The Muppet Movie (1979) movie review - Sneak Previews with Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel

[@718alterego]

This was the very first movie I ever saw at a theater. I remember being just amazed at its exuberance. It was pouring rain when we walked into the theater in New Windsor, NY, and when we walked out it was a beautiful sunny day,. The change in weather seemed so fitting to the movie.

[@kathyastrom1315]

As someone born in 1966, I appreciate Gene pointing out the utter lack of family/kids films in the 1970s. There was the occasional (mediocre) Disney film, there was Benji, there was the occasional import like Pippi Longstocking, and the rare classic like Willy Wonka.

[@snarkus63]

I was born three years earlier...Siskel definitely hit the nail on the 70's....the first movie decade of violence,bloodshed,profanity,nudity,antiheroes and the porn industry.

[@ultrairrelevantnobody1862]

Robin Hood and The Rescuers were good Disney films.

[@Fiveash-Art]

@@ultrairrelevantnobody1862 The Rescuers is great .. but it left me totally traumatized with bad nightmares about Madame Medusa for years after seeing it. It's a creepy ass movie ... I always thought Disney was deliberately trying to mess kids up with those storylines that left characters with no parents by killing them off horribly, orphaned or kidnapped. I was never scared of most horror movies .. but Disney really messed with my head.

[@ianfindly3257]

Yeah, the 70s wasn't exactly a "Golden era" for Disney. What? . . Apple Dumpling Gang, Herbie the Luv Bug, Gus The Mule, Freaky Friday, . . less than classic stuff. I know about all THAT crud because I was a pre-adolescent THEN and basically wasn't allowed to see any movie unless it was rated G! The ONLY one I kind of like is Pete's Dragon (in fact, I've always even perceived THAT flick as having influenced E.T. a little bit). Willy Wonka was GREAT (still adore THAT as an adult) and sometimes there were some other pretty cool WIERD TRIPPY kiddie flicks (Like The Adventures of Raggedy Ann and Andy for example). And The Rescuers I always had the notion was one of those OLDER movies that was RE-RELEASED theatrically (Disney did THAT a lot I remember). Didn't know it was MADE in the 70s.

[@AlanCanon2222]

Escape to Witch Mountain was pretty good.

[@mrnocal]

I'm 53 and still love The Muppet Movie. If they had more than 5 Oscar nominations for Best Picture at the time I believe it would've been nominated. Great movie for all ages, as Siskel & Ebert said.

[@bareknuckles2u]

Gene: "I said how did they do it, and I didn't want to know!" Exactly! I never want to know how some of the effects are done in my favourite movies.

[@hankthetank8039]

Specifically, how they’re made by the makers of the Muppets. The Muppets seem so alive and charismatic that at times when something they do seems to defy the physics of puppetry or reality, you don’t question it, because they’re The Muppets, and the Muppets are as close to reality as any practically-created characters can get. It’s like when Jim Henson brought out Kermit on the talk shows, you can literally see Henson controlling Kermit, but you don’t focus on him at all because Kermit is so fantastically alive and individualistic.

[@tyrannosaurusburke]

Seeing these clips really makes me miss Jim Henson's voice as Kermit the Frog.

[@kev7161]

"Hey sailor, buy me a drink." "I'm not a sailor, I'm a frog." "Ah, cut the small talk and buy me a drink." "Hey, you movin' in on my gal?" "Uh, no." "Yes, he is. He touched me." "Ick, go wash. You'll get warts." "No, that's just a myth." "Yeah, but she's my miss." "No, myth, myth!" "Yeth?" (or something like that!)

[@misterquantum7767]

This one is just delightful. "Would you like smell the bottle cap?" - Steve Martin

[@MrBoyYankee]

LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS MOVIE Its turning 40 this year.

[@scottmoore1614]

One of my all time favorites. I’ve got the movie and the soundtrack. Great music!

[@thebeeshow6496]

Wow, this was before the thumbs!

[@sha11235]

This film celebrates its 40th anniversary this summer and it coming back into theaters. If you haven't seen it, see it there as I did as a kid with my dad, who will be dead 25 years in two days from writing this (July 23).

[@calvinnigh5489]

I hope the movie brings you joy and peace my friend.

[@JustWasted3HoursHere]

The entire soundtrack for The Muppet Movie was written by Paul Williams (including the eternal "Rainbow Song"). Great job, Paul!

[@AlanCanon2222]

I had it on 8 track, it was part of the gift of a stereo from mom and dad, for Christmas.

[@JustWasted3HoursHere]

@@AlanCanon2222 Ah, 8 track. That was a few years before my time, though my dad had a truck with an 8 track in it. Have you ever seen this interview of Paul Williams where he talks about writing The Rainbow Connection? It's pretty cool: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oZKVdYeBn9eepMU The story about how Jim Henson got Kermit's voice just right when they were recording it for the movie is excellent.

[@AlanCanon2222]

@@JustWasted3HoursHere 8 tracks were already mostly obsolete, it's just that the combo stereo could play them so mom and dad got one each for my sister and I: my sister got the Village People's Live and Sleazy!

[@andrewattenboroughtwothumb4697]

I remember seeing this movie on vhs classic comedy kids fantasy movie and by Jim Henson and now on blu ray and great classic review

[@eargasm1072]

The best cameo in the film is at the end with Orson Welles lol great movie

[@scottmoore1614]

Agreed...and the Muppet Movie had a lot of great cameos.

