MovieChat Forums > The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) Discussion > Brian Henson defends When Love is Gone.

Brian Henson defends When Love is Gone.


http://uproxx.com/movies/brian-henson-interview/2/

UPROXX: The music in this movie is some of the best in any Muppet production. Do you have any insight into what the two cut musical numbers, “Room in Your Heart” and “Chairman of the Board,” what they would’ve looked like had they been filmed?

BRIAN HENSON: Oh, no. I shot them both.

UPROXX: Oh, you did?

BRIAN HENSON: Wait. “Room in Your Heart,” I did not shoot that one. I did shoot “Chairman of the Board.” Of course, “When Love is Gone” was not in the theatrical release, and is presently missing, which is a real shame. It was on the video release.

UPROXX: It’s not on my DVD, though. I was very sad to discover that.

BRIAN HENSON: I just remastered the film. I remastered it a couple of years ago, and Disney has lost the film.

UPROXX: Oh, no!

BRIAN HENSON: Yeah, I know. I think they will find it because I keep reminding them, “You’ve got to go find it."

reply

That's pretty interesting, yet sad that Disney lost the footage. It's a wonder why it's never in the existing prints, let alone the fact that the only version we'll ever watch is the theatrical version. Not saying that's a bad thing, though.

reply

I don't know where this lie, YES LIE, came about that the song was not in the first theatrical release. I SAW IT in the film in 1992 when it was in original release. It actually impressed me that the film went deep into how much Scrooge lost when he turned from Belle.

Then when it came out in home video, I couldn't understand where the scene had gone. It felt as if I hallucinated it since it was totally erased out of existence.

This scene needs to be back in the film. Anyone who doesn't like it can fast forward. But I think it is essential to the film.

reply

I dont know if I have the best memory of things I saw in the theater when I was a kid, but I thought I saw the song there too. I do remember seeing it on video though. I haven't watched the film in many years so I haven't seen the version where it cuts abruptly. Such a damn shame.

Jim Henson practically worked himself to (literal) death in making the deal with Disney in the year before he died since it was so complicated, and in the past he did radical things like buy The Dark Crystal from the company that was producing it, for 15 million dollars, just so the suits wouldn't take away final cut and change the film. Disney couldn't wait to get its hands on the Muppets, but Jeffrey Katzenberg was an *beep* (Henson couldn't even talk to him because he was so abrasive, he only dealt with Eisner). That said I don't believe Disney "lost" the footage.



iTunes podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-wages-of-cinema/id977881387?mt=2/

reply

Katzenberg was a little mealy mouth swinging his little thing around pushing to chop up a holiday film. And the muppets were always more geared toward adults than children.

I don't think they lost the footage either. I think they buried for spite since people keep asking them about it.

reply