Following the death of Jim Henson, the Muppets were absent from the big screen for nearly a decade. But under the guidance of director Brian Henson, Jim’s son, Kermit the Frog and company finally returned with a twist in 1992. And 30 years later, The Muppet Christmas Carol is one of the most beloved installments in the Muppet movie franchise.
In this episode, film critic Morgan Roberts joins us to discuss how The Muppet Christmas Carol marked a new beginning for the Muppets. We’ll cover how Jim Henson’s death informed the movie, the decision to put the Muppets into a literary adaptation, Michael Caine’s iconic Scrooge, and why the removal (and recent restoration) of a certain song matters.
Unless superheroes, hobbits, or boy wizards are involved, fantasy films are all too rare these days. But in the 1980s, the genre was thriving on the big screen. Filmmakers coupled state-of-the-art visual effects with puppetry, make-up, and good ol’ movie magic to create worlds fans could previously only imagine. Director Ron Howard’s 1988 film Willow is one such film.
Featuring a story by George Lucas, Willow was the filmmaker’s blatant attempt to tell a story like The Lord of the Rings. And with the new Disney+ sequel series right around the corner, Jeremiah Stewart of the Let’s Talk YouTube channel joins the show to remind listeners why they should revisit Willow. We’ll discuss how the movie inspired Jeremiah’s own interest, the greatness of star Warwick Davis, and what we want out of the new show.
First, the Muppets got a movie. Then, they solved a great caper. But taking Manhattan? In this economy?! Well, that’s next in our Muppets mega-series. In 1984’s The Muppets Take Manhattan, Kermit and company aspire to become Broadway stars. And director Frank Oz brings as much heart and unforgettable songs as fans would expect from a Muppet movie.
The Vern from Cinema Recall joins the show to delve deep into the third theatrically released Muppet film. We’ll discuss how Oz’s film meddles even more with the Muppets’ already loose canon, which musical numbers tug at our heartstrings the most, and The Muppets Take Manhattan‘s standing as the final entry in the franchise featuring Muppets creator Jim Henson.
