The Muppet Movie (1979) Online

1979 Jim Henson Frank Oz Jerry Nelson James Frawley

Original Title :: The Muppet Movie
Genre :: Movie / Adventure / Comedy / Family / Musical
Year :: 1979
Directror :: James Frawley
Cast :: Jim Henson,Frank Oz,Jerry Nelson
Writer :: Jack Burns,Jerry Juhl
Type :: Movie
Time :: 1h 35min
Rating :: 7.6/10

Kermit and his newfound friends trek across America to find success in Hollywood, but a frog legs merchant is after Kermit.

The Muppet Movie (1979) Online

While living the quiet life in a swamp, Kermit the Frog is approached by a Hollywood agent to audition for the chance of a lifetime. So Kermit takes this chance for his big break as he makes the journey to Hollywood. Along the way, Kermit comes across several quirky new friends including comedic Fozzie Bear, beautiful but feisty Miss Piggy and the Great Gonzo. But Kermit must also watch out for ruthless Doc Hopper, who plans to use him as his spokesman for his Frog Legs food chain.

Cast overview, first billed only:
	Jim Henson	-	Kermit the Frog / Rowlf / Dr. Teeth / Waldorf / Swedish Chef / Link Hogthrob / Doc Hopper's Men (voice)
	Frank Oz	-	Miss Piggy / Fozzie Bear / Animal / Sam the Eagle / Doc Hopper's Men / Marvin Suggs / Swedish Chef (assistant) / Motorcycle Guy (voice)
	Jerry Nelson	-	Floyd Pepper / Crazy Harry / Robin the Frog / Lew Zealand / Camilla / Blue Frackle (voice)
	Richard Hunt	-	Scooter / Statler / Janice / Sweetums / Beaker / Fozzie Bear (assistant) (voice)
	Dave Goelz	-	The Great Gonzo / Zoot / Dr. Bunsen Honeydew / Doglion / Iraqian in El Sleezo Cafe / Nigel / Pig (voice)
	Charles Durning	-	Doc Hopper
	Austin Pendleton	-	Max
	Edgar Bergen	-	Himself / Charlie McCarthy
	Milton Berle	-	Mad Man Mooney
	Mel Brooks	-	Professor Max Krassman
	James Coburn	-	El Sleezo Cafe Owner
	Dom DeLuise	-	Bernie the Agent
	Elliott Gould	-	Beauty Contest Compere
	Bob Hope	-	Ice Cream Vendor
	Madeline Kahn	-	El Sleezo Patron

In a 2004 interview, John Landis revealed that he was the puppeteer for Grover during the final sequence, as Frank Oz was busy operating Miss Piggy. Landis also noted that Tim Burton was also among the many puppeteers in the finale.

Edgar Bergen died shortly after his scene was shot in 1978. It held particular meaning for Jim Henson, who cited, on many occasions, how Bergen and his wooden sidekick, Charlie McCarthy, influenced his interest in puppetry. The end credits include a dedication to Bergen.

Jim Henson was determined to use the larger budget of a feature film to push the technological limits and capabilities of puppetry. One of the most difficult feats (and one that appears deceptively easy on-screen) was making Kermit ride a bicycle.

Jim Henson spent an entire day in a fifty-gallon steel drum submerged in a pond for the opening scene of Kermit the Frog in the swamp.

Kermit the Frog playing the banjo while sitting on a log took five days to shoot.

The film was an allegory for Jim Henson's rise to fame.

The first The Muppets project to take place in the real world.

The illusion of Fozzie driving the Studebaker was achieved by having a little person drive the car via remote control from the trunk, using a television monitor to guide his steering. The puppeteers would lie on the seat or floor and not see a thing. The first time they tested it, the television monitor went on the blink, and the driver had to be talked through the scene by an assistant director on a walkie-talkie ("A little to the right, now, to the left...hold it...").

When several celebrities, who were scheduled to do cameos, had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts, and others were brought in, Writer David Odell, was hired to re-write the script and make each new cameo fit. His work on the film led Jim Henson to offer Odell the job of writing the screenplay for The Dark Crystal (1982).

It took three Kermit the Frogs to do the opening "Rainbow Connection" scene. One of the Kermits used in "The Rainbow Connection" was a mechanical; you can tell by the way it strums the banjo, and the colors of Kermit's "skin".

Orson Welles plays a studio executive named Lew Lord who draws up a standard rich-and-famous contract for The Muppets, a reference to real-life Producer Sir Lew Grade (later Lord Grade). When Jim Henson was trying to find a producer to make The Muppet Show (1976) happen, no American network understood, nor was interested in the concept, Grade recognized Henson's vision and made the show possible.

When Animal accidentally eats Dr. Bunsen Honeydew's Insta-Grow pills, he memorably balloons through the roof. Jim Henson refused to use a normal puppet on a miniature set to accomplish this effect, so his crew had to construct a gigantic Animal head that measured sixty feet.

The closing reprise of "Rainbow Connection" featured a crowd of more than two hundred fifty Muppet characters, virtually every Muppet that had been created up to that point in time. According to Jim Henson Archivist Karen Falk: "One hundred thirty-seven puppeteers were enlisted from the Puppeteers of America (along with the regular Muppet performers) to perform every Muppet extant. Prior to the day-long filming of the shot, Henson gave the enthusiastic participants a lesson in the art of cinematic puppetry. Amazingly, it did take just one day." The Muppet Show Fan Club newsletter answered the question of "How did they do it?" They response was "There are two hundred fifty puppets in the last shot of the film, and they're all moving. How? One hundred fifty puppeteers in a six foot deep, seventeen foot wide pit, that's how. They were recruited through the Los Angeles Guild of The Puppeteers of America and almost every puppeteer west of the Rockies reported for pit duty."

According to David Odell, shooting on the final number in the film was delayed because Paul Williams developed a case of writer's block. Jim Henson asked Odell to come up with some dummy lyrics so they could block out the scene. When Williams heard somebody else was doing his job, he suddenly managed to finish the song quickly.

The song "I'm Going to Go Back There Someday" was one of Jim Henson's favorites, and Gonzo's performer, Dave Goelz performed it at Henson's memorial.

The song "Never Before, Never Again" was originally sung by Johnny Mathis, but the producers did not think his rendition was as funny as Frank Oz's version.

