The beloved Muppets have had their finger on the pulse of American culture since the 1950s. They have added their signature slapstick humor to just about everything, ranging from fairy tales and adventure to sports and current events. So it was only a matter of time until they tackled Christmas. In 1992, the Muppets took on the legendary Christmas villain Ebenezer Scrooge in The Muppet Christmas Carol. Using their delicate Muppety balance of satire and reverence, Jim Henson Productions created a near-perfect presentation of Charles Dickens’ classic Christmas tale.
With only a few sleeps remaining ‘til Christmas, enjoy five(ish) fun facts about The Muppet Christmas Carol.
Father and Son
Any discussion of the Muppets has to begin with their brilliant creator, Disney Legend Jim Henson. Over the course of his 36-year career, Henson’s creativity in television and film entertained audiences of kids and adults alike. Television characters from Sesame Street, The Muppet Show, and Fraggle Rock all have that unmistakable Jim Henson look, personality, and magic.
Jim Henson died suddenly and unexpectedly on May 16, 1990 – just ten days after the release of The Muppets at Walt Disney World – the first collaboration between the Muppets and Disney. Shortly after his death, Henson’s son Brian Henson was approached about creating a Muppet version of Charles Dickens’ Christmas classic. Brian had been faithfully creating along with his father for quite some time, but The Muppet Christmas Carol would mark his feature film directorial debut.
In directing the film, Brian Henson installed an emotional nod to his father, in the form of a celestial moment. The song “One More Sleep ’Til Christmas” sung by Bob Cratchit – played in the film by Jim’s alter ego Kermit the Frog – ends with Kermit staring wistfully at the sky as a shooting star streaks by. Brian Henson said this was a nod to a scene from The Muppet Movie (1979), where a shooting star flies over Kermit.
The moment has since become a recurring element in subsequent Muppet films, pairing Kermit with a shooting star in Muppet Treasure Island (1996), Kermit’s Swamp Years (2002), It’s A Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie (2002), and The Muppets (2011).
More *and* Less Muppet-ational
One of the most unique aspects of any Muppet film is the contrast of Muppets and real-life people. The two groups exist seamlessly in Muppet skits and stories, yet their differences counterbalance each other in hysterical fashion.
The Muppet Christmas Carol is no different, blending humans and Muppets in both central and supporting roles. But what makes this Muppet film unique is that it is the first Muppet film where the focus of the story revolves around human characters, not Muppets. Michael Caine plays Ebenezer Scrooge, with others in Scrooge’s immediate family played by humans as well. While the primary characters are human, there are still plenty of colorful Muppets to enjoy.
Kermit the Frog plays a critical role in the film as Scrooge’s faithful employee Bob Cratchit, but this film marks the first time Kermit was not the lead role in a Muppet film. With Jim Henson having passed away only a year-and-a-half before the film was released, Kermit was given a strong supporting role, and his responsibilities were adopted by Muppeteer Steve Whitmire, who excelled in the role previously occupied by none other than Jim Henson himself.
The three Christmas spirits – the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future – were at one time considered to be played by Muppet staples, Scooter, Miss Piggy, and Gonzo. However, the film creators wisely decided that the larger-than-life personalities of these Muppets (and the expected antics associated with them) would detract from the ominous effect the spirits would need to convey in the story. So three unique Muppet characters were created to fill these roles.
But don’t worry. Piggy and Gonzo made their presences felt in other roles in the film. Piggy made a strong stand playing Bob Cratchit’s wife Emily. Gonzo played the all-important role of Charles Dickens, making The Muppet Christmas Carol the only film adaptation to-date where Charles Dickens himself appears in the film. This was a deliberate decision by Muppets writer Jerry Juhl to remain faithful to the original prose of the written material, which is largely told from the point-of-view of Dickens as a narrator.
One humorous liberty taken by the Jim Henson Studios in the film is the addition of a second Marley brother. The original Dickens novella recognizes Jacob Marley as Scrooge’s deceased long-time business partner. For The Muppet Christmas Carol, Marley received a brother, Robert. This was done specifically so Statler and Waldorf – our favorite grouchy old Muppet men – could perform together in the film!
