Muppet Treasure Island

Muppet Treasure Island
Directed by	Brian Henson
Produced by	Brian Henson Martin G. Baker Frank Oz (executive producer) Michael Jablow (associate producer) Vesco Razpoppov (asociate producer) Selwyn Roberts (line producer) Thomas G. Smith (producer of visual effects)
Written by	Jerry Juhl Kirk R. Thatcher James V. Hart
Starring	Kermit the Frog Miss Piggy Gonzo Rizzo the Rat Tim Curry Dave Goelz Steve Whitmire Jerry Nelson Kevin Bishop Frank Oz
Music by	Hans Zimmer Barry Mann (songs composer) Cynthia Weil (songs composer)
Cinematography by	John Fenner
Editor(s)	Michael Jablow
Studio(s)	Walt Disney Pictures Jim Henson Productions
Distributor	Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
Released	February 16, 1996
Running time	95 minutes
Language	English
Budget	$5 million
Gross revenue	$34,327,391
External links
IMDb page

Muppet Treasure Island is the fifth feature film to star The Muppets, and the second produced after the death of Muppets creator Jim Henson. Released in 1996 and directed by Jim Henson's son Brian Henson, it was one of many film adaptations of Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island.

Plot

Jim Hawkins is a young orphan living with his friends Gonzo and Rizzo at the Admiral Benbow Inn in England. Dreaming of sea voyages, Jim only has the tales of Billy Bones to help, Bones telling Jim and the inn patriots of Captain Flint, his old captain, burying his treasure on a remote island and killing all of his crew. However, it turns out that Bones' tales are indeed true when Blind Pew, a fellow pirate, arrives and gives Bones the black spot. Bones dies of a heart attack but gives Jim, Gonzo and Rizzo his treasure map beforehand. Blind Pew returns with an army of pirates, but the boys escape with the map.

Going to a harbor town, the boys meet the half-wit Squire Trelawney (Fozzie Bear) who decides to fund a voyage to find Treasure Island and Flint's fortune. Accompanied by Dr. Livesey (Dr. Bunsen Honeydew) and his assistant Beaker, the boys and Trelawney hire the Hispaniola, commanded by Captain Abraham Smollett (Kermit the Frog) and his overly strict first mate Mr. Arrow (Sam the Eagle). The boys meet the cook Long John Silver, a one-legged man who Bones warned the boys about before dying. The ship sets sail, but Smollett is concerned by the pirate-like crew, learning they were hired on Silver's suggestion. Jim and Silver bond, but Gonzo and Rizzo are captured by three of the pirates, Polly Lobster, Mad Monty, and Clueless Morgan, who demand they surrender the map but Mr. Arrow catches them in the act and imprisons them in the brig. Smollett locks the map in his safe.

Eventually, it becomes apparent that Silver is the leader of the pirates and plots a mutiny, fooling Mr. Arrow into leaving the ship to test a lifeboat for safety precautions, and faking his death. Jim, Gonzo, and Rizzo learn of Silver's plan and inform Smollett. However, Silver captures Jim upon arrival at Treasure Island, the other pirates stealing the map from Smollett's safe. Smollett, Gonzo, and Rizzo go to save Jim but are captured by the local tribe of wild boars, ruled over by Benjamina Gunn (Miss Piggy), Smollett's ex-fiance who he left at the alter. Jim, Silver and the pirates find the hiding place of Flint's treasure only to find the treasure missing, Silver sending Jim away as a fight breaks out among the pirates. The pirates come across Smollett and Benjamina who are suspended from a cliff until Benjamina tells Silver the treasure is hidden in her home, but the two are left to dangle, allowing the pair to fall in love again.

Jim, Gonzo, and Rizzo find Mr. Arrow who aids them sneaking onboard the ship and scaring off the pirates still on board and freeing Trelawney, Dr. Livesey, and Beaker, before the figureheads of the Hispaniola (Statler & Waldorf) save Smollett and Benjamina (though Waldorf notes that they "didn't save the movie"). A battle breaks out between the heroes and the pirates until Smollett fights Silver but loses. Jim and the others rally to their captain's aid, Silver surrendering honorably. All the pirates are stuffed into the brig but Silver escapes using Mr. Arrow's keys. Jim catches him in the act but allows Silver to leave for the sake of their friendship. However, Mr. Arrow informs Jim and Smollett that the longboat Silver took was damaged, forcing Silver to abandon ship and swim to Treasure Island without the treasure. The crew of the Hispaniola sale off into the sunset with the treasure recovered by the scuba-diving rats, whilst Silver is marooned with only a wisecracking Moai head for company.

