The Great Muppet Caper (1981)

Director:

Jim Henson

Writers:

Tom Patchett (written by) &
Jay Tarses (written by) ...
(more)

Release Date:

26 June 1981 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Family | Music

Plot:

Kermit, Gonzo and Fozzie are reporters who travel to Britain to interview a rich victim of jewel thieves and help her along with her secretary, Miss Piggy.

Plot Keywords:

Reporter | Muppet | Jewel Thief | Diamond | Love

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Jim Henson	...	Kermit the Frog / Rowlf / Dr. Teeth / Swedish Chef / Waldorf / The Muppet Newsman / Zeke / Man having Snapshot in Restaurant (voice)
Frank Oz	...	Miss Piggy / Fozzie Bear / Animal / Sam the Eagle / Gramps / Swedish Chef (voice)
Dave Goelz	...	The Great Gonzo / Beauregard / Zoot / Dr. Bunsen Honeydew / Lobbuck Lou (voice)
Jerry Nelson	...	Floyd Pepper / Pops / Lew Zealand / Crazy Harry / Lewis Kazager / Slim Wilson / Zeke / CB Voice / Man in Park (voice)
Richard Hunt	...	Scooter / Statler / Sweetums / Janice / Beaker / Bubba / Monster (uncredited) / Cab Driver (uncredited) (voice)
Charles Grodin	...	Nicky Holiday
Diana Rigg	...	Lady Holiday
John Cleese	...	Neville
Robert Morley	...	British Gentleman
Peter Ustinov	...	Truck Driver
Jack Warden	...	Mr. Tarkenian the News Editor
Steve Whitmire	...	Rizzo the Rat / Lips (voice)
Louise Gold	...	Muppet Performer / Annie Sue Pig / Lou (uncredited) (voice)
Kathryn Mullen	...	Muppet Performer / Chickens / Gaffer the Cat (uncredited) (voice)
Bob Payne	...	Muppet Performer (voice)
Brian Muehl	...	Muppet Performer (voice)
Mike Quinn	...	Muppet Performer (voice)
Robbie Barnett	...	Muppet Performer (voice)
Hugh Spight	...	Muppet Performer (voice)
Brian Henson	...	Muppet Performer (voice)
Caroll Spinney	...	Oscar The Grouch (voice)
Erica Creer	...	Marla
Kate Howard	...	Carla
Della Finch	...	Darla
Michael Robbins	...	Security Guard
Joan Sanderson	...	Dorcas
Peter Hughes	...	Maitre D'
Peggy Aitchison	...	Prison Guard
Tommy Godfrey	...	Bus Conductor
Katia Borg	...	1st Model
Valli Kemp	...	2nd Model
Michele Ivan-Zadeh	...	3rd Model
Chai Lee	...	4th Model
Christine Nelson	...	Girl in Park
Cynthia Ashley	...	Charkie's Water Ballet Performer
Susan Backlinie	...	Charkie's Water Ballet Performer
Sherrill Cannon	...	Charkie's Water Ballet Performer
Christine Cullen	...	Charkie's Water Ballet Performer
Susie Guest	...	Charkie's Water Ballet Performer
Wendy Holker	...	Charkie's Water Ballet Performer
Linda Horn	...	Charkie's Water Ballet Performer
Lee Keenan	...	Charkie's Water Ballet Performer
Darine Klega	...	Charkie's Water Ballet Performer
Lynn Latham	...	Charkie's Water Ballet Performer
Cynthia Leake	...	Charkie's Water Ballet Performer
Kahren Lohren	...	Charkie's Water Ballet Performer
Tricia McFarlin	...	Charkie's Water Ballet Performer
Denise McKenna	...	Charkie's Water Ballet Performer
Melina Lee Phelps	...	Charkie's Water Ballet Performer
Denise Potter	...	Charkie's Water Ballet Performer
Ann Rynne	...	Charkie's Water Ballet Performer
Roberta Ward	...	Charkie's Water Ballet Performer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Suzanne Church	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Patti Dalton	...	Prisoner (uncredited)
Peter Falk	...	Tramp (uncredited)
Ian Hanham	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Trevor Howard	...	Agressive Man in Restaurant (uncredited)
Danny John-Jules	...	Street Dancer (uncredited)
Rodney Lovick	...	Doorman (uncredited)
David Ludwig	...	Delivery Man (uncredited)
Mary Mazstead	...	Prisoner (uncredited)
Cy Town	...	Fashion Show Photographer (uncredited)
Amy Van Gilder	...	Woman having Snapshot in Restaurant (uncredited)