Orson Welles only had one line of dialogue.

The sequences where Fozzie, Kermit, Miss Piggy, and the gang cruise around in that old Studebaker seem effortless, but they were a logistical nightmare. Kermit and Piggy each required a puppeteer, Fozzie required two, they all needed monitors, and none of them could appear in the shot. So four men squeezed underneath the dashboard of the car with their video monitors to accomplish this movie magic, but the engineering didn't stop there. James Frawley told SF Gate that they also "had a little person in the back of the car, steering and driving. We had a video camera on the nose of the car so he could see where he was going."

A deleted subplot followed Statler and Waldorf, who turned up at various points in the movie to comment (and heckle) the main action.

Doc Hopper is a parody of Kentucky Colonel Harland Sanders, the founder of the Kentucky Fried Chicken (now "KFC") restaurant chain, who was known for his attire of a white suit and bolo string tie.

Before this, no film had a hand puppet act with its entire body appearing on-screen. That is, hand puppets were only seen from the waist up, and it became a major plot point to show Kermit with legs.

One of the two specially-painted 1951 Studebaker Commanders used in the film resides in the Studebaker National Museum in South Bend, Indiana.

"I Hope That Somethin' Better Comes Along" is a rare duet between Rowlf and Kermit, because Jim Henson usually performed both characters. Kermit, a simple "glove" puppet, could be operated with one hand, but because of his design, Rowlf required two performers: Henson's right hand would control the mouth, his left hand would control Rowlf's left hand, while another puppeteer would operate the right hand--meaning that in order to perform both roles at once, Henson would need three hands. In order to achieve the duet, the two tracks were recorded separately by Jim, and then combined into one. Henson and another puppeteer performed Rowlf (who required a more dynamic performance), while Kermit, who only had to sit and "lip-sync" the number, was taken over by a third puppeteer, marking one of the rare times Henson entrusted Kermit's performance to someone other than himself.

Gonzo is ridiculed when he says he wants to go to Bombay (also known as Mumbai), India, to become a movie star. According to International Business Times, the Bollywood film industry in that region produces roughly twice as many movies a year as Hollywood. Jim Henson once said that they wanted Gonzo to dream of being a movie star in the least likely of places, unaware until the film was completed that India produces more movies per year than Hollywood.

There are wineries in Idaho, and they didn't see the humor in Steve Martin's "sparkling Muscatel" bit.

A dancing Kermit and Fozzie Bear were operated by Jim Henson and Frank Oz in front of a bluescreen, and were composited onto a separate reel of the stage.

To have Kermit ride a bicycle in a full-body shot, a Kermit puppet with legs was posed onto the seat and his legs and arms were attached to the pedals and handlebars. An overhead crane with a marionette system held the bicycle through strong strings invisible to the camera, guiding the bicycle forward. The crane and system was out of the camera's frame of vision.

As the camera pans across the entrance to the movie studio, "Doglion", the large, horned full-bodied Muppet with long, gray hair, can be seen walking through the lot. He is the first member of The Muppets to be shown on the big screen.

Austin Pendleton refused the role of Max until James Frawley wrote more for the character to do, because he really wanted Pendleton for the role.

According to Austin Pendleton, James Frawley was very unhappy directing the movie, and did not get along with the Muppet performers.

Jim Henson wanted Doc Hopper to be redeemed at the end, but Frank Oz overruled him.

For the scene where Kermit has a desert revelation, James Frawley wanted to include a shooting star in the night sky. So the crew attached a Christmas tree light to a wire on the soundstage, and when they got the signal, shot it across the set.

Was the tenth highest grossing film of 1979.

"Movin' Right Along", "Never Before, Never Again", and "I Hope That Somethin' Better Comes Along" were shortened in the film, compared to their soundtrack versions, for continuity purposes. The latter, a duet between Rowlf and Kermit, contained references that the studio considered too mature for children, although the song appeared complete in the British theatrical and home video debut versions. In "Finale: The Magic Store", a line performed by Kermit in the film is sung by Fozzie on the soundtrack recording.

The original script had recurring appearance of Henry Kissinger, whose entire schtick is that he's not cast in the movie, not even for the Framing Device.

One of James Frawley's rare ventures into film directing. He more often directs for television.

The main obstacle the filmmakers were faced with during the development of this movie was whether the Muppets would transition seamlessly from television to film. In 1978, Director James Frawley, Jim Henson, and Frank Oz filmed several camera tests outside of London to test how the characters would appear in real-world locations.

Several classic cars were specially selected by Jim Henson for appearances in the film. The most prominent were a pair of 1951 Studebaker Commander Coupes driven by Fozzie Bear in the film. One car was painted, but unmodified and driven by a person in the front seat. It was used for long, travelling shots. The second car was driven by a person in the trunk, who viewed the road through a television set. The television received its image from a camera located in the center nose of the car's front grille. This made it possible for Frank Oz to perform Fozzie Bear in the front seat, and have the character seemingly drive the car in close-up shots.

Jim Henson very much wanted to direct this film himself, as he actually considered himself an experimental filmmaker before he was a puppeteer. Lew Grade and Frank Oz convinced Henson otherwise, as the requirements of performing and developing puppet techniques that would allow the Muppets to interact with the real world would consume too much of his time.

Steve Martin, Milton Berle, Dom DeLuise, Madeline Kahn, James Coburn, Bob Hope, Cloris Leachman, Edgar Bergen, and Charlie McCarthy all made guest appearances on The Muppet Show (1976), although Coburn's appearance came after the film.

Included among the "1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die", edited by Steven Schneider.

Is the second highest grossing Muppet film after Mapetai (2011).

A 2017 Nespresso commercial features George Clooney hitching rides with Kermit and Fozzie, with Janet Leigh in Psichopatas (1960), with Burt Reynolds in Smokey and the Bandit (1977), with John Candy in Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987), as well as riding Peter Fonda's motorcycle from Nerupestingas keliautojas (1969), and the eponymous horse from Favoritas (2003). The 30-second version omits Leigh, Candy and Fonda.

Shot in Albuquerque, New Mexico and Lake Sherwood, California.

The final car driven by the Muppets is a 1946 Ford Woodie station wagon, famous for its wood panel siding and is a valuable collectible.

