The Muppets Take Manhattan
The Muppets Take Manhattan | |
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Directed by | Frank Oz |
Screenplay by |
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Story by |
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Produced by | David Lazer |
Starring | |
Cinematography | Henson Associates Delphi II Productions |
Distributed by | Tri-Star Pictures |
Release date |
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Running time | 94 minutes[1] |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $8 million[2] |
Box office | $25.5 million[3] |
The Muppets Take Manhattan is a 1984 American
Muppets Take Manhattan was the first film to be directed solely by Oz, who previously co-directed The Dark Crystal with Henson. The film received mostly positive reviews from critics with praise for its puppetry, humor, songs and characters but criticism for some of its writing. The film was also a box office success grossing $25.5 million on a budget of $8 million.
Plot
Kermit's attempts to promote the show fail, while he learns from letters received from his friends that Scooter house manages a Cleveland, Ohio movie theater; Fozzie has joined some other bears hibernating in Maine but can't sleep; Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem have a gig in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, performing in a retirement home; Gonzo and Camilla are trying to make a successful water skiing act in Michigan; and Rowlf is working at a dog kennel in Delaware. In Central Park, Jenny comforts Kermit about his setbacks, while an envious Piggy watches. While she is distracted, Piggy's purse is stolen but she gives chase and, in the ensuing chaos, reunites with Kermit, and takes a job at Pete's.
Kermit receives a letter from producer Bernard Crawford, who is interested in the musical. However, Kermit discovers the letter was actually written by his son Ronnie, who is eager to prove himself as a producer and believes that Manhattan Melodies is a worthwhile endeavor. His father reluctantly agrees to support him. Thrilled, Kermit heads back to the diner but is so distracted that he walks into oncoming traffic and is struck by a passing taxi.
Piggy summons the rest of the Muppets back to New York, only to discover that Kermit has disappeared. At the hospital, Kermit has lost his memory. He finds his way to Madison Avenue where he meets a trio of frogs, Bill, Gill and Jill, who work in advertising and offer him a job. The rest of the Muppets search in vain for Kermit, and on opening night reluctantly accept that the show will have to go on without him. Meanwhile, Bill, Gill, Jill and Kermit have ended up at Pete's diner, and Kermit's friends recognize him when he unknowingly taps out a tune from the show on glasses of water. At the Biltmore Theatre, Kermit still doesn't remember his friends, but when he ridicules the idea of being in love with Piggy, she karate chops him, curing his amnesia. As they hurriedly prepare for the opening number, the Muppets ask Kermit if their new friends can watch from backstage. Kermit, realizing the show needs more Muppets, suggests that the Madison Avenue frogs, the dogs, the bears, the chickens and others become supernumerary actors.
The show is a smash hit, culminating in what is intended to be a staged wedding between Kermit and Piggy's characters, only for a real minister to appear in lieu of Gonzo. With all of the Muppets, including the ones from Sesame Street and Fraggle Rock present, the show ends with their marriage.
Cast
Live-action cast
- Louis Zorich as Pete, the owner and chef of Pete's Diner.
- Juliana Donald as Jenny, Pete's kind daughter, a waitress and aspiring fashion designer.
- Lonny Price as Ronnie Crawford, Bernard's son and an aspiring Broadway producer.
- Cheryl McFadden as Nancy, the secretary to Martin Price.
- Graham Brown as Mr. Wrightson, the stuffy manager of the perfume store where Miss Piggy briefly works.
Muppet performers
- Jim Henson as Kermit the Frog, Rowlf the Dog, Dr. Teeth, the Swedish Chef, Waldorf, The Muppet Newsman, Baby Kermit, Baby Rowlf and Ernie
- Frank Oz as Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal, Sam Eagle, Baby Piggy, Baby Fozzie, Bert and Cookie Monster
- Dave Goelz as Gonzo the Great, Chester the Rat, Bill the Frog, Zoot, a Penguin, Jim the Dog, Baby Gonzo, Beauregard and Dr. Bunsen Honeydew
- Steve Whitmire as Rizzo the Rat, Gill the Frog and Hap
- Richard Hunt as Scooter, Janice, Statler, Baby Scooter and Beaker
- Jerry Nelson as Floyd, Camilla the Chicken, Lew Zealand, Crazy Harry, Pops and Bear
- Kathryn Mullen as Jill the Frog
- Karen Prell as Yolanda the Rat and Frank the Dog
- Brian Muehl as Tatooey the Rat
- Bruce Edward Hall as Masterson the Rat and Beth Bear
Cameo guest stars
- Frances Bergen as Mr. Winesop's receptionist
- Art Carney as Bernard Crawford, a renowned theatrical producer and Ronnie's father.
