A Brief History of Motion Pictures was a 1998 short shown before features in Sony/Loews Movie Theaters (later merged with AMC Theatres) featuring the Sesame Street Muppets, providing a synopsis of the developments in filmmaking from silent movies to present day.
This short premiered in theaters on November 20, 1998, and accompanied all prints on the theatrical release of The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland and Muppets from Space on a smaller number of prints.
Description
Cookie Monster gives a lecture on the history of motion pictures, with examples on film featuring Marshal Grover and Fred the Wonder Horse. They demonstrate how, after a "not too exciting" period with no picture and no sound, moving pictures were invented; followed by moving pictures with sound ("This town ain't big enough for the two of us!"), which resulted in the invention of the musical. An all-star Sesame Street cast, with Prairie Dawn as the director, joins Grover and Fred in a big musical number called "This Town Ain't Big Enough for the Two of Us," as the movie turns to color and widescreen. Finally, the special effects are introduced: a rolling boulder, a shark, and a ravaging Muppet twister chase all of the singers out of the studio.
The clip ends with Cookie Monster eating the sled (Rosebud) from Citizen Kane, and Big Bird (appearing out of an MGM-esque logo advertising the show's 30th anniversary, singing a few notes of the theme in lieu of roaring) telling the viewers to "Enjoy the movie!" as Elmo, Herry and Telly (as The Marx Brothers) run by.
Cast
- Cookie Monster, Grover (as Marshal Grover), Fred the Wonder Horse, Elmo (dressed as Groucho Marx), Herry Monster (dressed as Chico Marx), Telly (dressed as Harpo Marx), Zoe (dressed as Dorothy Gale), Bert (dressed as a pharaoh), Ernie (dressed as a Roman emperor), Baby Bear (dressed as Harold Hill), Rosita (dressed as Carmen Miranda), Benny Rabbit (dressed as an Arab), Oscar the Grouch, Prairie Dawn, The Count (dressed as Fred Astaire), The Countess (dressed as Ginger Rogers), Letter W, Number 6, Number 7, Biff, a camel, a shark, a tornado, Big Bird
Crew
- Executive Producer: Mark Pascucci
- Producer: Arlene Sherman
- Directed by: Victor DiNapoli
- Writers: Lou Berger, Judy Freudberg, and Tony Geiss
Notes
- Additional puppeteers included Stephanie D'Abruzzo,[1] Andy Stone,[2] Matt Vogel, Victor Yerrid,[3] Michael Paul,[4] and Rick Lyon.[5]
- The short was filmed at Silvercup Studios in Long Island City.[1]
- Some unused concepts for the trailer include:[6]
- During his introduction, the reel of film Cookie eats is deliberately acknowledged as Gone with the Wind and he remarks, "Me never be hungry again!" (paraphrasing Scarlett's famous line from the end of the first half).
- The presentation of "no picture, no sound" would have been visualized by an old-time Muppet audience watching a blank movie screen. Bert, among the crowd, is the only one interested in this.
- The film of Marshal Grover and Fred is preceded with a title card reading, "It Was Apple Blossom Time in Orange, New Jersey And They Were A Peach Of A Pair."
- Elmo would appear briefly during the silent film portion as Charlie Chaplin.
- Additional members of the Muppet chorus would include the Two-Headed Monster, Natasha, Mama Bear, Papa Bear, Goldilocks, Humphrey, and Ingrid.
- Baby Bear was first suggested to appear as Groucho Marx, with a Honker as Harpo.
- Cookie Monster originally appeared in more of the "history" sequences, popping into frame for the introduction of sound and getting caught eating the ruby slippers when the widescreen expands.
- When the musical set is introduced, it was suggested to have various set elements of typical musical scenes, such as palm trees, nightclub tables, an extending staircase, and the bow of a ship on which Guy Smiley and the Countess would be (posed like Jack and Rose from Titanic).
- Upon introducing widescreen, the stagehands (Biff and Sully) were to be caught milling about or playing cards.
- Kermit the Frog was originally intended to cameo as the director. Steve Whitmire recorded dialogue for his appearance before being replaced by Prairie Dawn.
- After introducing widescreen, surround sound follows with the characters all yelling in unison. Following that would be what Cookie Monster refers to as "Ramas," such as panorama, cinerama, and rama lama ding dong. Oscar would then ride by in his can, outfitted like a Roman chariot, to introduce his favorite - "Smellorama," presenting Ben-Hur's smelly sandal.
- When Cookie Monster introduces the concept of special effects, an explosion blows him out of his seat. A spaceship was also suggested to be among the effects chasing the cast around.
- As the tornado blows everyone away, the characters would utter various famous movie quotes (such as Rosita exclaiming, "Hasta la vista, baby!" or the Martians saying "May the force be with you!")
- After the tornado destroys the set, Fred and Grover would rise from the rubble. Fred exclaims, "Hooray for Hollywood!" while Grover faints.
- Film reels in the framing scene with Cookie Monster include All About Eve, La Dolce Vita, Psycho, Ben-Hur, Star Wars, Citizen Kane, Plan 9 from Outer Space, Modern Times, High Noon, Casablanca, Gone with the Wind, and Ishtar.