The original outline was titled The Muppet Get-Together.

The song "I'm Going to Go Back There Someday" would later be resung in Mapetai iš kosmoso (1999).

When Dr. Krassman brings in the "electronic cerebrectomy" machine to scramble Kermit's brain, there is a LED display on the front of the machine which reads "666". This is a number frequently associated with the Devil, and is an allusion to the sinister nature of the machine.

Kermit imagines thousands of other frogs going around with tiny crutches. Real-life wild frog populations have suffered a decimating rash of leg deformities in the years since the film was made, some from pollution, and others from natural parasites or predators.

Premiered on UK television on ITV, Christmas Day 1981.

Charles Durning (Doc Hopper) also played Santa Claus in Elmo Saves Christmas (1996).

Caroll Spinney: Big Bird tells Kermit the Frog that he's going to New York City to break into public television, a reference to Sesame Street (1969), the television show that popularized the Muppets.

Steve Martin: The waiter in the small town restaurant where Kermit the Frog and Piggy eat their first dinner.

Richard Pryor: appears in the movie handing out balloons.

Frank Oz: Wearing motorcycle gear at the El Sleezo Café. He's the thug who wrestles with Fozzie (one of his main roles).

Madeline Kahn: At the El Sleezo Bar.

Bob Hope: Ice cream vendor who sells cones to Fozzie.

Richard Hunt, Jerry Nelson: Inside the El Sleezo Café.

Steve Whitmire: In the crowd of the beauty pageant at the Bogen County Fair.

Mel Brooks: The German doctor in the hostage scene.

User reviews

Golkree

MINOR SPOILERS

Misunderstood classic remains one of Henson's finest and most personal films. It may seem funny to call a movie as beloved as this one 'misunderstood,' but people do seem to remember this one mostly for Jerry Juhl's snappy screenplay and Paul Williams's knockout songs. Now while these things are admittedly great, as is the movie's formal playfulness (screenplay-within-the-screenplay, film break, etc.), what distinguishes 'The Muppet Movie' from the other Muppet films is the serious, wistful thread that runs through the picture. It's a road movie, all right, but like most road movies, the pleasure is in the getting there, and the achievement of the characters' goals is tempered by uncertainty, and by the knowledge that they can never really go back again. Throughout the film, we are shown the down side of show business, even before the Muppets have 'made it': Piggy abandons Kermit without a second thought at a phone call from her agent, Gonzo expresses the loneliness and regret of a performer's life on the road in his haunting 'I'm Going to Go Back There Someday,' and, worst of all, Kermit is continually tortured and tested by Doc Hopper, who wants him to commercialize his art for the unholiest of purposes. (One can only wonder what Henson would have made of his family's management of the company after his death.) Kermit himself agonizes over his choices in the desert conversation scene, and the final 'Magic Store' number questions whether it's all been worth it, before concluding that it probably doesn't matter either way. All this is punctuated with the expected Muppet chaos and satire and deliciously awful jokes, and of course the serious stuff wouldn't work if it weren't. But 'The Muppet Movie' isn't just another jokefest, as the rest of the diminishing-return Muppet films would become. No, it's a lovely, gentle metaphor about the relationship between art and entertainment and business, and it's every bit as effective today as it was 25 years ago. 9.5 out of 10.

Daizil

In many ways, the perfect movie. The "Incredible Journey" and Horatio Alger tale come together for a positive spin on the usually depressing subject of existentialism. In essence, the travails of the muppets boil down to the finale song of the movie: "Life's like a movie, write your own ending, keep believing, keep pretending." They create their own reality, which has all the trappings of every epic tale: a lofty goal at the end of what is necessarily a obstacle-laden journey; an ever-increasing group of like-minded individuals for camaraderie; a nasty set of villians who are not beyond all redemption; and a big-budget Hollywood ending because, darn it all, they CAN.

Only Jim Henson could pull this off. He walks the line between sentimentality and philosophy without swerving too long or too hard into either. Of course it seems odd that invest such weight into a film starring puppets, but in the end perhaps they are the perfect, uh, puppet to make these points. The movie's atmosphere allows for the pure enjoyment of the Hollywood dream, the "happy" ending, unnecessary cameos, and bursting into song at the drop of a hat. Usually these aspects are anathema to quality in film, but the self-deprecating manner under which the story is delivered makes for guilt-free viewing. One of the few films that can truly be called "suitable for all ages."

The other muppet-related films (including "The Empire Strikes Back"), while palatable, do not touch the simple grace of this film. Take, for instance, the musical number "Hope that Something Better Comes Along," the duet of Kermit and Rowlf. Amusing in its vaudevillian goofiness, yet makes a bitingly crucial point about the motivations behind life choices. Brilliant.

Burirus

We all lost something important when Jim Henson died. But his magic alone wasn't sufficient to do more than clever skits, both before and after this gem. Some fated match of director, writers, songwriters and puppeteers came together to create an underappreciated masterpiece.

Forget the kids -- this is a great work, period. Among the best story-films ever. And nowhere is the enfolding of reality and fantasy more rich than here. Naturally, you have the mix of humans (accented by celebrity cameos) and puppets. And some puppets are of humans, some of human-like animals, and some of animal-like animals. But that's just the tokens.

The real novelty comes in the story. It is a film about the making of itself, with a wonderful sequence at the end where the film is represented in cartoonish props contrasted with a `real' rainbow. Throughout, one weaves between being in the story and observing the story. Kermit (Henson's alterego) says `I hope you appreciate I'm doing my own stunts.' Think about it.

The songs, themselves self-referential, are important frosting: `why are there so many songs about rainbows?'

`Life is a movie, write your own ending, keep believing, keep pretending...' You don't get that in common fare. If you have kids, this is the most educational exposure you can give them among the kiddie offerings. There's nothing more powerful than the ability to perform abstract reasoning and the foundation of that is the play between what things are and what things represent them. Thanks and God bless you, Jim.

Endieyab

Jim Henson as Kermit, Dr.Teeth, Rowlf and Waldorf.

Frank Oz as Fozzie, Piggy and Animal.

Jerry Nelson as Floyd Pepper, Robin the Frog, Lew Zealand and Crazy Harry.

Richard Hunt as Janice, Statler,Beaker and Scooter.