Ebenezer Scrooge
Most every adaptation of A Christmas Carol revolves around the ultimate miser, Ebenezer Scrooge. When Sir Michael Caine caught wind of a Muppet version of the classic Christmas tale, he wanted in. Caine had his agent badger Jim Henson Productions until they agreed to meet with him. Shortly afterwards, Caine was cast in the central role.
Before production on the film even began, Caine laid his Scrooge portrayal plan out on the line, telling Brian Henson, “I’m going to play this movie like I’m working with the Royal Shakespeare Company. I will never wink, I will never do anything Muppety. I am going to play Scrooge as if it is an utterly dramatic role, and there are no puppets around me.” Henson happily replied “Yes, bang on!”
In appreciation of Caine’s work on the film, the final musical scene features a store in the background called “Micklewhite’s.” This is a nod of appreciation to Caine, who was born with the name Maurice Micklewhite.
To this day, Michael Caine fondly remembers his experience alongside the Muppets, and considers the role of Scrooge to be one of his most memorable.
Sung and Unsung
The Muppet Christmas Carol boasts a fun and touching soundtrack, anchored by the unforgettable “One More Sleep ’Til Christmas.” But several other songs never made the final cut. During Scrooge’s time in Christmas past, the song “When Love Is Gone” – sung by his former love interest Belle – was dropped at the last minute from the theatrical release. Despite strong objections from Henson, the song was cut at the request of Disney chairman Jeffrey Katzenberg, who considered it too sad for young children.
The last-minute cut resulted in a jarring edit in the scene from which it was removed, causing confusion on the part of many viewers.The full song scene was eventually restored into the film, and added to a special 30th anniversary edition released on Disney+ in 2022.
Two other songs can be heard on the film’s soundtrack, but were never featured in the film. One song is “Room in Your Heart”, sung by Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and his assistant Beaker, performing in the film as charity workers. The other is “Chairman of the Board”, sung importantly (as always) by Sam the Eagle, performing as Scrooge’s headmaster in Christmas past. Both songs were recorded, but dropped from the script before filming started, to help keep the flow of the story.
Hidden Muppets
What would a Muppet film be without dozens – even hundreds – of colorful Muppets peeping out of every corner. In addition to some of the larger character roles filled by the most popular Muppets, The Muppet Christmas Carol features some deep dives and fan favorites alike.
Several characters from the television series Fraggle Rock make appearances in the film – most of them in crowd scenes. Sprocket the dog is the most notable, appearing in quite a few scenes throughout the film. Pay attention as a newly redeemed Scrooge walks about town on Christmas morning during his musical number “Thankful Heart.” Sprocket is happily in tow every step of the way! In addition to Sprocket, sharp-eyed viewers can also spy Mudwell the Mudbunny, Wander McMooch, and several of the Minstrels – all from Fraggle Rock.
Speaking of dogs, Rowlf – the character to whom Jim Henson stated he felt closest – played an important part in all Muppet productions up until The Muppet Christmas Carol. Without a replacement voice following Henson’s death, Rowlf made a simple non-speaking cameo in the film, playing alongside Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem band members at Fozziwig’s party.
“Hurdy gurdy!” The fan-favorite Swedish Chef makes a very brief cameo in the film, also at Fozziwig’s Christmas party. Gonzo the Dickens and his pal Rizzo the Rat appear to be mesmerized by his culinary skills. “Bork, bork, bork!”
Last, but certainly not least, Staler and Waldorf made much more than a cameo appearance earlier in the film as Jacob and Robert Marley. Their names made a very brief appearance near the end of the film, on a sign advertising a haberdasher’s store named “Statler & Waldorf.”
Thanks for coming by to enjoy a little Christmas magic, in a way only the Muppets can deliver. Where does The Muppet Christmas Carol rank in the long list of adaptations of A Christmas Carol? For me, it is side-by-side at the top, along with Mickey’s Christmas Carol. Let me know what you think by joining the merry conversation with on social: Instagram Facebook X
In the words of Fozziwig: “Here’s my Christmas speech. Ahem. ‘Thank you all, and Merry Christmas.’”
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