MovieChat Forums > The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984) Discussion > the script got thrown in the trash can

the script got thrown in the trash can

posted 18 years ago by wermuth601
7 replies | jump to latest

When Kermit wore his afro and disguise (don't know how to describe it) and gave his script to Leonard Wisehart, Leonard just threw the script into the trash can without even looking at it, but eventually Ronnie Crawford managed to be able to read the script. I wonder how it got to him. Could Leonard have decided to read it and send it to producers after all? Could Ronnie have had an office job there and looked through the trash and found it? It's a big mystery.

[–] alluettea 18 years ago

From what I gather- he remembers Kermit from when the gang tried to get a producer at the begining. During "You can't take No for an answer" You see Ronnie in the background when one of the doors opens; the secretary then closes the door on the gang. Check out the thred- "Did anyone Notice?"

[–] DaveLoneRanger 18 years ago

Yes, you could see him. A lady shook her head no and closed the door, but you could see a compassionate-looking Ronnie in the background, and the name on the door.

[–] Brad-158 17 years ago

Also, when Ronnie Crawford's secretary (well, his dad's secretary) shook her head "No" and closed the door on the muppets near the beginning of the movie, you can see she's still holding the script they gave her when she closed the door.

~Brad

[–] abens_98 17 years ago

Producers, such as Bernard Crawford, Ronnie's father, get lots of scripts which sit in a pile and eventually get pitched into the trash. Obviously, Ronnie, who is working in his father's office, was intrigued by the bit of the gang's pitch he was able to oversee and pulled the script from his father's reject pile.

[–] Studioart81 16 years ago

I was watching "The Muppets Take Manhatten" with some friends last night, and I noticed the same thing regarding Ronnie, his secretary, and the script. I had noticed it before however. I think that scene was intentional by Jim Henson and Frank Oz, because it had to show the Muppets progressing throughout the film from rejection and eventually acceptance of their show idea by an agent. It would have killed the premise of the film if they had accepted the idea early on, because without conflict there would be no plot. It also tested the Muppets stamina and their willingness to believe in the show even though they had to part ways and look for other jobs in other cities. This is what happens in real life after college. We lose more than we win, but somehow we get by.
I also think Kermit developing amnesia when getting hit by the car was meant to show conflict even after the show idea was accepted by an agent, because Kermit takes on a new identity as "Phil" with the other frogs and does not remember his friends when reunited with them. How they overcome this barrier is what will determine the fate of their show. Interesting and valid observations in my opinion that can be interpreted a number of different ways.

[–] stevenackerman69 13 years ago

Exactly. And scripts are sent to several producers at once. Just because one guy throws a copy out, doesn't mean that was the only one. You always make many copies when you are selling a script. It is like a resume.

[–] stevenackerman69 13 years ago

That wasn't the only copy of the script. Kermit probably sent it out to various producers and Ronnie happened to get one and read it and decided to contact Kermit. Also, remember that he sees them at first during the song "Can't Take No for an Answer". He might've remembered them and when he got the green light from his dad to produce looked at the script, which was probably in the office and found out how to contact Kermit to get him there. I hope that *beep* Wisehart hated himself for missing out on a hit.