Movies - TV
Michael Caine Had Already Worked With Miss Piggy Before The Muppet Christmas Carol
By MATT RAINIS
“The Muppet Christmas Carol” brought together two clashing styles: the serious, dramatic performance of Michael Caine and the wacky antics of Kermit and his Muppet crew. These contradictory approaches combined make the film one of the greatest adaptations of the story, and while Caine may seem out of place with the Muppets, this isn’t the first time they’ve worked together.
The actor shared, “There was one extraordinary thing: I was directed in one of my favorite movies, called ‘Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,’ by Miss Piggy! Miss Piggy, also known as Frank Oz, directed ‘Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.’” Besides being a successful director, Oz is also the performer behind many of the Muppets, including Miss
Piggy and Fozzie Bear.
But Caine explained Oz wasn’t his only link to the Muppets: “I come from South London where Charlie Chaplin, whom I knew, is from. And the Muppets now have the Charlie Chaplin studio. It’s very weird. Full circle for me.” In 2000 Jim Henson’s children bought Charlie Chaplin Studios and turned it into the home of The Jim Henson Company.