The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

Director:

Brian Henson

Writers (WGA):

Charles Dickens (novel)
Jerry Juhl (screenplay)

Release Date:

11 December 1992 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Family | Fantasy | Musical

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Lessons | 1840s | Love | Little Boy | Bitterness

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Michael Caine	...	Ebenezer Scrooge
Dave Goelz	...	Charles Dickens / The Great Gonzo / Robert Marley / Dr. Bunsen Honeydew / Betina Cratchit / Rat / Zoot (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Donald Austen	...	Ghost of Christmas Present (performer) / Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come (performer)
David Alan Barclay	...	Additional Muppet Performer (voice) (as David Barclay)
Robbie Barnett	...	Additional Muppet Performer (voice)
Meredith Braun	...	Belle
Fergus Brazier	...	Boy #2
Marcus Clarke	...	Puppeteer (voice)
Raymond Coulthard	...	Young Scrooge
Sue Dacre	...	Additional Muppet Performer (voice)
Geoff Felix	...	Additional Muppet Performer (voice)
Jessica Fox	...	Ghost of Christmas Past (voice)
Anthony Hamblin	...	Boy #1
William Todd Jones	...	Ghost of Christmas Past / Additional Muppets
Steven Mackintosh	...	Fred, Scrooge's Nephew
Russell Martin	...	Young Scrooge
Kristopher Milnes	...	Young Scrooge
Nigel Plaskitt	...	Additional Muppet Performer (voice)
Karen Prell	...	Ghost of Christmas Past (performer) / Additional Muppets (voice)
Mike Quinn	...	Pig Gentleman / Muppet Muppets (uncredited) (voice)
Tim Rose	...	Additional Muppet Performer (voice)
Edward Sanders	...	Young Scrooge
Theo Sanders	...	Young Scrooge
David Shaw Parker	...	Old Joe (voice)
Reginald Turner	...	Michael Caine's double
Robert Tygner	...	Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come (performer) / Ghost of Christmas Past (performer) / Turkey / Additional Muppets (uncredited) (voice)
Robin Weaver	...	Clara
Simon Williamson	...	Additional Muppet Performer (voice)

Also Known As:

Conto de Natal dos Marretas, O (Portugal) [pt]
Festa in casa Muppet (Italy) [it]
Mupparnas julsaga (Sweden) [sv]
Muppets Weihnachtsgeschichte, Die (Germany) [de]
Muppettien joulu (Finland) [fi]
Noël chez les muppets (France) [fr]
Teleñecos en cuentos de Navidad, Los (Spain) [es]

Runtime:

85 min | USA:89 min (video version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | Canada:G | Australia:G | Finland:S | Germany:o.Al. | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | UK:U | USA:G

Filming Locations:

Shepperton Studios, Shepperton, Surrey, England, UK

Company:

Jim Henson Company, The

Trivia:

There is a store called "Micklewhite". Michael Caine's real name is Maurice Micklewhite.

Quotes:

Mrs. Dilbert: I've got his blankets.
Old Joe: [taking the blankets] Why, Mrs. Dilber, they're still warm. I don't pay extra for the warmth, you know.
Mrs. Dilbert: You should. It's the only warmth he ever had.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Muppet Christmas Carol: Frogs, Pigs and Humbug - Unwrapping a New Holiday Classic (2002) (V)

Soundtrack:

When Love Is Gone

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.