Directed by
Jim Henson

Writing credits
Tom Patchett		(written by) &
Jay Tarses		(written by) and
Jerry Juhl		(written by) &
Jack Rose		(written by)

Produced by
David Lazer	....	producer
Frank Oz	....	producer
Bruce Sharman	....	associate producer
Martin Starger	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Joe Raposo

Cinematography by
Oswald Morris

Film Editing by
Ralph Kemplen

Casting by
Michael Barnes

Production Design by
Harry Lange

Art Direction by
Terry Ackland-Snow
Charles Bishop
Leigh Malone

Costume Design by
Joanne Green
Julie Harris
Calista Hendrickson
Danielle Obinger
Mary Strieff

Makeup Department
Joan Carpenter	....	hair stylist
Stuart Freeborn	....	makeup supervisor

Production Management
Dick Gallegly	....	production manager: USA
Donald Toms	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Nick Laws	....	assistant director
Christopher Newman	....	second assistant director
Dusty Symonds	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Terry Ackland-Snow	....	effects designer
George Ball	....	property master
Alan Booth	....	construction manager
Ron Burkett	....	supervising painter
Robyn Hamilton-Doney	....	set dresser (as Robyn Hamilton Doney)
Bill Stallion	....	storyboard artist
John Stevenson	....	storyboard artist (uncredited)

Sound Department
Bill Rowe	....	sound re-recordist
Nicholas Stevenson	....	sound editor
Peter Sutton	....	sound recordist
Don Wortham	....	boom operator

Special Effects by
Paul Slootweg	....	special effects technician
Brian Smithies	....	special effects supervisor

Visual Effects by
Roy Field	....	opticals

Stunts
Kiran Shah	....	stunt double: Miss Piggy
Colin Skeaping	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Maurice Arnold	....	senior assistant camera
Derek V. Browne	....	camera operator
Murray Close	....	still photographer
Tim Dodd	....	clapper loader
Vince Goddard	....	electrician
Ian Kelly	....	video engineer supervisor
Steve Kitchen	....	electrician
Charles Lagus	....	underwater photographer
Jason Lehel	....	camera trainee
Albert Werry	....	aerial photographer

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Betty Adamson	....	wardrobe supervisor
Joanne Green	....	muppets' costumes
Calista Hendrickson	....	muppets' costumes
Danielle Obinger	....	muppets' costumes
Carol Spier	....	muppets' costumes
Mary Strieff	....	muppets' costumes

Editorial Department
Marcel Durham	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Michael Clifford	....	music editor
Marcus Dods	....	conductor
Dick Lieb	....	orchestrator
Joe Raposo	....	conductor
Joe Raposo	....	music arranger
Joe Raposo	....	orchestrator
John Richards	....	music recordist
James Tyler	....	orchestrator
Graham Walker	....	music coordinator