[@Jbaxter85]

Muppet movie is pure joyful entertainment with lot of likable songs & few laughs. I love how the Muppets come & work together to make their dreams come true & chemistry between Kermit & Piggy were sweet. I highly recommended it. I love it. 👍👍👍👍

[@Bart848]

I still love the muppet movie

[@michaelorick2197]

Me too

[@phillyflash43]

S&E were so much better on PBS (as they are here) where they had more time for each review.

[@bigbagoforanges]

IS NO ONE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE VERY GOOD BOI BEHIND ROGER???

[@footofjuniper8212]

IZ IZ PUPPUM PUPS WIT DA BIG EARZ ON DA BABY PUP-PUPS!

[@robbiefarabee6954]

I’ve been noticing the dog in some of their Sneak Previews reviews. I was curious if it’s Roger’s dog and how come the dog is just hiding in the background.

[@alexlella8771]

@@robbiefarabee6954 That was actually the "dog of the week". Every week, they would talk about one really awful movie and introduce it with that dog. By the way, when they moved to At the movies, they replaced it with a "stinker of the week" and introduced it with a live skunk. Eventually, the whole thing was discontinued altogether.

[@itiswhatitaintanditaintwha1427]

It was a masterpiece!

[@noahmosher6543]

What's green and smells like pork?

[@michaelperkowski641]

I like the Muppets this movie pure joy to watch.

[@cliffordshafran9250]

Miss Piggy is one pig that can definitely take care of herself! Such an immensely adorable movie for kids and adults!

[@patrickshields5251]

Oh absolutely. This a a film that families should see.

[@alcd6333]

6:35 - they both disliked "The Amityville Horror." They were right, it's pretty bad but it was very successful at the box office.

[@gravityrushfan299]

Ebert and siskel are really ernie and bert.

[@vincenzoridente9994]

I remember seeing this in the movies with my brother and sister when I was 7 years old my father took us

[@scottmoore1614]

Saw it with my dad when I was about 9. We both loved the Muppets.

[@patrickmichaellangan576]

Yes Gene and Roger, the Muppet Movie is a classic!

[@movieman104]

rgwt make a new muppet movie or a bio film on jim henson or both

[@jorgezarco9269]

Jamie Gillis worked on that film? Oh, wait. That's Elliot Gould from M*A*S*H(1970).

[@jamiemurray4129]

Was an "adult" in 79. Enjoy it more today.

[@tomloft2000]

@3:30-that's an old Johnny Carson bit.

[@KevyNova]

I want to know about that dog behind Roger at the end!

[@fredcasdensworld]

If I remember right, I think the dog was brought in from time to time when they were going to talk about films they were going to say just how bad they were. It was like a last minute filler segment normally after the 'final' big review of an episode.

[@WillCWilson]

That was for at the end of the episode, when they'd talk about the "dogs of the week", the worst films of the week the episode was taking place.

[@lambjack1]

Movie house on Merrick Road in Lynbrook. I was 8. Perfect timing.

[@DS8379]

Muppet Movie is the BEST! One of my absolute favorites

[@mikesilva3868]

Same here 😊

[@rl1800]

Saw it at Center Mayfield, Cleveland Heights, Ohio. Great flick.

[@jamessmithe5490]

They forgot to mention the classic song, Rainbow Connection.

[@brianschwartz1372]

They didn’t want to give everything away.

[@shawnattwells5355]

Rule one in a Muppet Movie - no bacon jokes. 😆

[@Swybryd-Nation]

Voltage does not “course through” current does. Voltage is measured across two terminals.

[@curtisburga943]

Thanks for the explanation, Irving.

[@mikesilva3868]

😎love this movie

[@maxxxmodelz4061]

This movie was two years after Star Wars, yet people were still amazed that a muppet could ride a bike. hahaha How times have changed.

[@scottmoore1614]

I was certainly amazed by it.

[@discoking1008]

No one is gonna mention the dog?!

[@sha11235]

They showed the scary eyes???????

[@thetreasurehouse1742]

I saw it in 1979. Great film then and now.

[@MS-rg6ku]

Laughed when I saw he has his dog there

[@sammykewlguy]

This movie came out 10 days after I was born!

[@bovnycccoperalover3579]

Great picture for kids of all ages!😂

[@urbanwarrior3470]

Weird in hindsight that they didn't mention Charles Durning in that

[@dreamquesttv]

They also reviewed North Dallas Forty on this episode, which Durning was also in. That dude did a lot of stuff!

[@williamhowe1]

You'd have to be the most heartless bastard to hate this movie. Luckily I love this movie.

[@itsRabbitSeasonYo]

I wonder if that dog is still around

[@jasonsmith8300]

this was before two thumbs up

[@williamhowe1]

It not easy being green...

[@suzycreamcheesez4371]

its not easy being green

[@MattLovesVinyl]

According to Disney, giving The Muppet Movie two thumbs up means Siskel & Ebert are offensive racists or something.

[@movieman104]

great muppet fm i say top r takes man hatten first one treasure island 4most wanted 5 muppet caper

[@smellygoatacres]

Shame the Muppet's got woke.

[@coryallan683]

Ah man. I was 12 years old when this happened in our movie universe. I'm pretty sure it's the biggest so fucking what.

[@jbrisby]

Sneak Previews totally ripped off the theme to Max the 2000 Year Old Mouse.