James R | On 09, Dec 2022

It’s hard to believe that it’s been 30 years since The Muppet Christmas Carol was first released – just as it’s hard to believe that there are still people out there in the world today who haven’t yet sampled its warm and fuzzy delights.

The 1992 film sees The Muppets perform the classic Charles Dickens holiday tale, with Michael Caine the sole human among the main ensemble cast. Kermit the Frog plays Bob Cratchit, the put-upon clerk of stingy Ebenezer Scrooge (Michael Caine). Gonzo, as Dickens, narrates the story with the help of Rizzo the Rat. The film also features Miss Piggy as Emily Cratchit, Gonzo as the narrator Charles Dickens, Fozzie Bear as Fozziwig, and Robin the Frog as Tiny Tim. Scrooge receives visits from spirits of three Christmases – past, present and future. They show him the error of his self-serving ways, but the miserable old man seems to be past any hope of redemption and happiness.

With a score by Miles Goodman (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Little Shop of Horrors) and songs by Paul Williams (Rainbow Connection, Evergreen), the film was the first to be produced after the death of Muppets creator Jim Henson and performer Richard Hunt and has become a holiday family favourite – with our own review hailing it as “quite possibly the greatest Christmas movie ever made”.

And yet, even for those who have taken the film to heart, it has been known by most people in its incomplete form: in the original theatrical cut, Disney cut the song When Love is Gone from the movie, which sees Scrooge and the Ghost of Christmas Past visit a younger version of himself (Ray Coulthard) as he talks with his fiancée, Belle (Meredith Braun). While the song was deemed too adult for kids, director Brian Henson reinstated the song for the VHS cut – and yet the film has typically been released on DVD and streaming services in its theatrical cut. Disney+ did add the song as a special feature, but you would have to pause the film at the appropriate point, then exit the movie, open the Extras menu and then go back to the film afterwards.

Now, however, Disney+ has added the full cut to its streaming service. The only downside is that you still need to go the Extras menu to find it – or you can click directly here to start playing it.

Merry Christmas.

"When Love is Gone" is gone no more! 💞 See the beloved song restored within The Muppet Christmas Carol (Full Length Version) found in the Extras section only on @DisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/Cx7dKh2fsk

— The Muppets (@TheMuppets) December 9, 2022

Add to Watchlist