The Great Muppet Caper
Cast & Crew
Read More
Jim Henson
Director
Diana Rigg
Lady Holiday
Charles Grodin
Nicky Holiday
John Cleese
Neville
Robert Morley
British Gentleman
Peter Ustinov
Truck Driver
Film Details
Also Known As
Great Muppet Caper
MPAA Rating
Genre
Comedy
Crime
Family
Musical
Sequel
Release Date
1981
Production Company
Itc Entertainment Group
Distribution Company
Itc Entertainment Group; The Jim Henson Company
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 37m
Synopsis
Director
Jim Henson
Director
Cast
Diana Rigg
Lady Holiday
Charles Grodin
Nicky Holiday
John Cleese
Neville
Robert Morley
British Gentleman
Peter Ustinov
Truck Driver
Jack Warden
Editor
Erica Creer
Marla
Kate Howard
Carla
Della Finch
Darla
Michael Robbins
Security Guard
Joan Sanderson
Dorcas
Peter Hughes
Maitre D'
Peggy Aitchison
Prison Guard
Tommy Godfrey
Bus Conductor
Katia Borg
1st Model
Valli Kemp
2nd Model
Michele Ivan-zadeh
3rd Model
Chai Lee
4th Model
Christine Nelson
Girl In Park
Rodney Lovick
Doorman
Suzanne Church
Reporter
Ian Hanham
Reporter
David Ludwig
Delivery Man
Mary Mazstead
Prisoner
Patti Dalton
Prisoner
Cynthia Ashley
Charlie'S Water Ballet Performer
Lynn Latham
Charlie'S Water Ballet Performer
Susan Backlinie
Charlie'S Water Ballet Performer
Cynthia Leake
Charlie'S Water Ballet Performer
Sherrill Cannon
Charlie'S Water Ballet Performer
Kahren Lohren
Charlie'S Water Ballet Performer
Christine Cullen
Charlie'S Water Ballet Performer
Tricia Mcfarlin
Charlie'S Water Ballet Performer
Susie Guest
Charlie'S Water Ballet Performer
Denise Mckenna
Charlie'S Water Ballet Performer
Wendy Holker
Charlie'S Water Ballet Performer
Melina Lee Phelps
Charlie'S Water Ballet Performer
Linda Horn
Charlie'S Water Ballet Performer
Denise Potter
Charlie'S Water Ballet Performer
Lee Keenan
Charlie'S Water Ballet Performer
Ann Rynne
Charlie'S Water Ballet Performer
Darine Klega
Charlie'S Water Ballet Performer
Roberta Ward
Charlie'S Water Ballet Performer
Peter Falk
Tramp
Jim Henson
Voice Of Kermit The Frog/Rowlf/Dr Teeth/Waldorf
Frank Oz
Voice Of Miss Piggy/Fozzie Bear/Anima
Dave Goelz
Voice Of Gonzo/Chester Rat/Bill The Frog/Zoot
Jerry Nelson
Voice Of Floyd Pepper/Camilla/Lew Zealand
Richard Hunt
Voice Of Scotter/Statler/Janice
Steve Whitmire
Voice Of Rizzo The Rat/Bill The Frog
Caroll Spinney
Voice
Louise Gold
Voice
Kathryn Mullen
Voice
Bob Payne
Voice
Robert Barnett
Voice
Brian Muehl
Voice
Hugh Spight
Voice
Mike Quinn
Voice
Brian Henson
Voice
Crew
Terry Ackland-snow
Art Direction
Terry Ackland-snow
Other
Betty Adamson
Wardrobe Supervisor
Maurice Arnold
Video Coordinator
Maurice Arnold
Senior Assistant Camera
Leslee Asch
Muppet Design
Leslee Asch
Muppet Builder
Martin G Baker
Location Manager
George Ball
Property Master
Michael Barnes
Casting
Robert Barnett
Muppet Performer
Sidney Barnsby
Production Assistant Supervisor
Bi Benton
Production Assistant
Charles Bishop
Art Direction Supervisor
Derek Browne
Camera Operator
Allen Burry
Publicist
Joan Carpenter
Hairstyles
Ed Christie
Muppet Builder
Ed Christie
Muppet Design
Michael Clifford
Sound Editor (Music)
Lyle Conway
Muppet Builder
Lyle Conway
Muppet Design
Patsy Delord
Production Assistant
Marcus Dods
Music Conductor
Marcel Durham
Assistant Editor
Faz Fazakas
Muppet Technical Design
Roy Field
Other
Nomi Frederick
Muppet Builder
Nomi Frederick
Muppet Design
Stuart Freeborn
Makeup Supervisor
Michael K Frith
Muppet Design Consultant
Dick Gallegly
Production Manager (Usa)
Joan Garrick
