The Muppets Christmas Carol, 1992
Adapted from the original story by Charles Dickens the Muppets Christmas Carol became the fourth big screen outing for the popular puppets who’s Muppet Show was filmed here in UK.
As you’d expect with the Muppets artistic license is taken to suit the appearance of The Muppets, but otherwise the film actually follows the original story closely.
The film was released first in The USA, receiving generally favourable reviews. However it was only a modest success at the box office.
Summary
The setting is Christmas Eve, in nineteenth century London. Charles Dickens and his friend Rizzo address an audience as they narrate the story of Ebenezer Scrooge.
Ebenezer Scrooge is a cold-hearted, stingy, grumpy and selfish moneylender, who does not share the merriment of Christmas.
He rejects his nephew Fred’s invitation to Christmas dinner, dismisses two gentlemen collecting money for charity and tosses a wreath at a carol-singing Bean Bunny.
His most loyal employee Bob Cratchit and the other bookkeepers make a request to take Christmas Day off, since there will be no business for Scrooge on the day. Scrooge reluctantly agrees. and leaves for home while the bookkeepers celebrate Christmas.
On returning home Scrooge is in for anything but a restful night’s sleep as he is visited by the shackled ghosts of his late business partners, Jacob and Robert Marley, who warn him to repent his wicked ways or be condemned to suffer in the afterlife as they do. They inform him that three spirits will visit him during the night.
After being visited by the ghosts and relieved to still be alive Scrooge discovers it is Christmas Day.
A repentant Scrooge decides to surprise Bob’s family with a turkey dinner and ventures out with Bean, Dickens, Rizzo, and the charity workers to spread happiness and joy around London, reconciling with Fred and Fozziwig.
Scrooge goes to the Cratchit house, at first putting on a cold demeanor before revealing he intends to raise Bob’s salary and pay off his mortgage. Scrooge, the Cratchits, Fred and the neighborhood celebrate Christmas, as Dickens narrates how Scrooge became a second father to Tiny Tim, who escaped death.
Trailer
Starring
Michael Caine and The Muppets
Details
Original novel Written By: Charles Dickens
Screenplay By: Jerry Juhl
Directed By: Brian Henson
Original UK Release Date: 18th December 1992