8mm Forum: The Muppet Movie. 600ft Colour Sound.Walton

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Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on July 11, 2017, 03:57 PM:

I think this is a great little film and this version is the 400ft version with Walton's last ever release The 200ft version spliced in. I grew up with Sesame street and loved the Sunday afternoon Muppet shows on telly, this film is a great bit of nostalgia and my own Children grew up with the muppets to.
The print is very good with no fade at all, the 200ft which fits in perfectly and clears up the story-line is very good but more grainy than the 400 but this by no means spoils it at all. The focus, sound volume and frame line all match perfectly, very unusual, i think i may have just been very lucky with this.
Here is the storyline edited to this 600ft version.
Kermit the Frog is relaxing in a Florida swamp, strumming his banjo and singing "The Rainbow Connection", when he is approached by Bernie, a Hollywood agent who encourages Kermit to pursue a career in show business. Inspired by the idea of "making millions of people happy", Kermit sets off on a cross-country trip to Los Angeles,
Meeting Fozzie Bear, who works as a hapless comedian in the El Sleezo Cafe, The two set out in a 1951 Studebaker after they are chased out of the bar. The duo’s journey includes misadventures which introduce them to a variety of eccentric human and Muppet characters, including Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhemand their manager Scooter, who receives a copy of the script from the pair (one of a number of self-references) at an old Presbyterian church; Gonzo, who works as a plumber, and his girlfriend Camilla the Chicken; Sweetums, who runs after them after they mistakenly think that he has turned them down at a used car lot; and the immediately love-stricken Miss Piggy at a fair.
While Kermit and Miss Piggy form a relationship, scientist Professor Krassman, (Mel Brooks), decides to brainwash Kermit in an attempt to force Kermit to perform in Doc’s commercials until an infuriated Miss Piggy knocks out Doc Hopper's henchmen and causes the scientist to be brainwashed by his own device.
During a campfire that night, the group sadly considers that they may miss the audition tomorrow, and Kermit wanders off, ashamed of himself for seemingly bringing his friends on a fruitless journey. Upon consulting a more optimistic vision of himself, Kermit remembers that it was not just his friends' belief in the dream that brought them this far, but also his own faith in himself. Reinvigorated, he returns to camp to find that the Electric Mayhem and Scooter have read the script in advance, and arrived to help them the rest of the way.
Just as it seems they are finally on their way, the group is warned by Max that Doc Hopper has hired an assassin named Snake Walker to kill Kermit. Kermit decides he will not be hunted down by a bully any longer and proposes a Western-style showdown in a nearby ghost town occupied by Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and his assistant Beaker, who invent materials that have yet to be tested. While confronting Hopper, Kermit explains his motivations, attempting to appeal to Hopper’s own hopes and dreams, but Hopper is unmoved and orders his henchmen to kill him and all his friends. They are saved only when one of Dr. Bunsen's inventions, "insta-grow" pills, temporarily turns Animal into a giant, causing Hopper and his men to flee.
The Muppet's proceed to Hollywood, & are hired by producer and studio executive Lew Lord, (Orson Wells),
The Muppet's attempt to make their first movie involving a surreal pastiche of their experiences. a rainbow shines through the into the studio right onto the Muppet's. The Muppet's, joined by the characters from The Muppet Show, Sesame Street, Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas, and the "Land of Gorch" segment of Saturday Night Live, sing the final verses of "The Rainbow Connection".
As the screening ends,

Posted by Bill Phelps (Member # 1431) on July 11, 2017, 04:18 PM:

Nice review there Tom. I have the 400' in the nice original case. I have been looking for the other part forever although the 400' has the whole story. From memory I remember that some of the scenes are cut short with out the payoff or ending the gag so to speak so the edits were a little choppy. But my print is great color and a lot of fun! I am glad to see some love for the Muppets. [Smile]

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on July 11, 2017, 04:30 PM:

Thanks Bill, yes you are correct there, although quite well edited there is a little choppiness. Walton did well to include so many of the guest stars in such a short version. I was fortunate to find the 200 extract on here from a fellow collector. I am pleased that they match so well to as quite often you find one or the other reel has fade, fortunately this isn't the case here. [Wink]

Posted by Bill Phelps (Member # 1431) on July 11, 2017, 04:46 PM:

They did cram a lot into the 400' so that is probably why they cut some of the scenes short...the necessary info was there. I wish Steve Martins whole scene as the waiter was there...that one cracks me up every time! [Smile]

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on July 11, 2017, 04:54 PM:

Its so long since i have seen the full film ive forgotten it. Now i think i must have a look. [Wink]

Posted by Alan Rik (Member # 73) on July 11, 2017, 04:56 PM:

I love this film and I love this version. Mine is the same with the 400ft and 200ft together. It is my most played film I think next to Star Wars. Very repeatable and the quality is very good too. Nice review!

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on July 11, 2017, 05:02 PM:

thanks Alan, have to say i have run this one countless times, still hardly a mark on it anywhere. [Wink]

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on July 12, 2017, 12:26 PM:

I kind of doubt it, but does this 400ft (or 200ft), include that whole song "Rainbow Connection"? I always loved that song!

Posted by Brian Fretwell (Member # 4302) on July 12, 2017, 07:00 PM:

I have the 200ft version on Fuji, possibly a later type, it has very good colour, it still has very good maximum black level. I too have always thought it grainy, as Tom says above.

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on July 13, 2017, 06:32 AM:

More toward the end Brian,

Hey Osi, what were you referring to when you said "i doubt it" [Confused]

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on July 13, 2017, 12:03 PM:

the "Rainbow Connection" song at the beginning of the film.

BTW I love that they kept in the film the Orson Welles brief scene in the digest!

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on July 13, 2017, 03:43 PM:

Yes it is a pity the whole song isnt in there but again, the excellent editing is done in a way that you dont hear the edit and it a fair length version of this particular song which i believe did win an award. [Wink]

Posted by Melvin England (Member # 5270) on August 07, 2017, 05:27 AM:

Just to confirm to those of you who do not know, the point in the film where the 200' can be slotted in,in its entirety, is about 75% into the 400' where they have decided to head for Hollywood. The 200'is basically the journey there.

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on August 07, 2017, 08:05 AM:

Thanks melvin. I should have pointed that out. Its good in that you only have two splices rather than lots of bits like the dracula 400 footer.

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