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