Muppet Builder
Joan Garrick
Muppet Design
Dave Goelz
Muppet Performer
Louise Gold
Muppet Performer
Jane Gootnick
Muppet Design
Jane Gootnick
Muppet Builder
Joanne Green
Costumes (Muppets)
Robyn Hamilton-doney
Set Dresser
Julie Harris
Costume Designer
Calista Hendrickson
Costumes (Muppets)
Brian Henson
Muppet Performer
Jim Henson
Muppet Performer
Richard Hunt
Muppet Performer
Larry Jameson
Muppet Technical Design
Jerry Juhl
Screenwriter
Ann Keeba-tannenbaum
Muppet Design
Ann Keeba-tannenbaum
Muppet Builder
Ian C Kelly
Video Engineer Supervisor
Ralph Kemplen
Editor
Bernard J Kingham
Production Executive
Faye Kreinberg
Muppet Workshop Research
Tadeusz Krzanowski
Muppet Technical Design
Janet Kuhl
Muppet Builder
Janet Kuhl
Muppet Design
Charles Lagus
Underwater Photography
Harry Lange
Production Designer
Nick Laws
Assistant Director
Kathy Lazar
Muppet Design
Kathy Lazar
Muppet Builder
David Lazer
Producer
Cheryl Leigh
Script Supervisor
Leigh Malone
Art Direction
Anita Mann
Choreography
Robert Mccormack
Supervisor
Perry Mclamb
Muppet Builder
Perry Mclamb
Muppet Design
Tom Mclaughlin
Muppet Design
Tom Mclaughlin
Muppet Builder
Maria Mcnamara
Muppet Builder
Maria Mcnamara
Muppet Design
Tim Miller
Muppet Design
Tim Miller
Muppet Builder
Oswald Morris
Director Of Photography
Will Morrison
Muppet Workshop Coordinator (New York)
Brian Muehl
Muppet Performer
Kathryn Mullen
Muppet Performer
Jerry Nelson
Muppet Performer
Tom Newby
Muppet Design
Tom Newby
Muppet Builder
Chris Newman
2nd Assistant Director
Richard L O'connor
Production Executive
Danielle Obinger
Costumes (Muppets)
Frank Oz
Muppet Performer
Frank Oz
Producer
Tom Patchett
Screenwriter
Bob Payne
Muppet Performer
Connie Peterson
Muppet Design
Connie Peterson
Muppet Builder
Mike Quinn
Muppet Performer
Joe Raposo
Music Conductor
Joe Raposo
Music; Music Director
Joe Raposo
Music Arranger
Joe Raposo
Original Music
Joe Raposo
Lyrics
John Richards
Sound Recording (Music), Sound Rerecording (Music)
Monica Rogers
Production Assistant
Jack Rose
Screenwriter
Tim Rose
Muppet Technical Design
Bill Rowe
Sound Rerecording
Bruce Sharman
Associate Producer
Colin Skeaping
Stunt Coordinator
Brian Smithies
Special Effects Supervisor
Carol Spier
Costumes (Muppets)
Hugh Spight
Muppet Performer
Caroll Spinney
Muppet Performer
Martin Starger
Executive Producer
Nicholas Stevenson
Sound Editor
Mary Strieff
Costumes (Muppets)
Peter Sutton
Sound Recording
Dusty Symonds
1st Assistant Director
Jay Tarses
Screenwriter
Donald Toms
Production Supervisor
Jim Tyler
Orchestration
Graham Walker
Music Coordinator
Albert Werry
Aerial Photography
Steve Whitmire
Muppet Performer
Caroly Wilcox
Muppet Design
Caroly Wilcox
Supervisor
Marc Wolff
Helicopter Pilot
Film Details
Also Known As
Great Muppet Caper
MPAA Rating
Genre
Comedy
Crime
Family
Musical
Sequel
Release Date
1981
Production Company
Itc Entertainment Group
Distribution Company
Itc Entertainment Group; The Jim Henson Company
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 37m
Award Nominations
Best Song
1981
Articles
Sir Peter Ustinov (1921-2004)
He was born Peter Alexander Ustinov on April 16, 1921 in London, England. His father was a press attache at the German embassy until 1935 - when disgusted by the Nazi regime - he took out British nationality. He attended Westminster School, an exclusive private school in central London until he was 16. He then enrolled for acting classes at the London Theater Studio, and by 1939, he made his London stage debut.
