Muppet Treasure Island (1996a)

Country of Origin: UK / USA
Year of Production: 1996
Running Times: 95 mins 28 sec (UK - video)     99 mins (USA - theatrical)
Length: 2841 metres
Format: Technicolor     35mm
Ratio: 1.37:1
Sound: Dolby Digital

PRODUCTION
Production Companies: Walt Disney Pictures presents from Jim Henson Productions A Brian Henson film
Executive Producer: Frank Oz
Producers: Martin G. Baker, Brian Henson
Line Producer: Selwyn Roberts
Associate Producer: Michael Jablow

SCRIPT
Script: Jerry Juhl, Kirk R. Thatcher, James V. Hart
Novel: Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

DIRECTION
Director: Brian Henson
Assistant Directors: Simon Hinkly, Olivia Lloyd, Trevor Puckle
2nd Unit 1st Assistant Director: Charlie Watson

PHOTOGRAPHY
Director of Photography: John Fenner
2nd Unit Camera Operator: Martin Kenzie
Gaffer: Peter Goddard
Best Boy: Eddie Knight
Video Coordinator: Bob Bridges
Grip and Lighting Equipment: Lee Lighting Ltd

EDITING AND POST PRODUCTION
Editor: Michael Jablow

MUSIC
Music: Hans Zimmer
Orchestrator: Conrad Pope
Songs: Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil

SOUND
2nd Unit Boom Operator: Christian Joyce
Associate Sound Editor: Martin Cantwell
Foley Artists: Pauline Griffiths, Jenny Lee Wright

MAKE UP AND COSTUMES
Make Up: Lynda Armstrong, Karen Dawson
Hair: Suzanne Stokes-Munton
Costume Designer: Polly Smith

SPECIAL EFFECTS
Special Effects: The Magic Camera Company; The Moving Picture Company
Special Effects Supervisor: Nick Allder
Animatronic Designer: Chris Barton

VISUAL EFFECTS
Visual Effects Designers: Richard Bain, Paddy Eason, Dan Glass
Visual Effects Coordinator: Antony Bluff
Visual Effects Producers: Alan Church, Alison O'Brien

Cinesite
Visual Effects Producer: Aaron Dem

The Post Group
Visual Effect Executive Producer: Mark Franco

Model Unit
Director: David B. Sharp
Camera Operator: Mark Gardiner

DIGITAL EFFECTS
Tracking / Digital Compositing / Wire Removal: The Computer Film Company
Digital Paint Supervisor: Kevin Lingenfelser
Digital Compositor: Paul Riddle

Cinesite
Coordinator: Martin Hobbs

DESIGN AND SET CONSTRUCTION
Production Designer: Val Strazovec
Supervising Art Director: Alan Cassie
Assistant Art Director: Andy Nicholson
Set Decorator: Simon Wakefield
Storyboard Artist: Jane Clark

MISCELLANEOUS
2nd Unit Continuity / Dailies: Sharon Mansfield
Assistant to Producer: Tatiana Bicât
Choreographer: Pat Garrett
Boat Wrangler: Tony Tucker

LOCATIONS
Locations: London, England, UK
Studio: Shepperton Studios, Shepperton, Surrey, UK

STUNTS
Stunt Coordinator: Nicholas Powell

CAST
Starring
Tim Curry as Long John Silver

With
Kermit the Frog as Captain Smollett
Kevin Bishop (Master Jim Hawkins)
Billy Connolly (Captain Billy Bones)
Jennifer Saunders (Mrs Bluberidge)
Danny Blackner (Short Stack Stevens)
Peter Geeves (Black Eyed Pea)
Harry Jones (Easy Pete)
David Nicholls (pirate man 1)
Frederick Warder (Calico Jerry)
Nigel Plaskitt
Roscoe Lee Browne (pirate - uncredited)

MUPPET VOICES
Dave Goelz (The Great Gonzo / Dr Levesey / Dr Bunsen Honeydew / Figurehead / Waldorf / Zoot)
Steve Whitmire (Captain Abraham Smollett / Kermit the Frog / Rizzo the Rat / Beaker / Bean Bunny)
Jerry Nelson (Figurehead / Statler / Floyd / Pepper / Robin / Blind Pew / Mad Monty / Lew Zealand / Trelawney's butler)
Kevin Clash (Polly Lobster / Spa'am: Boss Pig 2 / Black Dog / Real Old Tom)
Bill Barretta (Clueless Morgan / Rowlf)
John Henson (Pirate Sweetums)
Frank Oz (Benjamina Gunn / Miss Piggy / Squire Trelawney / Fozzie Bear / Mr Samuel Erroll / Sam the Eagle / Animal)

The Muppets re-enact the story of Treasure Island as they go up against the villainous Long John Silver and his band of pirates. They need to solve a series of clues in their race to reach the buried treasure before Silver and his crew.

Spain
Theatrical Distributor: Lauren Film

USA
Theatrical Distributor: Buena Vista Pictures

Australia
Rating: G

Spain
Rating: T

Sweden
Rating: 7

UK
Rating: U (video cut by 2 seconds)
The BBFC originally left the theatrical release intact, but following complaints from the public, were forced to remove several incidents of the word "bloody" from the video release.

USA
Rating: G

1997
Golden Satellite Awards
Best Motion Picture: Animated or Mixed Media (Martin G. Baker, Brian Henson) - nominated

Young Artist Awards
Best Family Feature: Animation or Special Effects - nominated
Best Performance in a Feature Film: Leading Young Actor (Kevin Bishop) - nominated

1996
March
15: USA - theatrical release

May
24: UK - theatrical release

June
26: Spain - theatrical release
28: Denmark, Sweden - theatrical release

July
11: Germany - theatrical release

August
23: South Africa - theatrical release

1997
March
17: Portugal - video release

2006
May
10: UK - television broadcast (on Sky Movies 2)

Set sail for Muppet mayhem!

Muppets - Die Schatzinsel - German title
Los teleñecos en la isla del tesoro - Spanish title
I Muppet nell'isola del tesoro - Italian title
Os Marretas na Ilha do Tesouro - Portugese title

SEE ALSO
Fraggle Rock (1983)
The Great Muppet Caper (1981)
The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
The Muppet Movie (1979)
The Muppet Show (1976)
Muppets From Space (1999)
The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984)
The Shining (1980)
Star Trek (1966 - 1969)
Tales from Muppetland: The Frog Prince (1972)

FOOTAGE INCLUDED IN
Muppet Race Mania (2000)
Muppets Treasure Island (1996b)

MAGAZINES

Cinefantastique June 1996 p.53 (USA)
review

Cinema 27 June 1996 (Germany)
review (by Eric Stahl)

Empire June 1996 p.34 (UK)
review (by Caroline Westbrook)

Film Review June 1996 p.24 (UK)
review (by Tom Hutchinson)

book into film, islands, muppets, pirates, puppets, ships, treasure

Last Updated: 15 October, 2008