Dave Goelz as Gonzo, Dr.Hunnydew and Zoot.

Charles Durning and Mel Brooks.

cameos by Steve Martin, Carol Kane, Orson Welles, Bob Hope, Richard Pryor and others.

This is the first Muppet movie of the billion others that came out, and is also the best, by far! This deals with Kermit the frog going on a trip to Hollywood and meeting the other characters along the way. This movie, along with being already good, has excellent songs performed by the Muppets, including Rainbow Connection, Can You Picture That?, Moving Right Along and others. This movie, unlike the other Muppet flicks, carries a strong sentimental value to me. It's such a nice movie. Also noted is it's many cameos featuring Steve Martin, Mel Brooks and a dozen others. It's really one of the best family films out there today!

my rating-A plus. 109 mins. rated G.

Arabella V.

Y'know, it's very interesting watching this... half the people involved with it are now dead...

Anyways, it's been a long time since I've watched anything Muppet related, but this stuff is pure gold. I'm a great fan of puns, and this movie has them quite well placed, but one of the amazing aspects of it is its pacing: it's not really high-speed children's pacing where the filmmakers just randomly decide to move the story along without giving the character's depth, it's just kind of moves along with the characters wherever they want to go.

Kermit the Frog is just an awesome character. His voice and the expressions on his puppet-face are fantastic. But above all, he points out why he's popular--"he can sing and make jokes too!"--but more appropriately why he's so endearing--he, without any effort, inspires everyone to search for their dreams. In the meantime, he also has to deal with himself, which is an uncommon theme in family movies.

It also contains quite an ensemble of comedians making appearances here and there, some to great effect, others to a little less (I think Mel Brook's part was just a bit overplayed, do you?). Some parts of the film are just kind of odd. But it's highly imaginative and takes itself to the same destination from a very different direction.

Moving right along...

--PolarisDiB

Lbe

21 years, 5 more muppet movies, and several Presidents later, this movie remains a classic and, in my opinion, the best of all Muppet Movies.

The entire family can enjoy this movie, and that's lost in current movies. Something that you would take your 6 year old to wouldn't really hold your interest, and vice-versa. The characters are in danger, but no real harm can be done. The characters are in stressful situations, but they don't shout profanities. What less would you expect from the beloved Muppets?

I find myself cracking up at the running gags and little implied jokes in this movie. The funniest are heard under a character's breath. Not only that, but it has an absolutely inspired musical score. Never since this movie have the Muppets shown such a broad range of emotions through their music.

All the Muppet movies are good. Even Muppets from Space, the least entertaining of the lot is fun. But if you want a really good time, get the original. You can watch it over and over...

Ttyr

Jim Henson's The Muppet Movie is a charming, funny and brilliant film that can be watched AND enjoyed by adults and kids. I feel this is my favorite childhood film because it combines great characters, great story, and great wit that it is irresistable. The plot involves Kermit the frog (puppeteered and voiced by Henson) in his odyssey across America to follow his dream in Hollywood. Along the way, he meets Fozzie Bear, The Great Gonzo (my favorite), Miss Piggy, Rolf, and DR. Teeth and the electric mayhem.

This film has so many good things I can't even say them. But it is memorable and every time I think of a puppet or muppet, I will think of this film. Look for cameos from Mel Brooks, Dom DeLouise, Paul Williams, Madeline Kahn, Bob Hope, Richard Pryor, Steve martin, Edgar Bergen (and Charlie McCarthey), Elliot Gould, Carol Kane and the great Orson Welles. Excellent and spectacular, one of the best films of the 70's. A++

Mustard Forgotten

I have always loved The Muppets. Though most children's entertainment then wasn't that likable, The Muppet's was. The Muppet's are very, very funny. They are probably the most likable children's characters ever.

Not only did The Muppets have their own show. They also have starred in many films. from The Muppet's Christmas carol to The Muppet's treasure Island. The first Muppet's movie, The Muppet movie, was also, like the show and the other films, excellent.

The Muppet movie is about how they all got started. Kermit the frog used to live in a swamp. Until one day a movie executive tells him that there are auditions for frogs in Hollywood. So Kermit takes off for Hollywood. Along the way he runs into lots of people such as Fozzie Bear, Gonzo the great, and Miss Piggy. Also, an evil man is trying to capture Kermit.

All of the Muppet films are highly enjoyable. I mean they are all very funny. This film has many film appearances. Such as Steve Martin, Mel Brooks, Elliot Gould, Carol Kane, Richard Pryor, and Orson Welles. The Muppet films are all very enjoyable. I hear that Jason Segel is going to star in one soon. I can't wait to see it.

Abywis

A bunch of full-length movies featuring the Muppets, created by Jim Henson & Co, have been made, but "The Muppet Movie" was the first one of them all, and the first in the original trilogy, which also features "The Great Muppet Caper" and "The Muppets Take Manhattan". It was released seven years before I was born, so I obviously didn't get to see it at the time (nor did I get to see its two successors when they were first released). However, I saw a lot of the Muppets during my childhood, mostly after Henson's premature death in 1990. I finally got around to seeing this movie for the first time around the mid-nineties, after hearing the soundtrack. Unsurprisingly, I liked it at the time, and revisiting it in recent years hasn't exactly been disappointing.

One day, while Kermit the Frog sits in a swamp with his banjo after singing "Rainbow Connection", a Hollywood agent named Bernie comes by in a boat and urges him to pursue a career in Tinseltown. Kermit takes his advice and goes west. He soon meets Fozzie Bear, an unsuccessful stand-up comedian in a restaurant, and convinces him to come along. The frog is also noticed by Doc Hopper, the owner of a frog leg restaurant chain who wants Kermit to be his mascot. As a frog, Kermit is disgusted by this, so he refuses and leaves with Fozzie. On their road trip across the country, Kermit and Fozzie meet other Muppets who join them, including Miss Piggy (who soon becomes Kermit's love interest) and Gonzo. Unfortunately, as they all try to make their way to Hollywood, Doc Hopper, assisted by Max, is willing to do anything to force Kermit to become his restaurant chain's mascot, so Kermit finds himself in increasing danger!