His jovial nature and strong gift for dialects made him a natural player for films, and it wasn't long after finding theatre work that Ustinov moved into motion pictures: a Dutch priest in Michael Powell's One of Our Aircraft is Missing (1941); an elderly Czech professor in Let the People Sing (1942); and a star pupil of a Nazi spy school in The Goose Steps Out (1942).
He served in the British Army for four years (1942-46), where he found his talents well utilized by the military, allowing him to join the director Sir Carol Reed on some propaganda films. He eventually earned his first screenwriting credit for The Way Ahead (1944). One of Sir Carol Reed's best films, The Way Ahead was a thrilling drama which starred David Niven as a civilian heading up a group of locals to resist an oncoming Nazi unit. It was enough of a hit to earn Ustinov his first film directorial assignment, School for Secrets (1946), a well paced drama about the discovery of radar starring Sir Ralph Richardson and Sir Richard Attenborough.
After the war, Ustinov took on another writer-director project Vice Versa (1948), a whimsical fantasy-comedy starring Roger Livesey and Anthony Newley as a father and son who magically switch personalities. Although not a huge hit of its day, the sheer buoyancy of the surreal premise has earned the film a large cult following.
Ustinov made his Hollywood debut, and garnered his first Oscar® nomination for Best Supporting Actor, as an indolent Nero in the Roman epic, Quo Vadis? (1951). After achieving some international popularity with that role, Ustinov gave some top-notch performances in quality films: the snappish Prinny in the Stewart Granger vehicle Beau Brummel (1954); holding his own against Humphrey Bogart as an escaped convict in We're No Angels (1954); the ring master who presides over the life of the lead character in Max Ophuls's resplendent Lola Montez (1955); and a garrulous settler coping with the Australian outback in The Sundowners (1960).
The '60s would be Ustinov's most fruitful decade. He started off gabbing his first Oscar® as the cunning slave dealer in Spartacus (1960); made a smooth screen adaptation by directing his smash play, Romanoff and Juliet (1961), earned critical acclaim for his co-adaptation, direction, production and performance in Herman Melville's nautical classic Billy Budd (1962); and earned a second Oscar® as the fumbling jewel thief in the crime comedy Topkapi (1964).
He scored another Oscar® nomination in the Best Original Screenplay category for his airy, clever crime romp Hot Millions (1968), in which he played a con artist who uses a computer to bilk a company out of millions of dollars; but after that, Ustinov began taking a string of offbeat character parts: the lead in one of Disney's better kiddie flicks Blackbeard's Ghost (1968); a Mexican General who wants to reclaim Texas for Mexico in Viva Max! (1969); an old man who survives the ravaged planet of the future in Logan's Run (1976); and an unfortunate turn as a Chinese stereotype in Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen (1981). Still, he did achieve renewed popularity when he took on the role of Hercule Poirot in the star laced, Agatha Christie extravaganza Death on the Nile (1978). He was such a hit, that he would adroitly play the Belgian detective in two more theatrical movies: Evil Under the Sun (1982) and Appointment With Death (1988); as well as three television movies: Thirteen at Dinner (1985), Murder in Three Acts, Dead Man's Folly (both 1986).
Beyond his work in films, Ustinov was justifiably praised for his humanitarian work - most notably as the unpaid, goodwill ambassador for United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). Since 1968, he had traveled to all corners of the globe: China, Russia, Myanmar, Cambodia, Kenya, Egypt, Thailand and numerous other countries to promote and host many benefit concerts for the agency.
Ustinov, who in 1990 earned a knighthood for his artistic and humanitarian contributions, is survived by his wife of 32 years, Hélène du Lau d'Allemans; three daughters, Tamara, Pavla, Andrea; and a son, Igor.
by Michael T. Toole
Sir Peter Ustinov (1921-2004)
Sir Peter Ustinov, the witty, multi-talented actor, director and writer whose 60-year career in entertainment included two Best Supporting Actor Oscars® for his memorable character turns in the films Spartacus and Topkapi, died of heart failure on March 28 at a clinic in Genolier, Switzerland. He was 82.
