The Great Muppet Caper [1981]

Country of Origin: UK
Year of Production: 1981
Running Times: 97 mins
Length: 8,763 ft
Format: Technicolor 35mm Panavision [anamorphic]
Ratio: 2.35:1
Sound: Dolby

PRODUCTION
Production Companies: Henson Associates / ITC / Universal Pictures
Production Executives: Bernard J. Kingham, Richard L. O'Connor
Executive Producer: Martin Starger
Producers: David Lazer, Frank Oz
Associate Producer: Bruce Sharman
Production Manager: Dick Gallegly
Production Supervisor: Donald Toms

SCRIPT
Script: Tom Patchett, Jay Tarses, Jerry Juhl, Jack Rose

DIRECTION
Director: Jim Henson
Assistant Directors: Dusty Symonds, Christopher Newman, Nick Laws

PHOTOGRAPHY
Director of Photography: Oswald Morris
Underwater Photography: Charles Lagus
Aerial Photography: Albert Werry
Camera Operator: Derek Browne
Senior Assistant Camera / Video Coordinator: Maurice Arnold
Supervising Video Engineer: Ian Kelly

EDITING AND POST PRODUCTION
Supervising Editor: Nicholas Stevenson
Editor: Ralph Kemplen
Assistant Editor: Marcel Durham

MUSIC
Music / Lyrics / Music Director / Arranger: Joe Raposo
Orchestrator: Joe Raposo, Jim Tyler
Conductors: Joe Raposo, Marcus Dods
Music Coordinator: Graham Walker
Music Recordist / Re-Recordist: John Richards
Music Editor: Mike Clifford

SOUND
Sound Recordist: Peter Sutton
Re-Recordist: Bill Rowe
Sound Editor: Nicholas Stevenson

MAKE UP AND COSTUMES
Make Up Supervisor: Stuart Freeborn
Hair: Joan Carpenter
Costume Designer: Julie Harris
Wardrobe Supervisor: Betty Adamson

MUPPET CREW
Muppet Building Department Supervisor: Caroly Wilcox
Muppet Designers / Builders: Caroly Wilcox, Tim Miller, Leslee Asch, Nomi Frederick, Ann Keeba-Tannenbaum, Janet Kuhl, Kathy Lazar, Joan Garrick, Tom Newby, Tom McLaughlin, Perry McLamb, Lyle Conway, Maria McNamara, Ed Christie, Connie Peterson, Jane Gootnick
Muppet Technical Designers: Faz Fazakas, Tim Rose, Tad Krzanowski, Larry Jameson
Muppet Design Consultant: Michael K. Frith
Muppet Workshop Supervisor: Robert McCormack
Muppet Workshop Coordinator [New York]: Will Morrison
Muppet Workshop Research: Faye Kreinberg
Muppet Costumes: Calista Hendrickson, Mary Strieff, Joanne Green, Carol Spier, Danielle Obinger

SPECIAL EFFECTS
Special Effects Supervisor: Brian Smithies
Special Effects Technician: Paul Slootweg
Effects Design: Terry Ackland-Snow
Opticals: Roy Field
Titles: Graphimation

DESIGN AND SET CONSTRUCTION
Production Designer: Harry Lange
Supervising Art Director: Charles Bishop
Art Director: Terry Ackland-Snow, Leigh Malone
Set Dresser: Robyn Hamilton Doney
Property Master: George Ball

MISCELLANEOUS
Script Supervisor: Cheryl Leigh
Production Assistant Supervisor: Sidney Barnsby
Production Assistants: Bi Benton, Monica Rogers, Patsy de Lord
Publicist: Allen Burry
Choreographer: Anita Mann
Helicopter Pilot: Marc Wolff