- James Coco as Mr. Skeffington, a man who leaves his dog at the kennel where Rowlf works.
- Dabney Coleman as Murray Plotsky, a con artist posing as a theatrical producer named Martin Price.
- Elliott Gould as a police officer at Pete's Diner. Gould previously appeared as a cameo in The Muppet Movie.
- Gregory Hines as a roller skater whose skates are borrowed by Miss Piggy.
- Dr. Cyril Jenkins as the minister performing Kermit and Miss Piggy's wedding.
- Mayor Edward I. Koch as himself
- John Landis as Leonard Winesop, a known theatrical producer.
- Linda Lavin as Kermit's doctor, who diagnoses his amnesia.
- David Lazer as a customer at Sardi's
- Liza Minnelli as herself
- Joan Rivers as Eileen, a perfume saleswoman who works with Piggy.
- Brooke Shields as a Pete's Diner patron
- Vincent Sardi Jr. as himself
Production
Under the
The first draft titled The Muppets: The Legend Continues, written by Muppet Caper screenwriters
Music
Jeff Moss was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song Score for the music he composed for The Muppets Take Manhattan, but lost to Purple Rain by Prince.[6]
The Muppets Take Manhattan: The Original Soundtrack | ||||
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Warner Bros. | ||||
The Muppets chronology | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Allmusic | [7] |
The Muppets Take Manhattan: The Original Soundtrack contains all of the songs written by
This is the only Muppet film soundtrack that has not been released on CD. However, three tracks from the album can be found on the 2002 compilation album The Muppet Show: Music, Mayhem, and More. A new version of "Together Again (Again)" was performed in the 2014 film Muppets Most Wanted and its soundtrack.
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Artist(s) | Length |
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1. | "Together Again" | Dr. Teeth | 2:00 | |
3. | "Saying Goodbye" | Jeff Moss | Kermit and Friends | 3:06 |
4. | "Rat Scat (Something Cookin')" | Jeff Moss | Rizzo the Rat | 1:18 |
5. | "Together Again (Carriage Ride)" | Jeff Moss (arr. Ralph Burns) | Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Statler and Waldorf | 1:07 |
6. | "I'm Gonna Always Love You" | Jeff Moss | The Muppet Babies | 2:55 |
7. | "William Tell Overture" | Gioachino Rossini (arr. Ralph Burns) | The Chickens | 0:59 |
Total length: | 14:19 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Artist(s) | Length |
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1. | "Looking for Kermit" | Ralph Burns | Instrumental | 1:42 |
2. | "Right Where I Belong" | Jeff Moss | Kermit and the Muppets | 2:12 |
3. | "Somebody's Getting Married/Waiting for the Wedding" | Jeff Moss | The Muppets | 2:36 |
4. | "He'll Make Me Happy" | Jeff Moss | Miss Piggy, Kermit and the Muppets | 2:10 |
5. | "The Ceremony" | Jeff Moss | Miss Piggy, Kermit and the Muppets | 1:10 |
6. | "Closing Medley (Final Credits)" | Jeff Moss (arr. Ralph Burns) | The Muppets | 4:18 |
Total length: | 14:08 |
Release
Marketing
The Muppets Take Manhattan was adapted by Marvel Comics in 1984, as the 68-page story in Marvel Super Special #32.[8] The adaptation was later re-printed into a three-issue limited series, released under Marvel's Star Comics imprint (November 1984 – January 1985).[9] The film's script was adapted into comic form by writer Stan Kay with art by Dean Yeagle and Jacqueline Roettcher.[10] Unlike in the film, the comic depicts Gonzo, Floyd Pepper, Animal, Janice, Dr. Teeth, and Zoot in their customary outfits from The Muppet Show.
