Product Details

• Actors: Dave Goelz, Richard Hunt, Jerry Nelson, Marilyn Sokol, Jim Henson
• Directors: Jim Henson
• Format: AC-3, Collector's Edition, Color, Dolby, Full Screen, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Jim Henson Company
• DVD Release Date: September 1, 2009
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (374 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B002LII6D2
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #15,564 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Voices of Jerry Nelson, Frank Oz. Jim Henson and songwriter Paul Williams bring Russell Hoban's lively storybook to life with this TV special about Emmet and Ma Otter of Frogtown Hollow, who each enter a talent contest before Christmas with hopes of winning money to buy presents for the other. 1977/color/100 min/NR/fullscreen.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

77 of 88 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Who releases DVDs with LESS content than the original?!?!? April 14, 2006

By S. Luna

Format:DVD

Someone who let Disney get a hold of Kermit, that's who. I have an earlier VHS release of this movie which my family has watched many times. My daughter has about worn it out so I bought the "collector's edition" DVD. There's more than just Kermit missing. The extra's are just bits taken from the "making-of" special HBO did during the original release. Nice to see those, but inexcusable to re-release on DVD with the main feature edited down significantly from the original airing (not just the few seconds some claim). Oh, and the edited out parts are NOT in the extras, as someone claimed on here (I hoped for that too). Best bet is to find the old VHS copy, a new DVD, and get someone to edit them together. Thanks, Disney, you license-happy, money-grubbing *&#$@! (not suitable for children). "Screw the kids, if we don't get a fat cut, then it stays in the vault!" Jim and Walt are probably both rolling in their graves!

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Kermit Legal Issue December 7, 2008

By Diablita

Format:DVD

Love, love Emmet Otter! My husband had been watching this since he was a kid. He is an Emmet Otter purist. He states that Kermit was in the orginal both to at the start of the movie and at towards the end in the Riverside Rest as part of the audience. According to Wikipedia the following is the reason we may never have a full version available...
Wikapedia writes:
The original special was hosted by Kermit the Frog; however later releases edited out the frog's naration due to legal issues. While The Jim Henson Company retained ownership of Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas, the company sold the rights to the Muppets (including Kermit) to the Walt Disney Company in 2004.

52 of 61 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Emmet Otter fans, you owe it to yourself to see this! October 23, 2005

By Matthew DeLuca

Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase

I admire the fact that Many Emmet Otter fans dont want to buy this DVD because of the fact that, once again, money comes before art, due to the fact that the Kermit scenes are cut from this version.

I agree. Kermit should be in here, and money shouldnt be an issue...the loyal fans should be the top consideration.

Having said that, i want All Emmet Otter fans to know that they MUST watch this DVD. If you dont want to buy it, then please atleast rent it. The behind the scenes documentary is fabulous, and it's almost as good as the actual show itself!

You get to see interviews with the actual people that "puppeted" or in this case "Muppeted" Emmet and some of the other characters.

You get to see behind the scenes footage of the people on the set doing their work.

Jim Henson's daughter is one of the primary interviewees, detailing her father's special devotion to the Emmet Otter story and to making it come alive in this special.

You get to see and hear from the people who made the actual Puppets/Muppets, and you also get to see how they got Emmet to row the boat on the River that flows through Frogtown Hollow.

You get to hear an exclusive excerpt of a song that was going to be used in the special, but which was later deleted and never used.

Also there are funny "Bloopers", a "sing-along", clips of the musical segments of the show, and of course the behind the scenes documentary.

Emmet Fans, trust me, a fellow Emmet fan, you owe it to yourself to see that documentary. It gives you a new appreciation for all of the work that it took to make Emmet come alive. You will love the documentary, plus it's pretty long, and is full of info, interviews, never before seen footage, clips from the show, etc

Dont rob yourself of the chance to see this great documentary.

If you do, the money seekers who edited Kermit out of this will win, because they get their money and you miss out on enjoying the documentary.

Please, watch the documentary.

All Emmet Otter fans owe it to themselves to see it.

I thought of you all when i watched the DVD, and I felt sad that you didnt see the documentary.

It is nearly as good as the Emmet show itself.

Please, watch it, and have fun.

This DVD enriches the Emmet Otter experience.

By all means, watch the version on DVD with Kermit still in it, but please get this DVD version for the bonus features.

For the bonuses alone, it is worth it.

Long live Emmet Otter!

We want a sequel!