A Christmas Carol For The Muppets

 

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[/one_fourth][three_fourth_last] We continue our Christmas countdown with our number nine film, “The Muppet Christmas Carol.” The film is a 1992 American musical fantasy-comedy and an adaptation of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” It is the fourth in a series of live-action musical films featuring The Muppets, with Michael Caine starring as Ebenezer Scrooge. Although it is a comedic story with contemporary songs, “The Muppet Christmas Carol” otherwise follows Dickens’ original story closely. The film was produced and directed by Brian Henson for Jim Henson Productions, and released by Walt Disney Pictures.

The Muppet Christmas Carol was the first Muppet film released after the deaths of creator Jim Henson and fellow puppeteer Richard Hunt. The film is dedicated to their memories.

This is the first Muppet film in which the story revolved around characters played by human beings, specifically Scrooge, as played by Caine. The rest of the cast consisted of mostly Muppet performers. Several pivotal roles- in particular, the three Christmas Spirits- were portrayed by specifically-created Muppet characters. It was at one time considered that well-known Muppets would be cast in these roles (Miss Piggy, Scooter and Gonzo) before it was decided that it would detract from the ominous effect the spirits would need to convey. Only the Ghost of Christmas Present is clearly a Muppet (albeit a giant one), while the Ghost of Christmas Past is an ethereal, childlike spirit and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come is a hooded, robed and terrifying wraith as per tradition. The Ghost of Christmas Past effects were created by making a special puppet that was operated in a tank of water and then green-screened into the film, making it look like it was floating.