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The Muppet Christmas Carol scene you've *never* seen

Photo credit: Disney
Photo credit: Disney

From Digital Spy

The Muppet Christmas Carol ranks among our all-time favourite Christmas movies. On paper it shouldn't work – a load of felt puppets retelling the story of a time-travelling Victorian miser.

But nope, it's surprisingly moving, funny and a genuinely faithful adaptation of the story. But one thing always bugged us.

It's missing a brilliant scene, dammit.

Remember the bit where Michael Caine's Scrooge goes back to the past and witnesses Belle dump his grumpy younger self? Did you always find it a bit odd how rushed the whole thing was? And how weird it was to see Rizzo the Rat sobbing uncontrollably over what appeared to be a mildly sad moment?

Well, that's because they removed a beautiful and heartbreaking song altogether. Unless, that is, you owned the VHS release.

The deleted scene in question sees Belle (Meredith Braun) sing 'When Love is Gone' (written by songwriting legend Paul Williams, the man behind Bugsy Malone) while lamenting how her relationship with Scrooge has stagnated. Michael Caine then joins in, crying as he goes because he isn't able to change anything and wishes he could.

Damn, it's sad:

Walt Disney Studios' Jeffrey Katzenberg ordered the scene to be removed from the original cinema release, believing that it would not appeal to young children. A version by country singer Martina McBride was then plonked over the end credits. (Got to get your money's worth, after all.)

Jim Henson was apparently not happy with the decision to remove it, not only because of the jarring edit, but because the film's concluding song 'When Love Is Found' makes no sense without hearing 'When Love is Gone' first.

The VHS version of the film restored the song, but it disappeared again for the DVD and Blu-ray versions. And that seemed to be that.

Until the 20th anniversary re-release in 2012, that is. The commemorative DVD - now out of print - contained both the theatrical widescreen and the extended full-frame versions of the film.

But the Blu-ray combo pack didn't feature the song at all. For Kermit's sake! We'll just have to hope the 25th anniversary release in 2017 (if there is one) brings it back for good.

Director Brian Henson has said: "'When Love Is Gone' was not in the theatrical release, and is presently missing from the movie, which is a real shame. It was on the VHS release. I just remastered the film. I remastered it 2 years ago, and Disney has lost the film... I think they will find it because I keep reminding them, 'You've got to go find it'."

So, come on Disney. Send someone down to the warehouse. It'll only take an afternoon. Find it so Brian can restore it and put it back in the film where it belongs. Don't make Michael Caine's tears be in vain.

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