christmas Carol

Release Date: 11th December 1992 - Australia

Production Companies

Walt Disney Pictures (presents)

Jim Henson Productions (from)

Distribution

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Australia

Genre: Family/Musical

Rating: G

Runtime: 86 minutes

Budget: $12,000,000

Box Office Gross: $33,273,571 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

The Muppets tell their version of Charles Dickens's classic tale of an old miser named Ebenezer Scrooge, who receives an unexpected visit from the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future. Each ghost began to show him secrets from his past and present and predict his future, which would change his life forever.

Cast

Michael Caine - Ebenezer Scrooge

Steven Mackintosh - Fred

Meredith Braun - Belle

Robin Weaver - Clara

Jessica Fox - Ghost of

Christmas Past (Voice)

David Shaw Parker - Old Joe (Voice)

Edward & Theo Sanders - Young Scrooge

Kristopher Milnes - Young Scrooge

Russell Martin - Young Scrooge

Raymond Coulthard - Young Scrooge

Muppet Performers
Steve Whitmire - Kermit the
Frog as Bob Cratchit/Rizzo

the Rat/Beaker/Bean Bunny/

Belinda Cratchit/Beetle/

Lips/Pig Gentleman/

Dave Goelz - The Great
Gonzo as Charles Dickens/
Waldorf as Robert Marley/

Dr. Bunsen Honeydew/

Betina Cratchit/Rat/Zoot

Pig Gentleman/Richmond

the Horse

Jerry Nelson - Robin the

Frog as Tiny Tim Cratchit/

Lew Zealand/Statler as

Jacob Marley/Ma Bear as

Ma Fozziwig/Pops/Mouse/

Droop/Frackle/Ghost of

Christmas Present/Mr.

Applegate/Penguin/Pig

Gentleman/Rat
Frank Oz - Miss Piggy as Emily Cratchit/Fozzie Bear as Fozziwig/Sam Eagle/George the Janitor/Animal/Horse and Carriage Driver/Vegetable Salesman

David Rudman - Peter Cratchit/Old Joe/Beggar/

The Swedish Chef/Wander McMooch

Don Austen - Ghost of Christmas

Present/Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come
Robert Tygner - Ghost of Christmas

Present/Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come/

Turkey/Additional Muppets

Karen Prell - Daughter Mouse/Ghost of

Christmas Past/Additional Muppet Performer

William Todd-Jones - Ghost of Christmas Past

Mike Quinn - Pig Gentleman/Undertaker

Louise Gold - Mrs. Dilber/Spider/

Additional Muppets

Crew

Producer/Director - Brian Henson

Based on the Novel - Charles Dickens

Screenplay/Co-Producer - Jerry Juhl

Executive Producer - Frank Oz

Producer - Martin G. Baker

Line Producer - David Barron
Casting Directors - Suzanne Crowley,

Mike Fenton and Gilly Poole

Production Designer - Val Strazovec

Supervising Art Director - Alan Cassie

Art Director - Dennis Bosher

Set Decorator - Michael Ford

Production Buyer - Ron Quelch

Costume Designer - Polly Smith

Costume Design Consultant - Ann Hollowood

Chief Makeup Artist - Lois Burwell

Director of Photography - John Fenner

Camera Operator - Mike Brewster

First Assistant Director - Crispin Reece

Second Assistant Directors - Callum McDougall

and Richard Whelan

Assistant Director: Second Unit - Bernard Bellew
Second Unit Director - Nick Willing

Choreographer - Pat Garrett
Special Effects Supervisor - David Harris

Special Effects Technicians - Darren May,

Neil Swan, Roger Nichols and Ron Hone

Puppet Coordinators - Mike Quinn,

Karen Prell and Rob Tygner

Muppet Design Consultant - Michael K. Firth

Creative Supervisor: Jim Henson's Creature

Shop - John Stephenson

Visual Effects Supervisor/Director:

Miniatures Unit - Paul Gentry

Visual Effects Consultant - Thomas G. Smith

Miniatures Supervisor: Miniatures Unit -

David B. Sharp

Director of Photography: Miniatures Unit -

Paul Wilson

Film Editor - Michael Jablow

Supervising Sound Editor - Bobby Mackston

Sound Editor - Doug Kent

Sound Recordist/Mixer (Uncredited) -

Chris Munro

Re-Recording Mixers - Gary Gegan

and Matthew Iadarola

Foley Artists - Dan O'Connell

and Gary A. Hecker

Songs - Paul Williams

Original Score/Songs Arranger -

Miles Goodman

Executive Music Producer - Robert Kraft

Music Editors - Robert Hathaway

and Nancy Fogarty

Review
Charles Dickens's beloved story is the basis for each iteration. A Christmas Carol is one of these examples of great classic literature adapted into a film. Read a million times more than Oliver Twist and Great Expectations and remains one of Dickens's celebrated works and one of his very best. One of the best movie adaptations of the novel I ever saw was THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL. I haven't reviewed any Muppet movies (excluding the 2011 revival). It's time to rediscover my childhood memories through this retelling of a classic story. Jovial and heartfelt, it's how a Christmas movie should be. This modern version of Dickens's classic tale remains unchanged except for the cast and presentation.

Michael Caine's portrayal of Ebenezer Scrooge shows that he can instantly perform as a miserly old businessman who discourages Christmas and later learns the meaning of the holiday spirit and becomes a changed man. It was one of his finest hours of acting, and even his interpretation is unsurpassed by Jim Carrey's and all other actors' versions of the character. It's nice to see all the Muppet characters again, even Kermit the Frog, who plays Bob Cratchit with Miss Piggy as his wife and The Great Gonzo and Rizzo the Rat are the narrators. The set design is flawless, and the songs have a whimsical charm and an atmospheric quality that profoundly measures up to the movie's yuletide magic.

It could have ended the Muppets' future after its creator Jim Henson's unexpected passing. It somehow lives up to many expectations. THE MUPPETS CHRISTMAS CAROL is the best among the Muppet movies and worth dusting off from your collection. It is for viewers familiar with both Dickens and the characters that inhabit the world of the Muppets.

Star rating: (10/10) Best Movie Ever

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