Human Cast

• Tim Curry as Long John Silver, the main antagonist.
• Kevin Bishop as Jim Hawkins, the main protagonist.
• Jennifer Saunders as Mrs. Bluveridge
• Billy Connolly as Billy Bones

Muppet Performers

• Dave Goelz - Gonzo, Waldorf, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew
• Steve Whitmire - Rizzo the Rat, Kermit the Frog, Beaker
• Frank Oz - Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Sam the Eagle
• Jerry Nelson - Statler

Muppet Cast

• Muppet Characters (speaking)

Gonzo as himself

Rizzo the Rat as himself

Kermit the Frog as Captain Abraham Smollett

Miss Piggy as Benjamina Gunn

Statler and Waldorf as Ship Figureheads

Fozzie Bear as Squire Trelawney

Bunsen Honeydew as Dr. Livesey

Beaker as himself

Sam the Eagle as Samuel Arrow

Spa'am

• Pirates (speaking)

Polly Lobster, Clueless Morgan, Mad Monty, Blind Pew, Black Dog, Angel Marie, Old Tom, Real Old Tom, Dead Tom, Spotted Dick, One-Eyed Jack, Walleye Pike, Sweetums, Jacques Roach, Calico, Wander McMooch, Mr. Curly Twirly, Begoony, Mudwell the Mudbunny, Brool the Minstrel, Murray the Minstrel, Gray Frackle, Wolf, Dodo, Beggar, Scruffy, Headless Bill, Mr. Bitte, Old Joe, The Undertaker, Lyle the Dog, Lew Zealand

• Small Speaking Roles

Floyd Pepper, Zoot, Animal, the Swedish Chef

• Minor/Background Characters (non-speaking)

Janice, Dr. Teeth, Lips, George the Janitor, Rowlf, Robin the Frog, Bean Bunny, Inkspots, Link Hogthrob, Crocodile, Sal Minella, Snakes, Skulls, Sprocket, Flaubert, J.P. Grosse, Pops, Chip, Yolanda Rat, Marvin Suggs, Mr. Plagueman, Winny, Eugene, Droop, Koozebanian Phoob, Laundress, Whatnots, Rats, Island Heads, Geri and the Atrics, Raccoons, Aretha, Pigs, Chickens, Penguins, Gnu, Dogs, Wolfhound, Cow, Goat, Moose Head, Bananas, Cactus, Green Frackle

Songs

1. "Shiver My Timbers"
2. "Something Better"
3. "Sailing For Adventure"
4. "Cabin Fever"
5. "A Professional Pirate"
6. "Boom Shakalaka"
7. "Love Led Us Here"
8. "Love Power" - sung by Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers

Changes from the novel

While the film is mostly true to the novel, there are changes, mostly to make the characters fit the Muppet personalities, or to tighten up the plot. Amongst them are:

• The Admiral Benbow is no longer run by Jim's family. Instead, Jim is an orphan, and the inn's owner is Mrs. Bluberidge, who appears only at the beginning, as a fat, drunken Madame Thénardier-like landlady (played by Jennifer Saunders). She has an uncanny knack for hearing and replying to other people's conversations, even when they are a long distance away. Commonly, after she responds, a character says "How does she do that?".
• Jim Hawkins is given two companions: Gonzo and Rizzo.
• In the book, although Blind Pew appears in only two chapters of the story, he is an extremely intimidating and even sadistic character, whereas in this depiction he is shown as bumbling, mistaking Jim for a "little girl" and is oblivious to everything, even to the inn blowing up all around him.
• In the novel, Captain Smollett initially appears as a stern and forbidding figure, overly concerned with regulations, although he later proves to simply be appropriately cautious. In the film he is sympathetic from the first, with a strictness only, it seems, for the consumption of alcohol.
• By contrast, Mr. Arrow is shown as obsessed with regulations and the correct way of doing things (though he meekly follows Smollett's orders), as suits a character played by Sam the Eagle. In the book, he is a drunkard, and overly-familiar with the men. He is also killed by being thrown overboard, whereas in the film he is merely tricked into taking one of the boats for a test run (and presumed dead) but later returns saying "that Silver fellow may not be trustworthy."
• Ben Gunn is female, and renamed Benjamina. She has had former relationships with Smollett, Flint, and Silver.
• Squire Trelawney is the "rich half-wit son" of the real Squire Trelawney (who is vacationing and will not return "until the Feast of Saint Lulu"), who takes advice from a man he believes to live in his finger (played by Mr. Bimble).
• Dr. Livesey (Bunsen Honeydew) is an inventor with an assistant (Beaker).
• Captain Flint (the parrot) is replaced by Polly, a lobster whom Silver "raised from a fingerling". When Gonzo asks why he doesn't have a parrot instead, both seem astonished and bemused by the concept of someone actually having a pet parrot, and Polly responds "What an imagination! First pirates? Now talking parrots? What's next? A singing, dancing mouse with his own amusement park?", which serves as a direct reference to Mickey Mouse.
• An attack on Gonzo and Rizzo by three of the pirates is added; this leads both to the stranding of Mr. Arrow (so Silver can let them out of the brig), and from there to the scene in the book when Jim hears Silver conspiring while in an apple barrel.
• Much of Parts Four and Five, "The Stockade" and "My Sea Adventure" is omitted.
• A running subplot, which has very little effect on the main course of the film, involves the ship's rats, who believe they have signed onto a modern-day Caribbean cruise. They are not treated like other characters; for example, while the ship's crew, pirate or not, are greeted with hostility by the boars, the rats are met with indifference, if acknowledged at all. Amusingly, the treasure island is introduced as being the set of the movie itself by rat tour-guide accompanied by miniature camera flashes, another example of the oblivious anachronistic nature of the rats as comic relief.
• As in most Muppet movies, the presence of talking animals and bizarre creatures such as Gonzo is treated as normal. One of the only indications of fourth-wall-breaking is the comprehension of the songs (as the film is a musical), when Clueless Morgan ask, "Hey guys, what was that song that just happened there?". No one else seems to understand what he's talking about. Another takes place after the death of Billy Bones. Rizzo stares straight at the camera and says, "He died? And this is supposed to be a kid movie!" Finally, Waldorf and Statler (who appear as the Hispaniola's figure heads) make their usual criticisms, such as Waldorf saying "We could've been stuck in the audience!".

