MUBI

Legendary American puppeteer Jim Henson (“Sesame Street” & “The Muppet Show”) established his bona-fide filmmaking credentials early on with this surrealist short musing on the nature of time which premiered at the New York Museum of Modern Art and was nominated for an Oscar.

A overworked young executive (Jim Henson) is being examined by a doctor after being hospitalised when he suddenly finds himself dislocated in time for a surrealistic series of sequences which see him walking to work, having dinner, jumping on a pogo-stick and swinging from a vine.

Jim Henson puts in a wonderful central performance as the temporarily dislocated and seemingly permanently bemused young lead who can do little more than let out the occasional cry for help whilst brief support comes from Enid Cafritz, Jerry Juhl and Frank Oz.

The burgeoning filmmaker crafts a creative little comedy short with frenetic paced slapstick imagery, some mind-mangling from Don Sahlin, and a pitch perfect musical accompaniment from Don Sebesky which come together to create a puppet-free but distinctively Henson masterpiece.

“Help!”