The hilarious link between Michael Caine and Miss Piggy
Throughout his career, Michael Caine seems to have cropped up in all manner of movies, from his early performances in Zulu and The Italian Job to his Academy Award-winning efforts in Hannah and Her Sisters and The Cider House Rules. It’s hard to forget Caine’s equally iconic appearance in one of the best Christmas movies of all time, too, The Muppet Christmas Carol.
The 1992 film is a genuinely timeless festive classic, bringing Charles Dicken’s Christmas tale to life with the help of the legendary Muppets. The musical adaptation sees Caine perform in one of his most memorable roles as Ebenezer Scrooge, and it’s dripping in heartwarming moments and ingenious comedy from Kermit, Miss Piggy, Gonzo and all the other iconic puppets.
Interestingly, though, the relationship that Caine has with the Muppets goes far beyond merely appearing in A Christmas Carol, as the legendary British actor had already been directed by none other than Miss Piggy. If that sounds peculiar, then it’s worth remembering that the Muppets piggy had to be voiced by someone, and it turned out to have been a filmmaker who’d previously worked with Caine.
“There was one extraordinary thing: I was directed in one of my favourite movies, called Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, by Miss Piggy!” Caine once told GQ of his strange link with Miss Piggy and the 1988 comedy film also starring Steve Martin. “Miss Piggy, also known as Frank Oz, directed Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.”
“That’s one of the most successful comedies I ever made, directed by Miss Piggy,” Caine added. Frank Oz is known for his work with Jim Henson, the Muppets and Star Wars, but he’s also an acclaimed director, working with Caine on Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, the film Caine considers one of his best movies.
Also starring Glenne Headly, the film is a remake of the 1964 movie Bedtime Story starring Marlon Brando and David Niven and was itself remade into 2001’s Heartbreakers and 2019’s The Hustle. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels focuses on two con men who compete to swindle an heiress out of $50,000 of her fortune on the French Riviera.
Caine admitted to the humorous link between himself and Miss Piggy before pointing out a final connection between his biography and the Muppets. “There’s one last connection with me and the Muppets, which is that I come from South London, where Charlie Chaplin, whom I knew, is from,” he said. “And the Muppets now have the Charlie Chaplin studio. It’s very weird. Full circle for me.”
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