The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
Michael Caine plays it completely straight — opposite felt — and it's perfect.
Gonzo narrates as Dickens himself while Kermit (Bob Cratchit), Miss Piggy, and Statler and Waldorf as twin Marleys fill out the tale, and Michael Caine gives a full dramatic performance as Scrooge without a wink. The first Muppet film after Jim Henson's death, dedicated to him — and it honors him by being one of the best Carols ever filmed.
The first Muppet film made after Jim Henson's death, dedicated to him and to performer Richard Hunt, and it plays like a vow to keep his spirit alive. Michael Caine gives the great straight performance in Muppet history — he said he would play Scrooge as if he were acting with the Royal Shakespeare Company, no winking — and that sincerity is what makes Gonzo's narration and the singing vegetables land. Paul Williams' songs, including the ballad the studio cut and later restored, give Dickens a genuine heartbeat under the felt.
From the Film
The Facts
- Year
- 1992
- Director
- Brian Henson
- Runtime
- 86 minutes
- Genres
- Family, Fantasy, Comedy, Drama
Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Michael Caine | Ebenezer Scrooge |
| Dave Goelz | The Great Gonzo (Charles Dickens) |
| Steve Whitmire | Kermit the Frog (Bob Cratchit) |
| Frank Oz | Miss Piggy (Emily Cratchit) |
| Steven Mackintosh | Fred |
| Meredith Braun | Belle |
Good to know: The first Muppet film released after Jim Henson's death, dedicated to Henson and puppeteer Richard Hunt.
Where to watch The Muppet Christmas Carol
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