One thing many people praise this film for is the songs, and I can understand why. There is, of course, the Oscar-nominated "Rainbow Connection" at the beginning, and more good tunes follow, such as Kermit and Fozzie's catchy road song, "Movin' Right Along", and "I'm Going to Go Back There Someday", a poignant ballad sung by Gonzo. "Never Before, Never Again", the song Miss Piggy sings when she first sees Kermit, is the only one I would consider rather weak, and their romance seems awfully sudden. The Muppets in this movie are generally lovable, just like they are on TV, and some of them provide a lot of the humour, including Fozzie, making his first appearance in the film hopelessly trying to entertain people in a restaurant with his stand-up, and, well, if you're familiar with these famous Muppets, you should know what to expect from each of them. Some of the live actors who appear briefly in the film can also be funny, such as Dom DeLuise as Bernie the Agent and Steve Martin as the "Insolent Waiter." Also, it's not 100% comedy. There are serious parts of the film which they also did well.

Watching this original Muppet movie again this year was my first time watching any of them since seeing "Muppets from Space" (one of the Muppet movies made after Henson's death, released in 1999) for the first time last year. I was very disappointed when I saw that film, which had never happened before when I watched any film or TV show featuring the popular puppet characters! Not only is that movie not very funny, I also think it's a tad too dark and cruel for the Muppets, as I stated in my review of it! However, I can't say I think the same of any of that movie's predecessors, including this one, released twenty years earlier. "The Muppet Movie" seems to be the most popular of the bunch, and since it has so much to like, not just for kids, that's understandable. I highly doubt there's much left to say about "The Muppet Movie" that hasn't been said at some point in the past thirty years, but today, it remains good family entertainment.

zzzachibis

I have the same problem now that I had with this film originally: A "frog-killer" has no place in a Muppet Movie, although the "High-Noon" gunfight is lots of fun and a giant "Animal" steals the scene. This film is amazing because there are no CGI generated special effects. It is all done with miniatures, animatronics, and over-sized Muppets. You can only imagine all the Muppet Performers, on their hands and knees, in a trench, dragging along the floor of the set with "rich and famous" Orson Welles. Most of the cameos work quite well and it is especially nice to see Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy for one last time. The Paul Williams score is almost perfect and he remains a very under-rated composer. He is a genius, and still plays Vegas in concert, from time-to-time. Miss Piggy seems larger-than-usual in this film. Note her extended proboscis (snout)! I love this film which is an unabashed send-up of "Babes-In Arms" (Let's put on a show.) similar to "Muppets From Manhattan." Although Charles Durning is great as "Doc Hopper" in a parody of "Colonel Sanders", it also seems a bit "off" for a kid's movie. But then, Jim Henson always did the unique and unusual, didn't he?

The DVD transfer by Disney has some issues: uneven and thin sound quality at times. It will probably play better on 5.1 sound system. A few images are grainy or off-focus. Extras: No extras at all except for a short and disappointing 6-minute featurette.

The film is much more fun than the recent revival film, "The Muppets" which is a valiant effort, but seems too sad at times, as it portrays the Muppets as "has-beens" from another era. This is the original Muppets in their prime, with their best material, and in top form. Waka! Waka!

Agrainel

Growing up as a kid one of my favorite things was Jim Henson's Muppets especially Kermit the Fog, I enjoyed the show had Muppet storybooks and action figures and even plush toys. So I just recently for the first time watched something of old pop culture history that being 1979's "The Muppet Movie". I must say too that the film was wonderful! The writing and story was just great the film is very funny and it gives a good message in the end plus it's supported by appearances from many top notch stars. This film shows how the Muppets began their rise to fame as they showed it in their own way by doing their own movie! Remember the song dreams begin with a rainbow! Kermit has a fateful meeting with a big time talent agent and it's then that his hopes of becoming a star has him on a journey to Hollywood! Along the way on his journey for show business he meets his usual cast and gang of characters Fozzie the Bear(the bad comedian)the Great Gonzo(chicken)and the prim and proper Miss Piggy as all too have big dreams on the way out to California. Now enter the drama and road encounters with Doc Hooper(Charles Durning)who as a fast food mogul wants Kermit to promote his French fried frog leg franchise, yet probably Kermit is gonna be a cooked frog! Along the way the journey is funny and entertaining with fun and crazy mishaps and it's guided along with the witty lines and musical songs including the hit "The Rainbow Connection". Plus it's supported just fine by appearances from legendary stars like Mel Brooks, Steve Martin, Richard Pryor, Dom Deluise, and Orson Welles. And in the end it proves a special and important message that as you see the Muppets learn that real life can actually be in the form of a movie. And really with your thoughts and dreams you can make your own movie. Overall a good classic that both adults and children will laugh with and enjoy.

Kelenn

Who doesn't love the muppets?! Impossible it is to watch them without getting some kind of warm, fuzzy feeling inside. So, I guess what's important is that this movie seemed to very successfully capture what makes the muppets so special. I don't remember much about the details of the plot but the various moments and characters in the film I recall quite fondly. In fact, there was quite a nostalgic atmosphere to the whole movie but without being self-conscious in any bad way. Refreshing for someone who possibly gets too hung up on meticulous details and technique; the "magic" transcends all that other stuff. 'Tis indeed what movies are made of.

So, how does the film achieve these things? Hmmm, nice question! Stumped am I? Let's see. Really, I feel like it's quite simple. The filmmakers believe in their material and don't take themselves too seriously in the process. I probably wouldn't say the film has many truly inspired moments, but it does have a certain life to it (that funnily enough a great many "real people" movies lack). A zest. You really want to believe in these funny little people and their adventures. They also have a certain innocence about them that makes them all the more endearing.

Generally I get the impression that the people that made the movie just weren't afraid to try whatever felt right to them at the time which gives the whole thing quite a loose feel. Kind of like a really accessible and enjoyable extended jazz session. Lots of talent, little predictability and plenty of warm personalities coming through. The cameos were of course a bunch of nice surprises for instance. Maybe I don't feel I have much to say about it because I was half-asleep when I saw it (and/or as I write this review). Anyway, I'm sort of semi-repeating myself here but I really liked the sense of family the movie had. Full of love I suppose you might say. Again, a feeling of nostalgia comes to mind which not many films manage to achieve so effectively or effortlessly.

