Frank Oz Movies
Born in Hereford, England, Frank Oz (born Frank Oznowicz) graduated from California's Oakland City College during 1962 and joined the humans behind Jim Henson's fledgling Muppet group as a puppeteer the following year. He was part of the first-season cast of Saturday Night Live as the Mighty Favag and appeared in The Blues Brothers with John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd. After The Muppet Show went on the air in 1976, Oz became vice president of the Henson organization, and was responsible for the portrayals of Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, and Animal, among other characters, earning three Emmy Awards for his work on the show. He later served as a producer for The Great Muppet Caper (1980), directed by Henson, with whom he co-directed The Dark Crystal a year later. He later directed The Muppets Take Manhattan in 1984. Two years later, with Henson in the director's chair, Oz was one of the voices in Labyrinth. Moving outside of Henson's orbit, Oz directed the screen version of the musical Little Shop of Horrors (1986), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988), What About Bob? (1991), and the Kevin Kline vehicle In & Out (1997). He also served as the voice of Yoda in five Star Wars movies: The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: Episode I -- The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones, and Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith. ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide
- 2002
- Add It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie to QueueAdd It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie to top of Queue
What would life amongst the Muppets have been without their unofficial leader Kermit the Frog? That's the question posed by this made-for-TV confection, which not only spoofs the Yuletide classic It's a Wonderful Life, but also takes satirical aim at such pop cultural phenomena as Moulin Rouge and Fear Factor. The plot is set in motion when typically evil banker Rachel Bitterman (Joan Cusack) forecloses on the Muppets' famous variety theater, with the intention of building a gaudy nightclub. But Bitterman's machinations take a back seat when apprentice guardian angel, Daniel (David Arquette), shows Kermit (voiced by Steve Whitmire) what conditions would have been had Kermit never existed. Without going into full detail, suffice to say that a Kermit-less world would have found Miss Piggy (voiced by Frank Oz) running a fraudulent psychic hot line, Fozzie Bear as a homeless derelict, and Sam the Eagle as a caged dancer at a rave. Decked out with cameo appearances by everyone from Whoopi Goldberg to the cast of the TV series Scrubs, It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie debuted over NBC on November 29, 2002. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Steve Whitmire, Frank Oz, (more)
- 2000
- Add Sesame Street: Let's Make Music to QueueAdd Sesame Street: Let's Make Music to top of Queue
Telly, Elmo, Oscar, and the rest of the Sesame Street crew learn about rhythm and how to make music from everyday objects from the cast of the Broadway show Stomp. When Telly misplaces his beloved tuba, he thinks he'll never play music again. But performers Alan Muraoka, Luke Cresswell, and the rest of the cast teach Telly the many possible ways to make music. Amazing percussion performances in this video will entertain children of all ages. ~ Heather M. Fierst, All Movie Guide
- 1990
This characters from Sesame Street teach children the basic skills needed to begin reading. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1987
In this holiday special for the whole family, Fozzie Bear's mother has invited him and all of his friends out to her house in the country to celebrate Christmas. Kermit the Frog, Big Bird, Bert and Ernie, Rowlf the Dog, Dr. Honeydew, Grover, and all the other Muppets gather to sing songs and share the warmth of the holiday, but soon the big question becomes "when will Miss Piggy make her entrance?" Muppet Family Christmas also features a brief onscreen cameo from Muppets creator Jim Henson. Approximately five minutes were cut for the VHS and DVD releases, mostly due to rights issues over the music. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jim Henson, Frank Oz, (more)
- 1985
Take this guided tour with Gonzo through his mansion, but be careful! He catches a cannonball and wrestles a brick, blindfolded in this entertaining story. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1985
Rock to the sounds of the Muppets and their special musical guests as they perform titles such as "Rock Around the Clock," "Call Me," "Rainbow Connection" and "Disco Frog." ~ All Movie Guide
- 1985
Made for video, The Kermit & Piggy Story charts the course of America's most unlikely romantic couple. Breathes there anyone within reach of a TV who doesn't know all about Kermit The Frog and Miss Piggy, stars of TV's The Muppet Show and any number of theatrical-movie sequels? Within its 57 minutes, this video details the divine Miss Piggy's rise from the ranks of the Muppet chorus and the metamorphosis of Kermit from the shapeless "creature" of the earliest Muppet TV appearances to his full amphibian glory. Guest stars Cheryl Ladd, Tony Randall, Loretta Swit and Raquel Welch enliven the proceedings. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1985
Kermit and Fozzie find treasure in the lost episodes that include cooking lessons with a Swedish Chef and episodes from "Pigs in Space" and "Veterinarian's Hospital." ~ All Movie Guide
- 1985
Join in the fun with Kermit and Fozzie Bear when they tell of their favorite moments from "The Muppet Show." ~ All Movie Guide
