The Jim Henson Hour Jim Henson's The StoryTeller: The True Bride + Monster Maker 1988 – 1989 PG

Production still from Monster Maker 1989 / Director: Giles Foster / Image courtesy: The Jim Henson Company

Production still from Monster Maker 1989 / Director: Giles Foster / Image courtesy: The Jim Henson Company / View full image

When

10.30 am, Sun 24 Jan 2027 (70 mins)

Where

Gallery of Modern Art, Cinema A

Accessibility

  • Wheelchair Accessible

Admission

Free

About

Jim Henson’s The StoryTeller: The True Bride 1988

Jim Henson’s beloved television series The StoryTeller (1987-1989) is an anthology European fairy tales, many of which were first published by the Brothers Grimm. Bringing together a human cast, including acclaimed British actor John Hurt as the eponymous storyteller, with enchanting puppets developed by Jim Henson’s Creature Shop, these tales are rich with wonder, mystery and delight.

This episode, The True Bride, is adapted from a German folktale by acclaimed screenwriter Anthony Minghella. Orphan girl Anja (Jane Horrocks) languishes under the control of a cruel troll but finds her true destiny thanks to a helpful lion.

24 minutes | G | Very mild in impact

Monster Maker 1989

Movie-loving teen Matt (Kieran O’Brien), who dreams of building special effects creatures, is thrilled to be apprenticed by his Hollywood hero Chancey Bellow (Harry Dean Stanton). Things take a strange turn when Bellow’s animatronic masterpiece, the Ultra-Gorgon (voiced by British screen legend Michael Gambon), seemingly takes on a life of its own. Adapted from the novel by Nicholas Fisk, Henson modelled Bellow’s on-screen workshop on his own London Creature Shop.

45 minutes | PG | Adult themes

  • Production still from Jim Henson’s The Storyteller (‘The True Bride’ episode) 1989 / Director: Peter Smith / Image courtesy: Shout! Studios, The Jim Henson Company

    Production still from Jim Henson’s The Storyteller (‘The True Bride’ episode) 1989 / Director: Peter Smith / Image courtesy: Shout! Studios, The Jim Henson Company / View full image

  • Production still from Monster Maker 1989 / Director: Giles Foster / Image courtesy: The Jim Henson Company

    Production still from Monster Maker 1989 / Director: Giles Foster / Image courtesy: The Jim Henson Company / View full image

Production Credits

Jim Henson’s The StoryTeller: The True Bride

  • Directors: Steve Barron, Jim Henson, John Amiel, Peter Smith, Charles Sturridge, Paul Weiland
  • Script: Anthony Minghella
  • Based on: the stories by the Brothers Grimm and other European fairy tales
  • Cinematographer: John Fenner
  • Editors: David Yardley, Colin Green
  • Producers: Duncan Kenworthy, Mark Shivas
  • Cast: John Hurt, Jane Horrocks, Sean Bean
  • Print Source: American Genre Film Archive, Austin
  • Rights: Shout! Studios
  • Year: 1988
  • Runtime: 24 minutes
  • Countries: United Kingdom, United States
  • Language: English
  • Sound: Mono
  • Colour: Colour
  • Shooting Format: 35mm
  • Screening Format: DCP

Monster Maker

  • Director: Giles Foster
  • Script: Matthew Jacobs
  • Based on: the novel by Nicholas Fisk
  • Cinematographer: Nat Crosby
  • Editors: Peter Armstrong, Robin Sales
  • Producer: Duncan Kenworthy
  • Cast: Harry Dean Stanton, Kieran O'Brien, George Costigan
  • Print Source: The Jim Henson Company
  • Rights: The Jim Henson Company
  • Year: 1989
  • Runtime: 45 minutes
  • Countries: United Kingdom, United States
  • Language: English
  • Sound: Stereo
  • Colour: Colour
  • Shooting Format: Digital
  • Screening Format: DCP