Great Muppet Caper, The (1981)

A frog and a bear as identical twins? A pig fashion model? Only in the world of Jim Henson’s Muppets could anyone get away with such wonderful silliness.

After the success of 1979’s The Muppet Movie, Henson and company reunited for a follow-up. This second instalment in the Muppet film franchise took the gang to England for a comic heist movie.

Kermit the Frog and Fozzie Bear star as identical twin brothers (?) who work as reporters for the Daily Chronicle but are fired for botching up a story about a jewel thief. And so they follow the victim, fashion designer Lady Holiday (Diana Rigg), to England to find out who stole the Holiday jewels.

While attending a glamorous dinner, Kermit notices the dazzling Miss Piggy, Lady Holiday’s spunky assistant and a wannabe model. The pretty porker also catches the eye of Lady Holiday’s ne’er-do-well brother, Nicky (Charles Grodin), but the flirtations are interrupted by a sudden blackout.

When the lights return, Lady Holiday’s famed Baseball Diamond (one of the world’s biggest gems) has been stolen, and Piggy is framed for the crime. While Piggy plots a jailbreak, the other Muppets set out to find the real criminals and recover the jewels.

The big showdown pits James Bond-style criminals carrying blowtorches, walkie-talkies, and computerised safecracking tools against the Muppets with their Frisbees, yo-yos, and peanut butter.

While the film wasn’t as popular as the first Muppet movie, The Great Muppet Caper did continue the tradition of star cameos (John Cleese, Peter Falk, Peter Ustinov), original songs (including the Oscar-nominated The First Time It Happens) and zany sight gags (like Piggy riding a motorcycle and a Busby Berkley-style water ballet that has to be seen to be believed.)

The film was also the only Muppet feature directed by Jim Henson himself. Henson passed away in 1990.

Lady Holiday 
Diana Rigg
Kermit the Frog 
Jim Henson
Nicky Holiday 
Charles Grodin
Neville 
John Cleese
Miss Piggy 
Frank Oz
Rowlf 
Jim Henson
Dr Teeth 
Jim Henson
Waldorf 
Jim Henson
Swedish Chef 
Jim Henson
Fozzie Bear 
Frank Oz
Animal 
Frank Oz
Sam the Eagle 
Frank Oz
Gonzo 
Dave Goelz
Beauregard 
Dave Goelz
Dr Bunsen Honeydew 
Dave Goelz
Zoot 
Dave Goelz
Marla 
Erica Creer
Carla 
Kate Howard
Darla 
Della Finch
Dorcas 
Joan Sanderson
Floyd Pepper 
Jerry Nelson
Camilla 
Jerry Nelson
Pops 
Jerry Nelson
Lew Zealand 
Jerry Nelson
Rizzo the Rat 
Steve Whitmire
Lips 
Steve Whitmire
Oscar the Grouch 
Carroll Spinney
Scooter 
Richard Hunt
Statler 
Richard Hunt
Janice 
Richard Hunt
Beaker 
Richard Hunt
Sweetums 
Richard Hunt

Director
Jim Henson

Video