- 1985
Join in the fun with classic moments from "Veterinarian's Hospital" and "Pigs in Space" and all were found while Kermit and Fozzie did their spring cleaning! ~ All Movie Guide
- 1985
This entertaining video features Fozzie Bear and his scrapbook. Find out why he is the first bear of comedy! ~ All Movie Guide
- 1985
Children's Songs & Stories with the Muppets was culled from some of the best moments of the popular syndicated TV weekly The Muppet Show. Most of the sketches spotlight the star Muppets Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear et. al. There are few of the series' celebrity guests, an omission evidently made to avoid residual costs. The best moment is an all-infant band bursting forth with a rendition of "Tuxedo Junction". This 56-minute compilation can generally be found in the "Family Viewing" section of your local video store, and rightly so; like all of the best Muppet material, the tape transcends age boundaries and can be enjoyed with equal fervor by both children and adults. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1985
This musical video features piano playing canine Muppet Rowlf performing his favorite country music. This collection comes from The Muppet Show. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1984
A wonderful collection of Muppet specials like "Country Music With The Muppets," "Muppet Weird Stuff" and "Muppet Treasures." ~ All Movie Guide
The Great Muppet Caper is the second Muppet film and it is considerably more complex than its predecessor, The Muppet Movie, which was essentially just a road movie. As the film begins, Kermit the Frog and Fozzie Bear are reporters who have failed to bag a story of a London jewel heist, which happened under their watch. The real criminals managed to escape and frame Miss Piggy as the thief. Kermit, Fozzie and the Great Gonzo set out on a mission to solve the mystery and track down the criminals who stole the Baseball Diamond. There are fewer star cameos and songs in The Great Muppet Caper than in The Muppet Movie, although appearances from John Cleese and Charles Grodin are particularly memorable. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Charles Grodin, Diana Rigg, (more)
Expanding on their Saturday Night Live characters, John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd star as Jake and Elwood Blues, two white boys with black soul. Sporting cool shades and look-alike suits, Jake and Elwood are dispatched on a "mission from God" by their former teacher, Sister Mary Stigmata (Kathleen Freeman). Said mission is to raise $5000 to save an orphanage. In the course of their zany adventures, the Blues Brothers run afoul of neo-Nazi Henry Gibson, perform the theme from Rawhide before the most unruly bar crowd in written history, and lay waste to hundreds of cars on the streets and freeways of Chicago. In case you aren't swept up in the infectuous nuttiness of the brothers Blue, you might have fun spotting film's legion of guest stars, including James Brown, Cab Calloway, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, John Candy, Carrie Fisher, Steve Lawrence, Twiggy, Paul Reubens (aka Pee-Wee Herman), Frank Oz, and Steven Spielberg. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, (more)
- 1977
- Add Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas to QueueAdd Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas to top of Queue
Featuring a heart-warming story, the trademark Jim Henson wit, and beautiful songs, Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas originally aired as an HBO special. The story is a spin on the classic "Gift of the Magi," with the impoverished Emmet and his Ma each making a sacrifice in the hopes that it will help them win the yearly talent show, and enough money to buy the other a Christmas gift. Purists, take note: There have been multiple edits of Emmet Otter released over the years, with minor but noticible changes to dialogue, and the addition/removal of scenes featuring Kermit the Frog. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jerry Nelson, Marilyn Sokol, (more)
- 1972
The Muppets' adaptation of the classic fairy tale finds Kermit the Frog narrating the story of several animals who form a jazz group and seek independence from their master. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide
- 1972
Featuring Kermit the Frog and all his Muppet pals, this is a sharp and funny retelling of the classic tale of an enchanted prince who is saved by a princess able to look beyond mere appearances. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1970
Hey Cinderella! was one of several Muppets TV specials taped in Canada during the 1970s. In their own irreverent fashion, Jim Henson's cloth-and-foam creations retell the Cinderella yarn. The script keeps enough of the traditional story to please the kids, while still containing plenty of contemporary references to amuse the grownups. Kermit the Frog introduces the tale, doubling in the role of Cinderella's coachman, while the villainy is provided by a purple monstrosity called the Splurge. Though the budget was obviously tight, the production values maintain the veneer of lavishness throughout. The 54-minute Hey, Cinderella has since 1970 become a fixture of such cable services as Nickelodeon and Disney. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