LOCATIONS
Locations: London, England, UK
Location Manager: Martin Baker

STUNTS
Stunt Coordinator: Colin Skeaping
Stunts: Kiran Shah

CASTING
Casting: Michael Barnes

MUPPET PERFORMERS / VOICES
Jim Henson [Kermit the Frog / Rowlf the Dog / Dr Teeth / Waldorf / Swedish chef / newsman]
Frank Oz [Miss Piggy / Fozzie Bear / Animal / Sam the Eagle]
Dave Goelz [The Great Gonzo / Beauregard / Zoot / Dr Bunsen Honneydew]
Jerry Nelson [Floyd Pepper / Pops / Lew Zealand]
Richard Hunt [Scooter / Startler /Sweetums / Janice / Beaker]
Steve Whitmire [Rizzo The Rat / Lips]
Carroll Spinney [Oscar The Grouch]
Louise Gold, Kathryn Mullen, Bob Payne, Robert Barnett, Brian Muehl, Hugh Spight, Mike Quinn, Brian Henson [Muppet performers]

CAST
Diana Rigg [Lady Holiday]
Charles Grodin [Nicky Holiday]
John Cleese [Neville]
Robert Morley [British gentleman]
Peter Ustinov [truck driver]
Jack Warden [editor]
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]
Rodney Lovick [doorman]
Suzanne Church, Ian Hanham [reporters]
David Ludwig [delivery man]
Mary Mazstead, Patti Dalton [prisoners]
Cynthia Ashley, Lynn Latham, Susan Backlinie, Cynthia Leake, Sherrill Cannon, Kahren Lohren, Christine Cullen, Tricia McFarlin, Susie Guest, Denise McKenna, Wendy Holker, Melina Lee Phelps, Linda Horn, Denise Potter, Lee Keenan, Ann Rynne, Darine Klega, Roberta Ward [Charkie's Water Ballet performers]
Peter Falk [tramp in park]

Newspaper reporters Kermit and Fozzie travel to London to interview wealthy fashion designer Lady Holiday. They arrive in time to cover the theft of Lady Holiday's priceless diamond necklace and they meet her secretary, Miss Piggy. Kermit falls in love and has to save Miss Piggy from prison when she is framed by the jewel thieves.

A more enjoyable film than its predecessor, The Muppet Movie [1979] thanks in no small part to the quality of the supporting cast, which boasts appearances from the likes of Diana Rigg, John Cleese and Peter Ustinov. The genuinely witty script also helps, offering plenty for adults to enjoy as well as kids, though we could probably have done without the rather tedious songs.

UK
Theatrical Distributor: ITC

USA
Theatrical Distributor: Associated Film Distribution / Universal Pictures
Video Distributor: Columbia TriStar Home Video

Australia
Rating: G

Sweden
Rating: Btl

UK
Rating: U

USA
Rating: G

1982
Academy Awards, USA
Best Music, Song [Joe Raposo - for The First Time It Happens] - nominated

Young Artist Awards
Best Motion Picture: Fantasy or Comedy, Family Enjoyment - nominated

1981
June
Day Unknown: USA - theatrical release

1982
October
22: Sweden - theatrical release

Die Große Muppet Party - German title
Les Muppets à Londres - French title

SEQUEL TO
Tales from Muppetland: The Frog Prince [1972]
The Muppet Show [1976]
The Muppet Movie [1979]

SEQUELS
The Muppets Take Manhattan [1984)
The Muppet Christmas Carol [1992)
Muppet Treasure Island [1996]
Muppets Tonight! [1996]
Muppets From Space [1999]

FOOTAGE INCLUDED IN
Muppet Race Mania [2000]

MAGAZINES

Empire no.128 [February 2000] p.118 [UK]
illustrated video review

Films vol.1 no.9 [August 1981] pp.44-45 [UK]
review

Monthly Film Bulletin vol.48 no.571 [August 1981] pp.155-156 [UK]
credits, synopsis, review

Motion Picture Product Digest vol.9 no.3 [8 July 1981] pp.9, 11 [USA]
review

Screen International no.302 [25 July 1981] p.15 [UK]
review

TV Times 22 December 1984 - 4 January 1985 p.81
credits

BOOKS

The BFI Companion to Crime p.150
credits, review

British National Film Catalogue vol.20 [1982]
credits

puppets; muppets; sequels; thieves; necklaces; diamonds; frogs; bears; pigs; animals; frame ups; jail breaks; heists; jewels; london