He was born Peter Alexander Ustinov on April 16, 1921 in London, England. His father was a press attache at the German embassy until 1935 - when disgusted by the Nazi regime - he took out British nationality. He attended Westminster School, an exclusive private school in central London until he was 16. He then enrolled for acting classes at the London Theater Studio, and by 1939, he made his London stage debut.
His jovial nature and strong gift for dialects made him a natural player for films, and it wasn't long after finding theatre work that Ustinov moved into motion pictures: a Dutch priest in Michael Powell's One of Our Aircraft is Missing (1941); an elderly Czech professor in Let the People Sing (1942); and a star pupil of a Nazi spy school in The Goose Steps Out (1942).
He served in the British Army for four years (1942-46), where he found his talents well utilized by the military, allowing him to join the director Sir Carol Reed on some propaganda films. He eventually earned his first screenwriting credit for The Way Ahead (1944). One of Sir Carol Reed's best films, The Way Ahead was a thrilling drama which starred David Niven as a civilian heading up a group of locals to resist an oncoming Nazi unit. It was enough of a hit to earn Ustinov his first film directorial assignment, School for Secrets (1946), a well paced drama about the discovery of radar starring Sir Ralph Richardson and Sir Richard Attenborough.
After the war, Ustinov took on another writer-director project Vice Versa (1948), a whimsical fantasy-comedy starring Roger Livesey and Anthony Newley as a father and son who magically switch personalities. Although not a huge hit of its day, the sheer buoyancy of the surreal premise has earned the film a large cult following.
Ustinov made his Hollywood debut, and garnered his first Oscar® nomination for Best Supporting Actor, as an indolent Nero in the Roman epic, Quo Vadis? (1951). After achieving some international popularity with that role, Ustinov gave some top-notch performances in quality films: the snappish Prinny in the Stewart Granger vehicle Beau Brummel (1954); holding his own against Humphrey Bogart as an escaped convict in We're No Angels (1954); the ring master who presides over the life of the lead character in Max Ophuls's resplendent Lola Montez (1955); and a garrulous settler coping with the Australian outback in The Sundowners (1960).
The '60s would be Ustinov's most fruitful decade. He started off gabbing his first Oscar® as the cunning slave dealer in Spartacus (1960); made a smooth screen adaptation by directing his smash play, Romanoff and Juliet (1961), earned critical acclaim for his co-adaptation, direction, production and performance in Herman Melville's nautical classic Billy Budd (1962); and earned a second Oscar® as the fumbling jewel thief in the crime comedy Topkapi (1964).
He scored another Oscar® nomination in the Best Original Screenplay category for his airy, clever crime romp Hot Millions (1968), in which he played a con artist who uses a computer to bilk a company out of millions of dollars; but after that, Ustinov began taking a string of offbeat character parts: the lead in one of Disney's better kiddie flicks Blackbeard's Ghost (1968); a Mexican General who wants to reclaim Texas for Mexico in Viva Max! (1969); an old man who survives the ravaged planet of the future in Logan's Run (1976); and an unfortunate turn as a Chinese stereotype in Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen (1981). Still, he did achieve renewed popularity when he took on the role of Hercule Poirot in the star laced, Agatha Christie extravaganza Death on the Nile (1978). He was such a hit, that he would adroitly play the Belgian detective in two more theatrical movies: Evil Under the Sun (1982) and Appointment With Death (1988); as well as three television movies: Thirteen at Dinner (1985), Murder in Three Acts, Dead Man's Folly (both 1986).
Beyond his work in films, Ustinov was justifiably praised for his humanitarian work - most notably as the unpaid, goodwill ambassador for United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). Since 1968, he had traveled to all corners of the globe: China, Russia, Myanmar, Cambodia, Kenya, Egypt, Thailand and numerous other countries to promote and host many benefit concerts for the agency.
Ustinov, who in 1990 earned a knighthood for his artistic and humanitarian contributions, is survived by his wife of 32 years, Hélène du Lau d'Allemans; three daughters, Tamara, Pavla, Andrea; and a son, Igor.
by Michael T. Toole
Quotes
Trivia
Miscellaneous Notes
Released in United States Summer June 1981
Re-released in United States on Video March 24, 1995
Released in United States Summer June 1981
Re-released in United States on Video March 24, 1995