NPR host celebrates his favorite holiday movie

6 hours ago

NPR presenter shares his love for his top holiday film.

I have to admit, one thing that struck me about the new "Nosferatu" film was how hard it was for me to view it seriously. This wasn't due to the movie itself, but rather the sight of characters dressed in top hats and tailcoats, strolling through the tight, dirty cobblestone streets of a 19th-century European town. It kept bringing to mind "The Muppet Christmas Carol" for me.

(SOUND CLIP FROM MOVIE, "THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL")

DAVE GOELZ: (In the role of The Great Gonzo channeling Charles Dickens) I go by the name of Charles Dickens.

STEVE WHITMIRE: (In the voice of Rizzo the Rat) I'm Rizzo the Rat, by the way. Hold on a moment. You're not Charles Dickens!

GOELZ: (Channeling The Great Gonzo in the style of Charles Dickens) So am I.

WHITMIRE: (As Rizzo the Rat) Not a furry, blue version of Charles Dickens who spends time with a rat, right?

DETROW: Throughout this month, we've been hearing the ALL THINGS CONSIDERED team share their top Christmas movie picks. My personal favorite is "The Muppet Christmas Carol." Why do I love it? First of all, there's Gonzo, who takes on the role of Charles Dickens as he tells this lively Muppet version of the story. He manages to weave in a lot of Dickens' original wording while adding his unique flair.

Sure! Could you please provide the text from the blog section that you'd like me to rewrite?

GOELZ: (Channeling The Great Gonzo in the style of Charles Dickens) To start off, the Marleys were no longer among the living.

WHITMIRE: (In the voice of Rizzo the Rat) Excuse me?

GOELZ: (In the voice of The Great Gonzo portraying Charles Dickens) And so it all starts, Rizzo. The Marleys were definitely gone from the very start – as lifeless as a doornail.

DETROW: It's important to note that this was the first Muppet movie produced following Jim Henson's passing. It really reflects the boldness it took to create this film. And then there's Michael Caine playing Ebenezer Scrooge – I could try to imitate him, but we all know it wouldn’t do justice to his performance.

(Sound excerpt from the movie "The Muppet Christmas Carol")

MICHAEL CAINE: (Playing the role of Scrooge) Let's take care of the eviction notices first thing tomorrow, Mr. Cratchit.

WHITMIRE: (In Kermit the Frog's voice as Bob Cratchit) Sir, Christmas is tomorrow!

CAINE: (As Scrooge) Alright then, go ahead and wrap them up nicely.

DETROW: Caine takes on the pivotal role of the human protagonist who finds himself inexplicably accompanied by felt creatures. As many have pointed out on social media during the festive season, the two-time Oscar winner approached the character with great seriousness. Director Brian Henson once shared with The Guardian that Caine informed him, “I’m going to treat this film as if I’m performing with the Royal Shakespeare Company. I won’t wink or do anything that feels too silly.” Additionally, it's worth noting that "A Christmas Carol," in all its forms—from the Muppets to Mickey Mouse and beyond—is truly the quintessential Christmas story, apart from the actual biblical account. I plan to watch it with my family on Christmas Eve, and while I probably won’t be strolling through the streets singing like Caine does...

(Excerpt from the song "Thankful Heart")

CAINE: (Playing Scrooge, singing) Every little girl and boy will be like my nephew and niece.

DETROW: ...I'm hoping it will make me a bit more cheerful and approachable with everyone I meet. That wraps up ALL THINGS CONSIDERED for this Sunday. I appreciate you tuning in. Have a great holiday season, and we'll chat again before long.

(Clip from the song "Thankful Heart")

CAINE: (In character as Scrooge, singing) Each day will begin with a prayer of gratitude and a heart full of thanks.

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