Other crew
Maurice Arnold	....	video coordinator
Leslee Asch	....	muppet builder
Leslee Asch	....	muppet designer
Martin G. Baker	....	location manager
Sidney G. Barnsby	....	production assistant supervisor
Bi Benton	....	production assistant
Allen Burry	....	publicist
Edward G. Christie	....	muppet builder
Edward G. Christie	....	muppet designer
Lyle Conway	....	muppet builder
Lyle Conway	....	muppet designer
Patsy de Lord	....	production assistant
Faz Fazakas	....	muppet technical design
Nomi Frederick	....	muppet builder
Nomi Frederick	....	muppet designer
Michael K. Frith	....	muppet design consultant
Joan Garrick	....	muppet builder
Joan Garrick	....	muppet designer
Jane Gootnick	....	muppet builder
Jane Gootnick	....	muppet designer
Larry Jameson	....	muppet technical design
Ann Keeba-Tannenbaum	....	muppet builder
Ann Keeba-Tannenbaum	....	muppet designer
Bernard J. Kingham	....	production executive
Faye Kreinberg	....	muppet workshop research
Tad Krzanowski	....	muppet technical design
Janet Kuhl	....	muppet builder
Janet Kuhl	....	muppet designer
Kathy Lazar	....	muppet builder
Kathy Lazar	....	muppet designer
Cheryl Leigh	....	script supervisor
Anita Mann	....	choreographer
Robert McCormack	....	muppet workshop supervisor
Perry McLamb	....	muppet builder
Perry McLamb	....	muppet designer
Tom McLaughlin	....	muppet builder
Tom McLaughlin	....	muppet designer
Maria McNamara	....	muppet builder
Maria McNamara	....	muppet designer
Tim Miller	....	muppet builder
Tim Miller	....	muppet designer
Will Morrison	....	muppet workshop coordinator: New York
Tom Newby	....	muppet builder
Tom Newby	....	muppet designer
Richard L. O'Connor	....	production executive
Connie Peterson	....	muppet builder
Connie Peterson	....	muppet designer
Colin Prescott	....	hot air balloon coordinator
Monica Rogers	....	production assistant
Tim Rose	....	muppet technical designer
Adam Samuelson	....	louma crane technician
Jeremy Whiffen	....	hot air balloon coordinator
Caroly Wilcox	....	muppet building department supervisor
Caroly Wilcox	....	muppet designer
Marc Wolff	....	helicopter pilot

Production Companies

• Henson Associates (HA)
• Incorporated Television Company (ITC)

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1981) (USA) (theatrical)
• Associated Film Distribution (AFD) (1981) (USA) (theatrical)
• Hoyts Distribution (1981) (Australia) (theatrical)
• CBS/Fox (USA) (video) (1980s)
• CEL Home Video (1980s) (Australia) (VHS)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1984) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video
• Walt Disney Home Entertainment (2005) (worldwide) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Atlantic Records  soundtrack

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Portugal:M/6 | Singapore:PG | Iceland:L | Canada:PG | Australia:G | Sweden:Btl | UK:U | USA:G | Finland:S

Filming Locations:

Elstree Film Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

Henson Associates (HA)

Trivia:

Third highest-grossing Muppet film, earning $31, 206, 251 during its run at the box office.

Goofs:

Plot holes: At the Happiness Hotel everyone keeps saying there's no kitchen and no food. However, when Beaureguard drives through the lobby, the Swedish Chef comes out of the kitchen with food.

Quotes:

Pops: [banging on bathroom door] Hey! What's goin' on in there? Lotta folks out here need to use the restroom!
Kermit: Well, we're developing these pictures, we'll be out as soon as we finish. We're trying to catch a jewel thief.
Fozzie: A jewel thief!
Pops: Well, catch him in another room, people are dancing up and down on one leg out here!

Movie Connections:

References Topkapi (1964)

Soundtrack:

Night life

Out of all the Muppet movies, this is my all time favourite!

I will begin to say that I do think that Muppet movies such as Treasure Island and Christmas Carol are just as delightful, but The Great Muppet Caper will always have a special place in my heart. From the hilarious opening credits to the rollicking finale, this is just a hugely enjoyable film, with just one or two minor discrepancies. The Muppets are great as usual, Jim Henson especially as Kermit. It was such a shame that he died, he was such a talented man, though Steve Whitmire is a very good replacement in the later Muppet films. Great to see Sam the Eagle, Fozzie, Wrolf and Rizzo. Out of the human cast, Charles Grodin and Diana Rigg are very good, Grodin with his charm and Rigg with her frostiness, though if anything I wish the two stars had more screen time. Not to mention the amusing cameos from John Cleese and Peter Ustinov. The songs were very pleasant, perhaps not as memorable as ones in other Muppet films but First Time It Happens is one of my all time favourite Muppet songs, and there are some clever jokes about British eccentricity and what have you. My favourite Muppet and the the best aspect of the film, or for me anyway, was the always wonderful Miss Piggy, who delighted in every scene she was in. She was particularly sensational in the musical numbers especially the restaurant and pool scenes, where the choreography is just dazzling. Overall, a great movie, that is definitely up there with the Muppets best. 10/10 Bethany Cox