Release

Box office

The movie debuted at No. 2. The film was a commercial success, grossing $34,327,391 during its theaterical run and surpassing the grosses of The Muppet Christmas Carol, The Muppets Take Manhattan and The Great Muppet Caper.

Critical reception

Muppet Treasure Island received generally positive reviews; Rotten Tomatoes reported that 70% of critics gave the film positive reviews.

Home media

This is the second Muppet film co-produced and released by Walt Disney Pictures, following The Muppet Christmas Carol. The film has been made available on home video formats. It was released on VHS September 11, 1996, and twice on DVD in Region 1. The first DVD release in the U.S. on June 4, 2002 was in a fullscreen-only format. Other releases of these were in widescreen only format. The DVD release has 3 bonus features added like "Hidden Treasure Commentary", "The Tale of the Story Behind the Tail" and "Treasure Island Sing-Along" (but the menus were in widescreen format). The film was re-released on DVD November 29, 2005 in conjunction with Kermit the Frog's 50th anniversary celebration; this time the DVD contained both fullscreen and widescreen presentations and the 3 extra features were replaced with "Pepe Profiles Present: Fozzie Bear - A Long Day's Journey Into Night Clubs".

Lawsuit

Hormel Foods Corporation, makers of Spam, sued the film production company for using the name "Spa'am" for one of the film's characters. Their suit was defeated on September 22, 1995. The judge dismissed it on the grounds that "The American public can tell the difference between a puppet and a lunchmeat."

Gallery

The Special Features menu edited for Kermit's 50th Anniversary Edition.

The Audio Commentary menu.

The 2002 menu of Muppet Treasure Island DVD.

Videos

Muppet Treasure Island Commentary Hidden Treasure Video Dangerous Moments

Muppet Treasure Island Commentary Hidden Treasure Video Parking Lot Pirates

Muppet Treasure Island Commentary Hidden Treasure Video Making Muppet Music

Muppet Treasure Island Commentary Hidden Treasure Video Tim's Grandfather

Muppet Treasure Island Commentary Hidden Treasure Video Tim and Him

Muppet Treasure Island Commentary Hidden Treasure Video Silver Sings

Muppet Treasure Island Commentary Hidden Treasure Video The Elephant Story

Muppet Treasure Island Commentary Hidden Treasure Video Jim and Frank

Muppet Treasure Island Commentary Hidden Treasure Video How it was done

Muppet Treasure Island Commentary Hidden Treasure Video The Fighting Frog

External links

• Muppet Treasure Island on Wikipedia
• Template:Imdb title
• Muppet Wiki: Muppet Treasure Island

