Museum of the Moving Image to Host Frank Oz Retrospective ‘The Magic of Oz’

Frank Oz’s illustrious career will be celebrated by the Museum of the Moving Image with screening series “The Magic of Oz: A Frank Oz Retrospective.”

All 15 films Oz directed will screen, ranging from “Little Shop of Horrors” to “The Muppets Take Manhattan” to “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” and “Bowfinger.” Oz’s acting roles in “The Empire Strikes Back” and “Inside Out,” plus his character creations for “Sesame Street” and “The Muppet Show,” will also be part of the lineup. The series will take place from October 4 to November 30.

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“Frank Oz has been a revered and adored artist for generations, yet I’d argue he’s under-appreciated for his filmmaking, which he’s dedicated the past 40 years to,” curator of film Eric Hynes said.

“From the beginning he defied expectations, starting with his now-classic homage to the Hollywood studio musical and B-movie creature feature, ‘Little Shop of Horrors,’ and continuing through slyly subversive comedies like ‘Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,’ ‘What About Bob?,’ ‘In & Out,’ and ‘Bowfinger,’ before tackling a satire, a YA literary adaptation, a crime drama, a Ealing-style English farce, and documentaries. Oz’s singular intelligence, wit, and creativity have illuminated them all. We’re grateful he’s letting us shine a spotlight on him.”

Steve Martin and Pete Docter will also be part of discussions with Oz, following respective screenings of Oz’s “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” starring Martin, and Docter’s “Inside Out” starring Oz.

Museum of the Moving Image is also home to The Jim Henson Exhibition and the monthly series “Jim Henson’s World,” programmed by Craig Shemin, President of the Jim Henson Legacy.

As part of this Oz series, the Museum will present two special programs that focus on Oz’s partnership with Henson: “A Spotlight on Miss Piggy,” a compilation tracing the evolution of Miss Piggy, performed by Frank Oz, and “The Best of Frank Oz,” which features some of Oz’s favorite Henson moments —ranging from his first collaboration with Jim, as Rowlf’s right hand on “The Jimmy Dean Show,” to his own major characters on the “Muppet” television shows, feature films, and guest appearances.

Check out the full lineup below. Find the full program and ticket information here.

Little Shop of Horrors 

Friday, October 4, 7:00 p.m. with Frank Oz in person

Saturday, October 19, 6:00 p.m.

Dir. Frank Oz. 1986/2012, 94 mins. DCP. With Rick Moranis, Ellen Greene, Vincent Gardenia, Steve Martin, Levi Stubbs.

A Spotlight on Miss Piggy

With series programmer Craig Shemin in person
Saturday, October 5, 1:00 p.m.
Sunday, October 6, 1:00 p.m.

As the Museum celebrate the career of Frank Oz, our Jim Henson’s World series takes a look at the life of a superstar in whose success Oz most certainly had a hand. From her earliest appearances on a Herb Alpert special and The Tonight Show to her meteoric rise to fame alongside her “magnificent obsession” Kermit the Frog on The Muppet Show, Miss Piggy has become one of the most recognizable and beloved personalities in show business. This compilation, which premiered at MoMI in 2015, includes classic moments from the first half of the divine swine’s show business career, including Muppet television shows and feature films, as well as rare clips from variety shows and commercials. Running Time: approximately 77 min. Also part of the series Jim Henson’s World.

The Muppets Take Manhattan 

Saturday, October 5, 3:30 p.m.

Sunday, October 6, 3:30 p.m. with Frank Oz in person

Friday, October 11, 3:00 p.m.
Dir. Frank Oz. U.S., 1984, 94 mins. With Jim Henson, Dave Goelz, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, Steve Whitmire. Also part of the series MoMI Moviehouse.

Muppet Guys Talking 

Sunday, October 6, 6:00 p.m. with Frank Oz in person 
Dir. Frank Oz. 2017, 65 mins. DCP. With Frank Oz, Dave Goelz, Jerry Nelson, Fran Brill, Bill Barretta.

The Dark Crystal 

Saturday, October 12, 1:00 p.m.
Sunday, October 13, 1:00 p.m.
Dirs. Jim Henson, Frank Oz. 1982, 93 mins. DCP. With Kathy Mullen, Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire. Also part of the series MoMI Moviehouse.

The Blues Brothers 

Saturday, October 12, 3:15 p.m.

Friday, October 18, 4:00 p.m.

Dir. John Landis. 1980, 133 mins. 35mm. With John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, James Brown, Ray Charles, Carrie Fisher, Cab Calloway, Henry Gibson, Aretha Franklin, Frank Oz.

Inside Out 

Saturday, October 19, 2:30 p.m. introduced by Frank Oz and Pete Docter

Sunday, October 20, 3:30 p.m.
*The screening on Oct. 19 will be preceded by a conversation between Oz and Docter at 1:00 p.m. (separate ticket required)

Dir. Pete Docter. 2015, 95 mins. DCP. With the voices of Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Richard Kind, Bill Hader, Lewis Black, Mindy Kaling, Kaitlyn Dias, Diane Lane, Frank Oz, Dave Goelz, Kyle MacLachlan.

Monsters Inc. 

Sunday, October 20, 1:00 p.m.
Friday, October 25, 3:00 p.m.

