The Mouse That Roared (1959)

Director:

Jack Arnold

Writers:

Roger MacDougall (writer)
Stanley Mann (writer)

Release Date:

26 October 1959 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

The Hilarous Story of How the Duchy of Grand Fenwick Waged War on the U.S. - and Won

Plot:

An impoverished backward nation declares a war on the United States of America, hoping to lose.

Plot Keywords:

Invasion | Cold War | Satire | Duchy Of Grand Fenwick | Civil Defense

US TV Schedule:

Sat. Dec. 12

8:00 PM

TCM

Cast

Peter Sellers	...	Grand Duchess Gloriana XII / Prime Minister Count Rupert Mountjoy / Tully Bascombe
Jean Seberg	...	Helen Kokintz
William Hartnell	...	Will Buckley
David Kossoff	...	Professor Alfred Kokintz
Leo McKern	...	Benter
MacDonald Parke	...	General Snippet
Austin Willis	...	United States Secretary of Defense
Timothy Bateson	...	Roger
Monte Landis	...	Cobbley
Alan Gifford
Colin Gordon	...	BBC Announcer
Harold Kasket	...	Pedro

Also Known As:

The Day New York Was Invaded (UK) (working title)

Runtime:

83 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Iceland:L | Argentina:Atp | Finland:K-8 | UK:U | USA:Unrated | West Germany:12 | Sweden:Btl

Filming Locations:

Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Open Road

Trivia:

The Marseilles and New York harbor sequences were filmed in Southampton, UK. The presence of the Queen Elizabeth ocean liner there was a lucky coincidence.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the Institute for Physics scene, Professor Kokintz addresses Tully as both "Grand Marshall" and "Mr. Constable", but nowhere in the preceding dialogue is Tully introduced as such. Prof. Kokintz couldn't have known his two titles.

Quotes:

Tulley Bascombe: My girl, and my bomb!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mannix: The Mouse That Died (#4.5)" (1970)

Soundtrack:

Romeo and Juliet Love Theme

Three Sellers equals one very funny film

THE MOUSE THAT ROARED was Peter Sellers' first starring film, and he would succeed beyond all expectations. This became a huge "sleeper hit" when it was shown in the States, and deservedly so. Its brand of satire still holds up today.

The story is about a miniscule European state, the duchy of Grand Fenwick, which sees a way out of bankruptcy by declaring war on the US (to be followed by a quick surrender, and rehabilitative aid from the generous victor). An invasion force, with 12th century chainmail and crossbows, is thereupon dispatched to New York. But by mistake, the commander captures the nuclear "Q-Bomb", along with its inventor and his beautiful daughter, and brings them back to Grand Fenwick.

Sellers plays three roles: Gloriana XII, the old reigning duchess (believe it or not); Baron Montjoy, the crafty prime minister; and Tully Bascomb, the inept army commander. For my money, the third role is the best. Absent any sort of disguise, except for a pair of glasses, Tully is the central character. The first scene of Grand Fenwick's part-time commander, and full-time gamekeeper, has him caught in a trap and unable to scare away the fox that just sits there looking at him. As the bumbling hero, he is funny in his own right, and we're all rooting for him to save the day at the end.

The one and only Sellers does a great job in all departments, the state of Grand Fenwick is expertly brought to the screen with a unique sense of humor, and this MOUSE still roars plenty loud even after forty some years. Four out of five stars.