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<body background="http://a1148.g.akamaitech.net/7/1148/24/7cbad2e6544af0/disney.go.com/disneyvideos/MuppetTreasure/images/mtibk.jpg" bgcolor="#EAEAEA" vlink="#061244" text="#391001" link="#9D0306" alink="#FF0000"><table border=0 width=600 cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0><tr><td width=470 valign=top> <CENTER>  <br>   <a href="/DisneyVideos/MuppetTreasure/maps/muppetnav.map"><img src="http://a1148.g.akamaitech.net/7/1148/24/3538294fd0bf25/disney.go.com/disneyvideos/MuppetTreasure/images/butbar/butaboutC.gif" alt="storybut.gif" ismap="ismap" border="0"></A>  </CENTER>  <P ALIGN=CENTER> <BR> <a href="thecast.html">The Cast</A> | <a href="filmmakers.html">The Filmmakers</A> | <a href="puppeteers.html">The Puppeteers</A> | <a href="production.html">About The Production</A> | <a href="credits.html">Credits</A> </P><P> <P ALIGN=CENTER> <img src="http://a1148.g.akamaitech.net/7/1148/24/8abcda2166d7d5/disney.go.com/disneyvideos/MuppetTreasure/images/aboutmtic.gif" width="255" alt="[big picture]" height="350" border="0"> </P> <P> <P ALIGN=CENTER> <img src="http://a1148.g.akamaitech.net/7/1148/24/56be767e9b11ab/disney.go.com/disneyvideos/MuppetTreasure/images/introductionc.gif" width="375" alt="[introduction]" height="40" border="0"> </P> <P> <img src="http://a1148.g.akamaitech.net/7/1148/24/e6f83ecc8ede06/disney.go.com/disneyvideos/MuppetTreasure/images/muppettreasc.gif" width="263" alt="[MUPPET TREASURE ISLAND]" height="20" border="0"> <BR> Muppet Treasure Island is a follow-up to the hugely successful THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL and, like its predecessor, is very, very loosely based on a great classic tale -- in this case, the novel by Robert Louis Stevenson. <P> It is a story of bravery and mutiny, of friendships that endure against all odds and of the deep love for a reticent frog that has driven a jungle Queen into the arms of pirates and cut-throats. Like all good stories, it is unpredictable, exciting, and proves that good will always triumph over evil. <P> Set in the eighteenth century, when pirates roamed the seas and their plunder was hidden deep in the ground for safekeeping, the story begins with the discovery of Captain Flint's treasure map in the seedy Benbow Inn. It takes us on an adventure across the ocean to a lone island in search of that treasure. <P> For our heroes, Jim Hawkins, Gonzo, and Rizzo, the journey on board the Hispaniola starts as a dream come true, but turns into a hideous nightmare. <P> Tim Curry stars as the one-legged Long John Silver, who persuades the innocent Jim Hawkins, played by 14-year-old Kevin Bishop, to be his friend. Billy Connolly plays Billy Bones, whose endless stories go unheeded by the tyrannical inn-keeper, Mrs. Bluveridge, played by Jennifer Saunders. <P> "I had a great time doing this movie," says Kermit the Frog. "I play Captain Abraham Smollett - a dashing heroic sea captain who must defend his good ship and crew from a band of treasure-hungry pirates. I try to play him the way Robert Louis Stevenson wrote him in his book, only I haven't found any mention that Smollett was a frog - so that's the one liberty I've taken with my portrayal. It was the first real action adventure epic that I've ever been in and I didn't realize how many of my own stunts I would have to do - apparently it was tough to find a three-foot tall, green stunt performer." <P> Miss Piggy plays Benjamina Gunn, the leopard-skin-clad jungle goddess. <P> "Moi's character is complex," explains the divine Miss P. "Benjamina Gunn is a beautiful -- correction -- devastatingly beautiful pig who has been marooned on the island where those pirate persons look for treasure. Although moi's screen time is far below that of your average superstar, moi makes every minute count. <P> "I suppose moi's favorite scene is my dramatic moment with moi's beloved Kermie, where we are alone together, dangling off a cliff, in perilous danger and we look into each others eyes and draw the strength to survive ...(sniff). Excuse me, moi thinks I'm going to cry. The movie is going to be wonderful... there would have been only one way to make it better -- three words -- MORE OF MOI!" <P> The real Muppet stars of the movie, however, are Gonzo and Rizzo the Rat. As Rizzo explains: "Gonzo and I play Jim Hawkins' pals, Gonzo and Rizzo. It was a stretch for us, but I think we did a pretty good job of not slipping out of character." <P> He has words of high praise, too, for his human colleagues: "I evaluate co-stars on the basis of how many times they step on my tail. So I'd have to say, since there wasn't a single tail-stepper in the bunch, that these are the best actors I've ever worked with." <P> Over 400 Muppets, alongside more humans than have ever before featured in a Muppet movie, star in this sea-going adventure. All the old favorites are here, and a lot of new ones. <P> "I would say that the three pirates - Polly the Lobster, Clueless Morgan, and Mad Monty - will steal the show!" explains director Brian Henson. "Clueless was a real surprise. He was originally a small part but ended up one of the best characters in the movie. Of course, we have Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, and Rizzo in starring roles, and we have found parts for all the others <P> Brian Henson is here directing his second feature film, following his critically acclaimed debut on THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL. <P> "Brian is a terrific director," claims Kermit. "He helped me bring some great nuances to my performance ... Actually, he started by teaching me the word 'nuance'." <P> Miss Piggy is even more effusive. "It's a pleasure to work with a director as talented as Brian. Not once did he ever, ever, ever photograph moi's bad side. Actually, I don't believe moi has a bad side." <P> The film was shot over 14 weeks at Shepperton Studios, outside London, on seven stages. The elaborate sets included a complete port with an 18-ton boat which rocked and pitched on a computer-driven gimble, an inn, with interiors and exteriors, a 40-foot beach with palm trees and 200,000 gallons of water lapping on its shores, a mountainous jungle clearing, and various detailed sets of boat interiors. <P> Most of the key crew from THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL were involved. Brian Henson directed and produced, Martin G. Baker produced, John Fenner was director of photography, Val Strazovec was production designer, Jerry Juhl wrote the script, Michael Jablow was the editor, and Polly Smith was the costume designer. Marc Zesotek was project supervisor for the Muppet Workshop and Kevin Clash Muppet co-ordinator. Tom Smith was responsible for all the visual effects. <P> Writers of a hundred hits, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil were the song composers, and Hans Zimmer wrote the score. <P> <HR> <P> <P ALIGN=CENTER> <a href="thecast.html">The Cast</A> | <a href="filmmakers.html">The Filmmakers</A> | <a href="puppeteers.html">The Puppeteers</A> | <a href="production.html">About The Production</A> | <a href="credits.html">Credits</A> </P> <CENTER> <a href="/DisneyVideos/MuppetTreasure/maps/muppetnav.map"><img src="http://a1148.g.akamaitech.net/7/1148/24/3538294fd0bf25/disney.go.com/disneyvideos/MuppetTreasure/images/butbar/butaboutC.gif" alt="storybut.gif" ismap="ismap" border="0"></A>  <P> <br> </CENTER> <FONT SIZE="-2"> <P ALIGN=CENTER> <BR> <FONT SIZE="-2">(c) Disney. All rights reserved. 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