And to repeat myself once more, one of the film's best charms is its very relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. Like the Nathaniel Hawthorne quote about happiness being (like) a butterfly, so The Muppet Movie greatly succeeds partially by not seeming to try to do so. Same with beauty being best undiscovered or untouched or unforced or something like that. Anyway, if that sounds sappy, I also reckon it was pretty hilarious.

So, all in all, this movie was very funny, touching and difficult not to smile along to. Plus it features lots of great music! Highly recommended to all humans, both the young and the young at heart.

Friert

If you haven't seen it, go forth and correct this oversight. Then come back and read this. The best word I can think of for how I still feel about TMM is "fond". Between vast improvements in special effects and changing ideas about how to make movies ostensibly for children, TMM may look a little weatherbeaten. Nevertheless, it still fits like a favorite hat and keeps getting better with age. Cameos and innuendo for the adults, wacky and, (dare I use the word), zany adventures for the kids (of all ages), and what is to me still the greatest ensemble cast ever assembled. No, I don't mean the people. Heartbreak, wonder, panic, music, and Electric Mayhem all come together in a film -- no, a movie -- that may not be perfect, it's just that there's really nothing wrong with it at all.

Nargas

Like all the Muppet movies, this movie is aimed at children. But that doesn't mean it's only for children. Heck, kids probably won't even get most of the jokes. The Muppet Movie is probably the best of the series. This one had a certain charm to it that the others never realized. This movie had great songs and humor for all ages. To think, people thought the Muppets wouldn't succeed on the big screen.

Gandree

An inspired combination of slapstick, music, vaudeville and charm, The Muppet Movie takes all the now familiar characters away from the Muppet Theatre where humans were the minority, and plonks them right among the (almost) real world.

We meet Kermit alone in his swamp singing beautifully to himself, and after a chance meeting with the frog, a crocodile and a movie agent – yes it's that kind of film – Kermit is inspired to try to forge his own path in showbusiness.

Along his journey to Hollywood he meets aspiring stand up comedian Fozzie, amateur stunt man Gonzo and a group of zany musos known as The Electric Mayhem. He also finds that romantic sparks fly when he meets a diva pig with delusions of grandeur.

That's the core part of the initial Muppet group identified, the slightly awry element arrives in the form of a fat, sweaty guy in a white suit named Doc Hopper, who just happens to sell frog's legs as cuisine. He takes a shine to Kermit's pins and decides that he simply must have them to promote his wares, whether Kermit agrees or not.

The remainder of the film is essentially an extended chase sequence as Kermit and the gang hightail it towards Hollywood with Doc Hopper and his toadying (no pun intended) assistant close behind.

And this to me is the problem with the initial Muppet Movie, the best parts are the simple times, Kermit sitting on the log singing Rainbow Connection without a care in the world, the awkward but undeniable chemistry between pig and frog, the stoner-ish hep dialogue between the members of the Electric Mayhem, the stand-up bear who is terrible at stand up.

They kinda lost me when the film veered into 'eating the primary character's legs' territory. They definitely lost my four year old in the looming torture scene, and nearly killed the poor boy when the Frog assassin clad all in black and looking decidedly evil showed up. (I really didn't remember these things from my previous viewings.) Despite these depressing and out of place sequences there is still a lot to love about the first Muppet Movie, the constant breaking of the fourth wall is already obvious, the general funkiness of the Electric Mayhem and the timelessness of Kermit's tunes, the cheesy jokes that are so bad that you can't help but smile – especially when delivered with such innocence and charm by a handpuppet the inclusion of several big name cameos, none of whom for a moment let on that they are conversing with a sock, yet some of whom still manage to out-ham the very same talking puppets.

The Muppet Movie finds a bunch of frogs, pigs, bears and whatevers coming to terms with their own existence, growing into their own skin and fur. Over the years some peripheral characters became more central, and others stepped back to spout occasional quips when required.

Most of all this film showed that there was entertainment value to be found in these talking socks, and that people of all ages could enjoy their shenanigans guilt free.

Final Rating – 7 / 10. 'Mature thematic elements' aside, this is a fine intro to the Muppetational world.

Xirmiu

why are there so many songs about rainbows? as a relatively committed cynic, i find that man cannot live by purely edgy and cynical entertainment alone. too much cynicism and negativity can get shoved down your throat as much as optimism gets pushed at people. in a day and age when so much in entertainment is like 'South Park' or 'Family Guy' and 'The Simpsons', sometimes you need a change of pace. sometimes even things that seem trendy or novel and new, get tiresome and old news.

don't get me wrong. i really like 'South Park' and 'The Simpsons', but i've watched so much of that kind of thing for a couple of decades and occasionally i like a change from all the nihilism and cynicism and find myself watching a old Disney film or something by Jim Henson with the Muppet puppets. i've grown a lot since my early days. even in my twenties i was unrealistically optimistic about things and life and people. well, eventually people and events in life changed all that. more than likely it was somewhat for the best. you can't always try to see the good in everything. that outlook has no balance. sometimes you need to address the negative in your environment, other people, and yes, in your self. there's a old saying that you can go to the other extreme of something, you meet your other self coming back around. but i don't think anything ever gets solved by being too negative or too optimistic.

if you have seen Jim Henson's wonderful puppet Muppet fantasy 'Labyrinth', you might remember the characters at the end who tell the teen ager "if you ever need us time and again...", well that's the essence of the Muppets and Disney for all adults, if ever you need those things from childhood that were fun, friendly, and made you feel safe, you should feel free enough to call on them. as long as you bring yourself back into reality to address serious matters. like other people.

as far as the Muppets and the "rainbow connection" go, it's all good. i don't even think Disney has the track record of flawless perfection the Jim Henson "experiance" has. the Muppets and Henson never offend, but they also entertain effortlessly without violence and grotesque crudity and imagery.

i'm always surprised how well the original film holds up decade after decade. i hadn't seen it in a while, and i was reminded again what a timeless classic it is. partly due to the memorable genius of Paul Williams as well as Henson.

i also think that younger generations should be reminded that Jim Henson and the Muppets did not start with Disney. Disney simple acquired the Jim Henson genius decades later through monopoly purchase. i love Disney, but i hate the Disney trend for engulfing the works and talents of others. it would be a sad day if the genius of the Muppets becomes synonymous with Disney and Jim Henson was forgotten. give credit where credit is due, and all this is due to the incredible whimsical genius of Jim Henson.

