Prior to the release of The Muppet Christmas Carol in 1992, one whole song that was filmed and recorded for the movie was removed. In celebration of the film’s 30th anniversary, that song is being reinstated into the film on Disney+.
What’s Happening:
- The song in question is titled “When Love is Gone,” and is sung by Meredith Braun’s Belle to a young Ebeneezer Scrooge (Ray Coulthard) as the older Scrooge (Michael Caine) and the Ghost of Christmas Past watch over.
- “When Love is Gone” is about the loss of the love that Scrooge and Belle once shared, as he becomes more and more concerned about money and business.
- Although director Brian Henson did want it to be included, unfortunately the scene was cut by Disney executive (at the time) Jeffrey Katzenberg.
- In a 2020 interview with Vulture, Henson recalled Katzenberg saying “It’s just a little too adult-emotional for little kids to stay connected,” adding that the film “certainly plays well without the song, but I obviously preferred having the song in.”
- A reprise of the originally cut song actually ends the film, along with a version over the end credits performed by Martina McBride.
- The song was reinstated for a recent 4K remaster of the film, and that version will be released on Disney+ on December 11th, as revealed today at a D23 Expo panel celebrating 30 years of the film.
- You can watch the full version of “When Love is Gone” below:
2022 D23 Expo coverage is presented by shopDisney