v - e - d

Media Television shows: The Muppets • Muppet Babies • Muppets Now • The Muppets Mayhem Television specials: The Muppets at Walt Disney World • Studio DC: Almost Live • A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa • Good Luck Charlie • Muppets Haunted Mansion Movies: The Muppet Christmas Carol • Muppet Treasure Island • The Muppets' Wizard of Oz • The Muppets • Muppets Most Wanted • Muppet Man • Jim Henson Idea Man Video Games: My Muppets Show • Animal Drummer • Tap Tap Muppets • Disney Emoji Blitz • Disney Heroes: Battle Mode • Disney Magic Kingdoms Albums: The Muppet Christmas Carol Story Album • The Muppet Christmas Carol soundtrack • Muppet Treasure Island soundtrack • Best of the Muppets • A Green and Red Christmas • A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa soundtrack • Muppets: The Green Album • The Muppets soundtrack • Muppets Most Wanted soundtrack • Muppets Most Wanted score • London Music Works Perform Music From The Muppets • Disney Junior Music: Muppet Babies • Muppets Haunted Mansion soundtrack • The Muppets Mayhem soundtrack Cancelled projects: America's Next Muppet • Muppets Live Another Day Disney Parks Muppets Courtyard • Midship Detective Agency • Muppet*Vision 3D Entertainment: Here Come the Muppets • Hollywood's Pretty Woman • Muppet Mobile Lab • Muppets on Location: Days of Swine and Roses • The Muppets Present… Great Moments in American History Restaurants: PizzeRizzo • The Great Gonzo's Pandemonium Pizza Parlor • Regal Eagle Smokehouse Shops: Stage 1 Company Store Parades: Disney Stars and Motor Cars Parade Christmas: Disney Holidays in Hollywood Characters Muppets: Kermit the Frog • Miss Piggy • Fozzie Bear • Gonzo • Animal • Rizzo the Rat • Pepe the King Prawn • Statler and Waldorf • Dr. Bunsen Honeydew • Beaker • Scooter • Bean Bunny • Dr. Teeth • Floyd Pepper • Janice • Zoot • Rowlf the Dog • Robin the Frog • The Swedish Chef • Sam the Eagle • Sweetums • Bobo the Bear • Pops • Uncle Deadly • Camilla • Waldo C. Graphic • Clifford • Thog • Seymour • Lew Zealand • Link Hogthrob • Beauregard • Johnny Fiama • Sal Minella • Angelo • Walter • 80's Robot • The Moopets • Constantine • Denise • Chip • Big Mean Carl Humans: Dorothy Gale • Claire • Santa Claus • Frank Meany • Joy • Beaker's Girlfriend • Gary • Mary • Tex Richman • Veronica Martin • Hobo Joe • Marge • Receptionist • Dominic Badguy • Nadya • Jean Pierre Napoleon • Becky • Holly and Carl Muppet Treasure Island: Jim Hawkins • Billy Bones • Mrs. Bluveridge • Long John Silver • Polly Lobster The Muppets' Wizard of Oz: Dorothy Gale Vehicles Hispaniola • The Electric Mayhem Bus Songs The Muppet Movie: The Rainbow Connection The Muppet Christmas Carol: Scrooge • Room in Your Heart • Good King Wenceslas • One More Sleep 'til Christmas • Marley and Marley • Chairman of the Board • Fozziwig's Party • When Love is Gone • It Feels Like Christmas • Christmas Scat • Bless Us All • Thankful Heart • When Love Is Found Muppet Treasure Island: Treasure Island • Shiver My Timbers • Something Better • Sailing for Adventure • Cabin Fever • A Professional Pirate • Boom Shakalaka • Love Led Us Here • Love Power • Love Led Us Here Muppet Treasure Island (Sing-Alongs): There Was an Old Pirate • I'm a Rock • Real Pirate • Let the Good Shine Out The Muppets' Wizard of Oz: Kansas • When I'm With You • Nap Time • The Witch Is in the House • Calling All Munchkins • Good Life A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa: Delivering Christmas • It's All About Heart • I Wish I Could Be Santa Claus • My Best Christmas Yet The Muppets: The Muppet Show Theme • Life's a Happy Song • Pictures in My Head • Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard • We Built This City • Me Party • Let's Talk About Me • Man or Muppet • Smells Like Teen Spirit • Forget You • The Whistling Caruso Muppets Most Wanted: The Muppet Show Theme • We're Doing a Sequel • I'm Number One • The Big House • I'll Get You What You Want (Cockatoo in Malibu) • Interrogation Song • My Heart Will Go On • Something So Right • Working in the Coal Mine • Together Again • Moves Like Jagger • Macarena Muppet Babies: Muppet Babies Theme Muppets Haunted Mansion: Rest in Peace • Life Hereafter • Tie the Knot Tango • Dancing in the Moonlight See also The Muppets