MUPPET TREASURE ISLAND
UK, 1996, 99 minutes, Colour.
Tim Curry, Kevin Bishop, Billy Connolly, Jennifer Saunders, voices of: Dave Goelz (Gonzo), Steve Whitmire (Kermit, Rizzo), Frank Oz (Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Sam the Eagle, Animal).
Directed by Brian Henson.
Muppet Treasure Island is one of a series of Muppet feature films beginning with The Muppet Movie and The Great Muppet Caper. There were also versions of A Christmas Carol (with Michael Caine as Scrooge).
This is a cheerful version of Treasure Island, keeping the elements of Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel. It was written by Jerry Juhl, the first person to be employed by Jim Henson for his studios and writer of most of the Muppet movies. It also has a great range of songs (‘Cabin Fever’, ‘Love Led Me Here’, ‘Something Better’).
The regular Muppet characters are all present with Kermit as Captain Smollett and Miss Piggy as Benjamina Gunn. The film focuses on characters played by Gonzo and Rizzo the Rat who are the companions for Jim Hawkins. Sam the Eagle is also on board as is Beaker doing experiments …
The film features the comic styles of the Muppets, the contemporary references, the jokes. However, it all fits in with the basic Treasure Island story.
Tim Curry has to be a more genial Long John Silver. A very young Kevin Bishop is good as Jim Hawkins. Billy Connolly has a few moments as Billy Bones and Jennifer Saunders a few moments as the proprietress of the Admiral Benbow.
The film was directed by Jim Henson’s son Brian.
1.The popularity of the Muppets? The characters? Their antics? Jokes? Songs?
2.Incorporating the Muppet tradition into a feature film, into the story from a classic British novel? How well did the ingredients blend?
3.The Muppet characters, the puppets, the various voices? The jokes? Gonzo and his being and important character, tortured, keelhauled, still supporting Jim? Rizzo, his rat behaviour, the comic styles? Kermit rather severe as Captain Smollett? Miss Piggy showing off as Benjamina Gunn? Sam the Eagle and his being the 2IC – and his being thrown overboard? Fozzie Bear as the lightheaded son of Squire Trelawney? Animal, the various characters, the band? Beaker and co? Audience familiarity and enjoyment of their presence?
4.Jim Hawkins, the young boy, the death of his father, working at the inn, serving, listening to Billy Bones and his story? Being wary of the one-legged man? Flint and his bringing the Black Spot and Billy Bones’ death? The map? Hawkins and his going with Gonzo and Rizzo to Bristol? Looking for a ship, finding Squire Trelawney’s son? Getting the ship? Going on board? Finding Long John Silver, the cook, befriending him? The oddball crew? Captain Smollett coming aboard, serious? The running of the ship, Jim and his role? His chatting with Silver? Not suspecting him? Long John Silver being a father figure? The compass and the stars? Their talk? His giving the map to Captain Smollett on his insistence?
5.Long John Silver, less sinister than some of the other film Silvers? Work in the kitchen, befriending Jim, his plotting behind the scenes? Bringing in the liquor for the toast – and Squire Trelawney throwing it out the window? His talking with Jim, explaining the stars and sense of direction? Insinuating himself, trying to get the map? Jim overhearing the truth about him? The plans for mutiny? His taking over, going onto the island, taking Jim? The search for the treasure, the clash with Benjamina Gunn? Finding the treasure, his being taken back on board, his escape in the lifeboat, its sinking?
6.Billy Bones, the Scottish character, Billy Connolly’s style, his stories, the Black Spot, his death? The map?
7.The landlady, raucous, knowing what was going on and intervening?
8.The pirates on board? The Muppet mutineers, their threats to Gonzo and torturing him, to Rizzo? Their being put in the brig? Saying they had a conversion experience? Going on shore, the treasure?
9.Miss Piggy as Benjamina Gunn, the parody of the Dorothy Lamour style of tropical films, her being carried in as the island princess, goddess? Her having been left at the altar by Captain Smollett? The usual Kermit and Miss Piggy antics?
10.The resolution, the treasure, getting it from the bottom of the sea? Jim Hawkins becoming the captain?
11.An entertaining variation on the theme? Entertaining Muppet antics? A way for young audiences to become familiar with a classic story like Treasure Island?