Ballalune

If I rate the film maybe a bit high, you can blame it on sentiment. This is one of the first movies that I remember seeing and totally loving. I saw it at the drive-ins here in California in the late 70s. I was already a big fan of "The Muppet Show" on TV so I was primed for the movie, and the movie did not disappoint. Basically it takes the whole absurdist ethos of the Muppet show and transports it from vaudeville into a road movie. Kermit the Frog is on a quest to become famous; not because he wants to take champagne baths and ride in a private jet, but because he wants to "make millions of people happy." Of course.

Along the way he picks up all his beloved muppet friends, most endearingly Fonzie Bear who he meets at a seedy bar doing stand-up. They sing "Movin' Right Along", a song that has always charmed me with its upbeat melody and its theme of friendship and shared discovery. He also encounters enough Hollywood movie stars to fill a Stanley Kramer movie, including comedy luminaries like Richard Pryor, Steve Martin, Edgar Bergen, Milton Berle, and Mel Brooks. Brooks in particular has a rather dull bit, and you are left feeling that Henson could have cut a few of these cameos out if he wasn't afraid of offending the stars. Anyway, as befits a road trip movie like this the very first person he meets is Dom DeLuise.

The ending is one of the more odd examples of literally breaking down the 4th wall that you will find in any "children's" movie. The Hollywood dream seems to be crumbling all about them, when a real rainbow pierces the Hollywood set with its authentic joy and mystery. I'm sure this was meant to relate to some of Jim Henson's own personal or spiritual experiences.

This is the best movie with Muppets by a long shot. If you or anyone else was wondering why the Muppets were so popular back in the 70s, considering how poor the movies have been for the last few decades, I think this film has at least aged well enough to provide a clue.

Togor

The Muppet movie is an instant classic. I remember the opening scene with the bird's eye view of the swamp and Kermit starting into (in my opinion) the most loved song in the history of songs. At this point my mom would always sing along with Kermit.

Watching this title as a young adult it makes me smile. I can still sing along to my heart's desire. Like many Muppet films there are in jokes for adults that are( In my opinion) still funny today. My favorite line of all time is actually from this film, it's the last line spoken by my green, goggle eyed hero Kermit "Life's like a movie , Write your own ending". That's what I intend to do! Thank you Jim Henson.

Cordanius

No contest, this is the best Muppet movie, followed closely by 'The Great Muppet Caper' and 'The Muppets Take Manhattan.' Once Jim Henson and Richard Hunt died, the Muppet movies naturally lost their steam.

'The Muppet Movie' is a prequel to the wonderful Muppet Show, explaining how the Muppets first got together. There just couldn't be a better plot.

(spoilers ahead) It starts off with Kermit playing a beautiful number on his banjo, and once a Hollywood agent remarks that he's got enough talent for the silver screen, Kermit hops on his bike (a classic scene) and heads West. Shortly thereafter he becomes horrified at the sight of a fast food place that serves frog legs! After Kermit pairs up with Fozzie, Doc Hopper, owner of the fast food chain, offers Kermit a job as a spokesfrog for the restaurants. Naturally, Kermie declines, and a frantic chase for the frog happens throughout most of the movie. Along the way Kermit and Fozzie meet many other familiar faces, and they've got to act fast if they want to make it to the audition!

As usual with the Muppets, everything is spectacular. From the sharp humor to the elaborate sets and puppetry, everything shines like a star. If you love the Muppets or are a beginning fan, check out 'The Muppet Movie'! You'll be glad you did.

Envias

There's just something pleasantly memorable about a little green frog singing and playing a banjo in the middle of a swamp. The opening scene is a wonderful introduction for this truly excellent film.

My favorite of the Muppet movies, this has excellent songs, some truly funny running gags and one-liners (and some that are absolute "groaners", but they're still deserving of a chuckle.), and a fun group of Muppets and celebrity cameos. Jim Henson is, and always will be, the definitive voice of Kermit. The film itself is very gentle in tone without getting too syrupy, and truly entertains all the way through.

With all of the "quality" children's programming that comes out these days, I can't help but wonder why more "family" films aren't actually made for the entire family like this film was. This is a real keeper, although it seems a little hard to find at times in the stores.

Landamath

This is such a great movie. I loved it as a kid, and while I went through a nostalgic period recently I found this treasure and gave it the old test of time. First viewing, absolutely fell in love with these songs - this has to be some of the best movie music ever! That had be coming back for a repeat viewing or two, and the rest of the film really grew on me. Now, I can definitely say it is one of my all-time favorite movies. The Muppets are really great, and this movie catches them at in their prime, right off the height of the unforgettable "Muppet Show".

Essentially, it's a road movie. Kermit the Frog leaves the swamp and heads to Hollywood, and naturally his lone journey becomes a giant group trip as he acquires a bear named Fozzie, a thing named Gonzo, a glamorous hog we all know as Miss Piggy, Rowlf the Dog, a big scary monster with a giant heart (Sweetums), and the greatest foam-based rock'n'roll band ever built, Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem. Add unforgettable music, numerous celebrity cameos, some of the oldest puns in the book, and a cameo by Big Bird - and you have one great piece of cinema, now one of the most treasured videos I own.

If your a fan of Jim Henson's Muppets, this is a must-see if you haven't already. Fans of movies in general have gotta love it as well. Probably the Muppets' greatest big screen venture to date.

Low_Skill_But_Happy_Deagle

First of all i'd like to say that this movie is the greatest thing that ever happened to mankind. It is the best out of all the excellent Muppet movies, and every other movie out there! so BOO-YA for jim Henson!

This Movie is the first of all the Muppet movies and the best. (boo ya) It's about a Frog (kermit) who tries to make to hollywood. along with the awesome friends he meets on the way comes a couple of the greatest songs ever made that are bound to become classics, including "the rainbow connection"

in conclusion i would like to say that watching this movie was the greatest thing EVER!. If you havn't already seen it, then get off your computer and get you tushy to your nearest video store!!! (if they don't have the muppet movie, i'd sue them BIG TIME )

Thozius

From my earliest viewings of Sesame Street to this absolutely wonderful childhood memory,The Muppets were and always will be part of who I am today. The Muppet Movie is not just for kids,it's for kids of "all" ages.