Dir. Pete Docter. 2001, 92 mins. DCP. With John Goodman, Billy Crystal, Steve Buscemi, James Coburn, Jennifer Tilly, Mary Gibbs, Helen Hunt, Frank Oz. Also part of the series World of Animation.

What About Bob? 

Saturday, October 26, 5:30 p.m.
Sunday, October 27, 2:00 p.m.

Dir. Frank Oz. 1991, 99 mins. 35mm. With Bill Murray, Richard Dreyfuss, Julie Hagerty, Charlie Korsmo, Kathryn Erbe, Fran Brill.

Housesitter 

Saturday, November 9, 1:00 p.m.
Friday, November 15, 3:00 p.m.

Dir. Frank Oz. 1992, 101 mins. DCP. With Steve Martin, Goldie Hawn, Dana Delany, Julie Harris, Donald Moffat, Peter MacNicol.

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels 

Saturday, November 9, 5:30 p.m. followed by a conversation with Frank Oz and Steve Martin

Sunday, November 10, 5:30 p.m.

Dir. Frank Oz. 1988, 110 mins. 35mm. With Steve Martin, Michael Caine, Glenne Headly, Anton Rodgers, Barbara Harris.

The Indian in the Cupboard 

Saturday, November 2, 12:30 p.m.
Sunday, November 3, 12:30 p.m.

Dir. Frank Oz. 1995, 96 mins. 35mm. With Hal Scardino, Litefoot, Lindsay Crouse, Richard Jenkins, David Keith, Rishi Bhat. Also part of the series MoMI Moviehouse.

Bowfinger 

Saturday, November 9, 3:15 p.m.
Sunday, November 10, 1:00 p.m.

Dir. Frank Oz. 1999, 97 mins. 35mm. With Eddie Murphy, Steve Martin, Heather Graham, Christine Baranski, Terence Stamp.

The Best of Frank Oz: Frank’s Favorites 

With series programmer Craig Shemin in person 
Saturday, November 16, 1:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 17, 1:00 p.m.

In 1961, Jim Henson, searching for a new puppeteer to join the Muppets, met Frank Oznowicz at a Puppeteers of America Festival in Asilomar, California. Jim was impressed by Frank’s puppetry, but young Oznowicz was still in high school, so Jim hired his performing partner Jerry Juhl instead. Two years later, Frank arrived in New York City and began his long association with the Henson organization (and was reunited with Juhl, who would become the Muppets’ head writer for many years). This all-new compilation, created in consultation with Oz, presents some of Frank’s favorite Henson moments—ranging from his first collaboration with Jim, as Rowlf’s right hand on The Jimmy Dean Show, to his own major characters on Muppet television shows, feature films, and guest appearances. Running time: approximately 80 mins. Also part of the series Jim Henson’s World.

In & Out 

Saturday, November 16, 3:30 p.m.
Sunday, November 17, 3:30 p.m.

Dir. Frank Oz. 1997, 92 mins. 35mm. With Kevin Kline, Joan Cusack, Tom Selleck, Bob Newhart, Matt Dillon, Debbie Reynolds, Wilford Brimley.

The Score 

Saturday, November 16, 5:30 p.m.

Sunday, November 17, 5:30 p.m.
Friday, November 22, 4:00 p.m.

Dir Frank Oz. 2001, 123 mins. 35mm. With Robert De Niro, Marlon Brando, Edward Norton, Angela Bassett, Gary Farmer.

Death at a Funeral 

Saturday, November 23, 1:30 p.m.

Saturday, November 30, 1:00 p.m.

Dir. Frank Oz. 2007, 87 mins. DCP. With Matthew Macfadyen, Rupert Graves, Ewen Bremner, Peter Dinklage, Kris Marshall, Alan Tudyk.

The Stepford Wives 

Saturday, November 23, 4:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 30, 5:00 p.m.

Dir. Frank Oz. 2004, 93 mins. DCP. With Nicole Kidman, Matthew Broderick, Bette Midler, Roger Bart, Christopher Walken, Glenn Close, Faith Hill.

Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (Special Edition)

Sunday, November 24, 1:30 p.m.
Saturday, November 30, 3:00 p.m.

Dir. Irvin Kershner. 1980, 124 mins. DCP. With Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Daniels, David Prowse, James Earl Jones, Kenny Baker, Peter Mayhew, Frank Oz.

Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi

Friday, November 29, 6:00 p.m.

Saturday, November 30, 5:30 p.m.
Dir. Rian Johnson. 2017, 152 mins. DCP. With Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Lupita Nyong’o, DomhnallGleeson, Anthony Daniels, Gwendoline Christie, Kelly Marie Tran, Laura Dern, Beniciodel Toro, Frank Oz.

Knives Out 

Friday, November 29, 3:00 p.m.

Dir. Rian Johnson. 2019. 131 mins. DCP. With Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon, Don Johnson, Toni Collette, Lakeith Stanfield, Katherine Langford, Jaeden Martell, Christopher Plummer, Frank Oz.

Derek DelGaudio’s In and of Itself 

Saturday, November 30, 3:00 p.m.

Dir. Frank Oz. 2020, 90 mins. DCP. With Derek DelGaudio.

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