- Monster Maker
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This article is about the TV special. For the album by C-Rayz Walz and Sharkey, see Monster Maker (album).
"Monster Maker" The Jim Henson Hour episode Directed by Giles Foster Written by Nicholas Fisk
Matthew JacobsOriginal air date 1989 Monster Maker is 45-minute television special, adapted by Matthew Jacobs from the novel of the same name by Nicholas Fisk.
Harry Dean Stanton plays an American Special Effects expert living in London, who is befriended by a young fan named Matt Banting (played by Kieran O'Brien). From Jim Henson's London based Henson Associates, it was produced by Duncan Kenworthy and directed by Giles Foster.
The show aired as a standalone special in the UK. In the US, it aired as an episode of The Jim Henson Hour.
Contents
Introduction
Jim Henson talks about the Creature Shop, showing one of the devils from The Storyteller as an example of what the Creature Shop can make. A puppet later used as The Predator on Dinosaurs can also be seen. He then introduces the Monster Maker.
Plot
Teenage Matt wants to work with a famous but eccentric creature/fx (special effects) man, but he gets more than he bargained for when one of the creatures, the giant, dragon-like Ultragorgon, takes Matt under his wing. Matt is forced to confront his inner monsters while working out his issues with his father.
Closing
Jim Henson mentions that although the creatures look real, they are not actually alive. Jim states that when the viewers see the credits, it will state that it took eight puppeteers to operate the Ultragorgon as Jim also states that his son Brian operated the Ultragorgon's head in the Ultragorgon's neck compartment. He also brings out Kermit the Frog who comments that he liked the special.
Notes
- This episode was later re-aired as a stand-alone special without the framing introduction and closing, or The Jim Henson Hour title/logos.
Credits
- Michael Gambon as Ultragorgon (voice)
- Jonathan Coy as Teacher
- Matthew Scurfield Vaughn
- Bill Moody as Reg
- Grant Bardsley as Ben
- Alison Steadman as Perriwinkle
- Amanda Dickinson as Mother
- George Costigan as Father
- Harry Dean Stanton as Chancey Bellow
- Kieran O'Brien as Matt Banting
Ultragorgon operated by Martin Anthony, Tony Ashton, Michael Bayliss, Marcus Clarke, Sue Dacre, David Greenaway, Brian Henson, and Christopher Leith.
External links
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