In addition, a
Home media
Unlike Henson's previous films (
The Muppets Take Manhattan was first released on
A
Reception
Box office
On its opening weekend, The Muppets Take Manhattan grossed $4.4 million, ranking at fifth place at the box office.[14] The film ultimately earned $25.5 million in the United States and Canada,[3] placing it as the second highest-grossing G-rated film of 1984 (behind a re-issue of Walt Disney Productions' Pinocchio).[15]
Critical reaction
Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film three stars (out of four), stating in his review that "the plot of [the] movie has been seen before." However, Ebert went on to say that just about everything in the film was enjoyable and that Kermit finally solves his long-lasting identity crisis.[16] Gene Siskel of the Chicago Tribune gave the film 3+1⁄2 stars (out of four) writing it was "a most enjoyable backstage musical, culminating, as you probably have heard, with a wedding ceremony between you-know-who and you-know-who."[17] Variety positively stated: "The Muppets Take Manhattan is a genuinely fun confection of old-fashioned entertainment that will appeal to both children and their parents, weaned on Henson's syndicated tv series."[18] Sheila Benson of the Los Angeles Times, who expressed disappointment in The Great Muppet Caper, felt the Muppets "have found their footing adroitly now; the emphasis is back on real values and identifiable emotions."[19] In his annual Movie Guide, Leonard Maltin gave the film a three star rating (out of four) as well citing that the film is an "enjoyable outing with bouncy songs, [with a] nice use of N.Y.C. locations."[20]
Gary Arnold of
Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reports that 85% of 26 critics have given the film a positive review, with an average rating of 7/10. The site's consensus stated that "if it's not quite as sharp as The Muppet Movie, The Muppets Take Manhattan is still a smart, delightfully old-fashioned tale that follows the formula established by the first two movies -- a madcap adventure assisted by a huge group of human stars."[25] On Metacritic, the film has a score of 64 out of 100 based on 9 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[26]
Abandoned follow-up series
On February 7, 2019, it was announced that Once Upon a Time showrunners Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz were working with actor Josh Gad on a TV series titled Muppets Live Another Day, set after the film's events, for Disney+.[27] The series was to focus on the Muppets, who disbanded some time after the film's events, reuniting after Rowlf disappears.[27] However, on September 9, 2019, it was announced that the series had been scrapped due to creative differences following an executive change at The Muppets Studio.[28]
References
- ^ "MUPPETS TAKE MANHATTAN (U)". British Board of Film Classification. June 27, 1984. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
- ISBN 978-0-345-52611-3.
- ^ a b "The Muppets Take Manhattan". Box Office Mojo.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-345-52611-3.
- ^ Ryan Roe (March 18, 2011). "A Q&A with Muppet Writer David Misch". ToughPigs. Retrieved January 28, 2012 – via WordPress.
- ISBN 978-0-14-311663-9.
- ^ Allmusic review
- ^ "Marvel Super Special #32". Grand Comics Database.
- ^ The Muppets Take Manhattan at the Grand Comics Database
- ^ Friedt, Stephan (July 2016). "Marvel at the Movies: The House of Ideas' Hollywood Adaptations of the 1970s and 1980s". Back Issue! (89). Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing: 69.
- ^ "The Muppets Take Manhattan". DVD Talk. Retrieved December 6, 2011.
- ^ "The Muppets Take Manhattan (Blu-ray)". DVD Talk. Retrieved December 6, 2011.
- ^ McCall, Kevin (August 24, 2023). "It's Time to Play the Music as 'The Muppets Take Manhattan' Comes to 4K UHD". Collider. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
- ^ Sanello, Frank (July 17, 1984). "'Ghostbusters,' 'Gremlins' still top box office after six weeks". United Press International. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
- ^ "1984 Yearly Box Office By MPAA Rating – All G Rated Releases". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on December 2, 2015. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
- ^ Ebert, Roger (July 13, 1984). "The Muppets Take Manhattan". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved January 29, 2012 – via RogerEbert.com.
- ^ "Film Reviews: The Muppets Take Manhattan". Variety. July 11, 1984. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
- ^ Benson, Sheila (July 13, 1984). "Kermit Croaks Summer's Sweetest News". Los Angeles Times. Part VI, p. 6. Retrieved July 27, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ISBN 978-0-451-22468-2 – via Google Books.
- ^ Arnold, Gary (July 14, 1984). "The Muppet Mope". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
- ^ Canby, Vincent (July 13, 1984). "Film: Broadway Setting for 3d Muppet Romp". The New York Times. p. C10. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
- ^ Carroll, Kathleen (July 13, 1984). "Muppets all sweetness & light". New York Daily News. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
- The Toronto Star. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
- ^ "The Muppets Take Manhattan". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
- ^ "The Muppets Take Manhattan". Metacritic. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
- ^ a b Anderson, Ethan (February 7, 2019). "The Muppets Revival is Coming to Disney+ from Josh Gad and 'Once Upon a Time' Creators". /Film. Retrieved February 7, 2019.
- ^ Goldberg, Lesley (September 9, 2019). "'The Muppets' Disney+ Comedy Series Scrapped". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
External links
- Official website
- The Muppets Take Manhattan at IMDb
- The Muppets Take Manhattan on Muppet Wiki
- The Muppets Take Manhattan at the TCM Movie Database
- The Muppets Take Manhattan at AllMovie
- The Muppets Take Manhattan at the American Film Institute Catalog
- The Muppets Take Manhattan at Box Office Mojo
- The Muppets Take Manhattan at Rotten Tomatoes