All of us out there that have been able to stay in touch with our "inner child",can always rent,buy or (from the library) check out this movie and feel good again. Not only that,we can feel what it means to be a loving caring person,all from these lovable characters created by the late-great Jim Henson,whom I wish was still with us.

The film is simply about these things...Finding your destiny in life by not giving up on one's dreams,realizing everyone needs someone as a friend and great things happen when friends work together (not to mention just being allowed to laugh at something genuinely funny! Nothing made me laugh harder than Miss Piggy and her karate,"Hiiii-yaa!! LOL. ..or the running gag,"That's a myth". "What?" "Myth,myth!" Woman:"Yes?"

The film works because the story is about Kermit and all his Muppet friends and how they all eventually band together to share one dream. The songs are great (thankfully not corny like in some kid films.) The celebrity guests are great too! Every kid should see this,over and over!

In closing,I want to say that the song "Rainbow Connection" should have won the Oscar for "Best Original Song" in a 1979 film. I mean,who remembers the song from,"Norma Rae" ?!

Simple fellow

Looking back on Jim Henson's works years after his death is like taking a look back into another time. For unlike most so-called creative types attempting to sell to, or worse yet cynically exploit, children nowadays, Jim never seemed to really forget what it was like to be a child. And if there ever was a moment in which he demonstrated this, Labyrinth aside, it is 1979's Muppet Movie. Filmed as an allegorical story about how Henson came to work in children's television as a puppeteer and ended up with a half-hour show of his own on primetime television, The Muppet Movie ends up an affirmation of everything more progressive, understanding sorts would say to children who did not quite meet the expected norm during the 1980s. And as we enjoy the fruits of an era in which we are gagged and bound from speaking about anything lest someone might get offended, the open celebration of difference or diversity that formed a large part of The Muppet Show is on offer here. I have said it in other comments, but I must say it here. A great light in the world went out the day Jim Henson died.

The Muppet Movie begins with its cast sitting down to see the premiere of what were about to see for the next eighty or so minutes. In short, precise strokes, we are introduced to the major players as well as some of the minors. And when the story proper begins, boy are we given a great song to bring us into the moment. The Rainbow Connection painted both a beautiful and sad image of what the Muppets, especially Kermit, were. These were not just a bunch of felt puppets with singular personalities who combined to put on a show. They were living things based upon a part of all of us, only writ so much more boldly than we are used to. As each Muppet was introduced to us in turn, we saw another reflection of part of ourselves, and of course the children in the audience would respond differently to each character. Hence, everyone had a favourite. When Animal appeared behind a drum kit and attempted to eat a cymbal, I knew I had found one of mine. Nowadays, I am more of a Swedish Chef fan, but what the hey.

Complementing the characters was a string of musical numbers that further developed their motivations and personalities. Can You Picture That? shared an insight into Dr. Teeth and his band as well as the creative soul of Henson. But the most relevant song to me was Gonzo's number, asking what he is and where he came from. Many of us would spend a lifetime gazing into the stars and, like Gonzo, saying we knew we would be going back there someday. Not that all the songs were so deadly serious, of course. Fozzy and Kermit share a number after they decide to combine their talent (or lack thereof) and hit the road. If any evidence were required that present-day "musicians" have lost the ability to use the pop structure to create something listenable, this number would be it. Never before, and never again, would the group dynamic of a cast and the music so perfectly complement one another. With the puppeteers and voice actors so perfectly on top of their game, the human cast had a lot to live up to.

Which makes it all the more amazing that the human element also lived up to their end of the deal. Cameos literally pepper the film, with everyone from Steve Martin to Telly Savalas popping in to offer their support. Even Richard Pryor, the last man one would expect to see in a film about the Muppets, appears to set up a hilarious moment. Mel Brooks' cameo is just as disturbing to me as an adult as it was when I was a small boy, but I suspect that is because Henson knew why I would find it disturbing now. The big acting strength, though, comes from Charles Durning, who as Doc Hopper embodies everything both Henson and his audience determined to resist. At every junction, Hopper comes to either offer Kermit the chance to sell out and betray his own kind. Or perhaps offer stops being the right word when Hopper's attempts to ensure Kermit's compliance become progressively more forceful and violent. The whole thing is one big metaphor for how every artist has his heart broken by the world.

Of course, Animal also shows up to remind us that just because our friends are not sweet and cuddly does not make them any less of a friend. In point of fact, Animal turns out to be the best friend that Kermit has in that moment. And that has been the core message of every good show or film Henson has been involved in ever since. That shunning or dismissing others simply because of linguistic or cosmetic differences could literally be the worst mistake one ever makes. There can be little doubt that in today's world where a moron in a purple suit can tell my sons they are not good if they do not have good feelings for fifteen seasons and still not come under serious investigation by child welfare authorities, Henson's creature workshop could never have got off the ground. To misquote the album title, daring to be stupid is one thing, but enforcing the choice upon others is another matter. The Muppet Movie demonstrates how Henson dared to ask us all to think, both inside and outside of the proverbial box. There will never be another entirely like him, but he never would want us to stop trying.

Therefore, The Muppet Movie is the epitome of a ten out of ten film. If we were to send a film out into the cosmos to prove to intelligent life that we are worth more than being obliterated, this would be it.

Cel

The first Muppet movie is by far the best. None of the subsequent films, particularly those made after Jim Henson's death, can match this movie's creativity, charm, and magic. The story to this one is a retelling of how the Muppets met. Kermit, persuaded by Dom DeLuise, sets out on a trip to Hollywood to become a star. Along the way he meets Fozzie, Piggy, and the rest of the Muppets. They are pursued by Doc Hopper (Charles Durning), who wants Kermit to be the spokesman for his chain of restaurants specializing in frog legs. It's very funny with some great songs and celebrity cameos. The cameos don't bother me but then I know who all of those people are. I don't know if many younger first-time viewers would recognize some of them or how much that might matter in the long run. I think of this movie as something that can be enjoyed by young and old alike and I hope I'm right. It would be sad if kids today couldn't enjoy it because it's not as flashy as the more recent Muppet movies or the celebrity cameos are dated. It's far better than those movies on every level.

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