This nutty British comedy observes with jet-black humor the myriad outrageous calamities that befall an eccentric English clan with more than a few skeletons in its closets when its patriarch dies an unexpected death. Soon, every complication imaginable -- including the wrong corpse in the coffin, the accidental consumption of hallucinogenic drugs, and the disclosure of the deceased's closeted homosexuality -- befall the grief-stricken mourners. The funeral commences at the family estate, with the arrival of younger son Daniel (Matthew MacFadyen), who has long felt uncomfortable around his cocky, licentious novelist brother, Robert (Rupert Graves) -- and thus dreads seeing him. Meanwhile, Daniel is also struggling to adhere to promises he's made to his wife (Keeley Hawes). Also arriving at the house are cousin Martha (Daisy Donovan) and her intended, Simon (Alan Tudyk), who embarrasses just about everybody, including himself, by accidentally consuming a strange drug that inflicts him with wild delusions and gives him an uncontrollable penchant for exhibitionism. But the event that truly turns the family members onto their ears is the arrival of a dwarf (Peter Dinklage) who speaks openly of the patriarch's secret passions, which included dressing up in a kinky gladiator outfit and watching young men skinny-dip. Frank Oz (In & Out, Bowfinger) helmed the film, while Dean Craig authored the script. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Matthew MacFadyen, Keeley Hawes, (more)
Three generations of method acting giants unite for this crime thriller written by Kario Salem and directed by Frank Oz. Robert De Niro stars as Nick Wells, an aging thief whose specialty is safecracking and who is on the verge of retiring to a life of ease, running his jazz club and romancing his girlfriend Diane (Angela Bassett). But before he can ride off into the sunset, Nick is pressured to do one last job by his mentor and business partner, a flamboyant and extravagant upscale fence named Max (Marlon Brando). Max is plotting the heist of the Montreal Customs House, and he's got a man on the inside, Jackie Teller (Edward Norton), a talented but volatile crook who has managed to ingratiate himself with the facility's staff as a fellow employee suffering from cerebral palsy. Jackie bristles at Nick's interference in "his" score, however, and threatens violence when it seems he's going to be cut out of the action. In the meantime, Nick grows increasingly ill at ease about the operation, as it violates his two most important dictums in thievery: always work alone and never pull a job in your own city. The part of Max in The Score was written specifically for Brando by screenwriter Salem, although the improvisational star and his director Oz reportedly clashed during filming. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert De Niro, Edward Norton, (more)
An uneven but entertaining blend of graphic horror and black comedy from John Landis, very much in the mode of the director's successful An American Werewolf in London. French actress Anne Parillaud -- star of Luc Besson's acclaimed thriller La Femme Nikita -- plays Marie, a lithe and lovely vampire with a conscience who will not take "innocent blood" and maintains a low profile by dining exclusively on criminals and lowlifes. She finds a virtual smorgasbord in Pittsburgh's criminal underworld, arriving in the thick of a bloody mob war sparked by ruthless kingpin Sal Macelli (Robert Loggia). After preying on one of Macelli's hoods (Chazz Palminteri), Marie fumbles her attack on the boss himself and he manages to escape, eventually transforming into a vampire himself. Macelli soon comes to appreciate his new superhuman condition and hatches a diabolical scheme to control the syndicates by turning his underlings into vampires -- including his beleaguered lawyer, Emmanuel Bergman (Don Rickles). Marie, faced with a new and powerful undead enemy, is forced to take matters into her own claws. To this end she enlists the reluctant aid (and eventual affection) of undercover cop Joe Gennaro (Anthony LaPaglia), whose cover has just been leaked to the press, making him a target for Macelli and his growing army of blood drinkers. Landis has crafted a dark and brooding film, pumped up with bouts of extreme gore and gangland violence -- but where American Werewolf's occasional comic touches helped to ground the story and give the "straight" horror scenes more punch, most attempts at humor here seem jarring and out of place. The film's highlights come from numerous horror in-jokes, including cameos from Sam Raimi, Clive Barker, Dario Argento and Linnea Quigley; Rickles' explosive death scene ranks among the weirdest in cinema history. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Anne Parillaud, Robert Loggia, (more)
The "nature-nurture" theory that motivated so many Three Stooges comedies is the basis of John Landis's hit comedy. The fabulously wealthy but morally bankrupt Duke brothers (Ralph Bellamy and Don Ameche) make a one-dollar bet over heredity vs. environment. Curious as to what might happen if different lifestyles were reversed, they arrange for impoverished street hustler Billy Ray Valentine (Eddie Murphy) to be placed in the lap of luxury and trained for a cushy career in commodities brokerage. Simultaneously, they set about to reduce aristocratic yuppie Louis Winthorpe III (Dan Aykroyd to poverty and disgrace, hiring a prostitute (Jamie Lee Curtis) to hasten his downfall. When Billy Ray figures out that the brothers intend to dump him back on the streets once their experiment is complete, he seeks out Winthorpe, and together the pauper-turned-prince and prince-turned-pauper plot an uproarious revenge. With the good-hearted prostitute and Winthorpe's faithful butler (Denholm Elliott) as their accomplices, they set about to hit the brothers where it really hurts: in the pocketbook. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Eddie Murphy, Dan Aykroyd, (more)
