The Muppet Movie

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The Muppet Movie
Theatrical Release Poster
Directed by	James Frawley
Produced by	Jim Henson
Written by	Jerry Juhl
Starring	Jim Henson Frank Oz Dave Goelz Jerry Nelson Richard Hunt
Music by	Paul Williams Kenny Ascher
Distributed by	Associated Film Distribution
Release date(s)	June 22, 1979
Running time	97 minutes
Language	English
Followed by	The Great Muppet Caper
IMDb profile

The Muppet Movie is the first of a series of live-action musical feature films starring Jim Henson's Muppets. Released in 1979, the film was produced by The Jim Henson Company under their second name and ITC Entertainment.

[edit] Plot

The film is a movie-in-a-movie, as we see Kermit the Frog and the rest of the Muppets creating havoc in a screening room, where they are about to watch The Muppet Movie. When asked by Robin if the film depicts how the Muppets began, Kermit responds that the movie is a somewhat fictionalized account.

As the story opens, Kermit is enjoying a relaxing afternoon in a Florida swamp, singing a tune and strumming his banjo, when he is approached by an agent (Dom DeLuise) who recognizes his talents and encourages Kermit to pursue a career in Hollywood. Inspired by the idea of making millions of people happy, Kermit sets off on a cross-country trip to Hollywood, initially via bicycle but eventually via Studebaker after teaming with Fozzie Bear, who had been working as a hapless stand-up comedian in a sleazy restaurant. During their journey, they are pursued by the villainous Doc Hopper (Charles Durning), owner of a struggling french-fried frog legs restaurant franchise, and his assistant Max (Austin Pendleton). Doc Hopper (who wears an outfit similar to Colonel Sanders) wants Kermit to be the new spokesman for his restaurants, but when Kermit refuses, Hopper resorts to increasingly threatening means of persuasion.

Kermit and Fozzie's journey also includes misadventures which introduce them to a variety of eccentric characters, some played by human guest stars, others played by Muppets; some of these Muppets, such as Gonzo (who had been working as a plumber) and Miss Piggy (introduced as a beauty contestant) join Kermit and Fozzie as they continue traveling to Hollywood. Along the way, they meet Sweetums, (who wanted to go with them to Hollywood but missed the ride), The Electric Mayhem and their manager Scooter (who planned to turn an abandoned church into a coffee house), Rowlf (who worked as a pianist at a lounge), Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and his assistant Beaker (who owned a laboratory in a ghost town).

Meanwhile, Doc Hopper continues to try a variety of schemes to coerce Kermit into accepting the spokesman position, including kidnapping Miss Piggy, teaming up with a mad scientist (played by Mel Brooks) in an attempt to brainwash Kermit, and even hiring an assassin who kills frogs for a living. Before the climax, Max appears to Kermit disguised as a motorcycle policeman to warn Kermit. Their conflict comes to a climax when Hopper and Kermit attempt a Western-style showdown in a ghost town; Kermit breaks tradition by trying to talk Hopper into backing off, but Hopper orders his henchmen to kill him; Kermit is saved only when one of Dr. Bunsen's inventions, the "insta-growth" pills temporarily turns Animal into a giant who is able to permanently scare off Hopper and his men (he is later shrunken back down to his normal size in the next scene since the effect of the pills is temporary). The Muppets proceed to Hollywood, where they finally meet the imposing producer and studio executive Lew Lord (Orson Welles), who hires them on the spot after an idealistic speech from Kermit.

The film ends with Kermit and the gang attempting to make their first movie, which turns out to be a surreal pastiche of their experiences, hinting that the movie they're making is the same one the audience has been watching all along. As the movie ends, Sweetums tears through the screen, finally catching up with the others. After the credits finish rolling, Animal tells the viewers to go home, then he says goodbye and falls asleep.

The Muppet Movie uses meta-references as a source of humor, as characters occasionally break the fourth wall to address the audience. In a particularly meta-fictional plot twist, Kermit and Fozzie actually give the screenplay to Dr. Teeth, who later uses it to find and rescue them after they've been stranded in the desert.

[edit] Soundtrack

1. "The Rainbow Connection" (3:14)
2. "Movin' Right Along" (2:58)
3. "Never Before, Never Again!" (vocal) (3:50)
4. "Never Before, Never Again!" (instrumental) (3:58)
5. "I Hope That Somethin' Better Comes Along!" (vocal) (3:58)
6. "Can You Picture That?" (2:30)
7. "I Hope That Somethin' Better Comes Along!" (instrumental) (2:29)
8. "I'm Going To Go Back There Someday" (2:52)
9. "America" (0:53)
10. "Animal...Come Back Animal" (1:30)
11. "Finale: The Magic Store" (5:16)

"The Rainbow Connection" was nominated for the Academy Award and Golden Globe Award for Best Original Music - Song and the music score was nominated for Best Original Music - Score Oscar.

[edit] Guest stars

[edit] External links

• The Muppet Movie at the Internet Movie Database
• Tough Pigs: The Muppet Movie from Script to Screen