The Muppet Christmas Carol turns 25! Revisit the heartbreaking deleted scene featuring 'When Love Is Gone'

An emotional moment never released in cinemas

Twenty-five years on and The Muppet Christmas Carol remains one of Britain’s most cherished Christmas movies.

Despite the majority of cast members being puppets, Brian Henson’s film is a surprisingly faithful adaptation of Charles Dickens’s novel, Michael Caine playing a wonderfully miserable Ebenezer Scrooge while Gonzo makes for a fantastic narrator.

However, Henson had one major issue with the studio’s final cut: the omission of a scene built around the song "When Love Is Gone”.

Midway through the film, while with the Ghost of Christmas Past, Scrooge sees a younger version of himself falling in love with a woman named Belle, played by Meredith Braun.

Soon enough, Belle realises Scrooge’s infatuation with money overpowers his love for her. Coming to this realisation, she leaves the cold-hearted man behind.

Originally, "When Love Is Gone” was supposed to be sung at this moment, making for a tear-jerking break-up. While omitted from the theatrical release, you can still watch the scene online.

Despite being one of the film’s more tender moments, Jeffrey Katzenberg of Walt Disney Studios wanted the scene removed, believing young children would not find the moment appealing.

A different version of the song, performed by Martina McBride, was played during the credits — although Henson was not impressed by this move as the song contradicts “When Love Is Found”.

When the VHS was released, the song was restored, only to disappear once more when on DVD and Blue-Ray, along with on streaming services and theatrical re-releases.

However, one last version of the film was released with the scene; the limited edition 20th anniversary DVD.

With or without the scene — which features added Michael Caine vocals — The Muppet Christmas Carol makes for excellent Christmas viewing.