THE MOUSE THAT ROARED

UK, 1959, 90 minutes, Colour.
Peter Sellers, Jean Seberg, David Kossoff, William Hartnell, Leo McKern?.
Directed by Jack Arnold.

The Mouse that Roared was a very popular small comedy of the late 50s. It was in the atmosphere of the spread of nuclear research and the fear of bombs that was to become so serious in the early 60s (and reflected in such films as Panic in Year Zero, Failsafe, Seven Days in May and satirically in Doctor Strangelove).

This film is a mixture of science fiction, British comedy, and fantasy. The political overtones are extremely satiric. Grand Fenwick is the smallest country in Europe, somehow or other it gets the bomb and holds the world to ransom (while it is trying to make up for its bankruptcy by receiving a grant from America after being defeated in war).

Many satirical points are made about the political state of the world in the 50s. What makes the film clever besides the very funny sequences, satire and dialogue and parody of diplomacy are the three performances by Peter Sellers as the duchess Gloriana, as the Prime minister Mountjoy and the very ordinary hero, Tully Bascon. His performances are excellent and mesh well together. He is supported by Jean Seberg and David Cozen.

A sequel was conceived in the early 60's and was a satire on the space race with Grand Fenwick having its rocket. However this time, while the comedy is good, it is much broader and the parts are played by Margaret Rutherford as the duchess, Ron Moody as Mountjoy. The latter film was directed by Richard Lester who was about to make the Beatles' films and launch his up and down career, such films as How 1 Won The War and The Bedsitting Room and Petulia Royal Flush and The Three Musketeers and The Four Musketeers.

1. Enjoyment value? The impact in 1959, now?

2. The traditions of British style comedy? Humour, dialogue, situations, impersonations, parody and farce? How well did the British comic style blend with themes of nuclear bomb scares, the overtones of science fiction?

3. The use of colour, music, Tchaikovsky, opera background, the American Marine music? The satire in the choice of the musical score? The quality of the jokes? The humour of the Columbia credits and the Statue of Liberty and the Mouse?

4. The topical nature of the jokes? The humour at the expense of the major world powers? The satire on power? The grim humour of showing the nuclear explosion and warning people? The ending?

5. The contribution of Peter Sellers and the effect of his threefold performance? The way that he was introduced as each character? His place in Grand Fenwick?

6. The significance of the opening commentary, the television news and the various languages etc.? The astuteness of the political comment and its satiric overtones?

7. The parody in presenting Grand Fenwick itself? Its place in Europe, British tradition, the various traditions of small European kingdoms? Questions of occupation, the victors?

8. The significance of the title, the basic situation? The wine and trade situation and the irony in this financial comment? The strategy and the plan to invade America?

9. The contribution of Tully and the constable? Their contrasting personalities? The constable and his pressurizing and machinations? Tully and his innocence, e.g. with the fox? The humour of getting the recruits? The satire in the voyage and the challenging of the major ships?

10. The irony of the New York preparation and the alert? The Professor and Helen? The people involved, especially in the shelters, the dancing etc.? The impact of the letter and the bomb?

11. The humour of seeing a medieval-looking group taking New York? The ironies of the way that they were able to do it and the poking fun at war?

12. The irony of Tully winning the war and returning?

13. The Americans trying to cope? The letter written and having to be rediscovered? The diplomats playing diplomacy at the gates?

14. Mountjoy and his machinations for winning? The humour of the Leader of the Opposition and their plans? The Grand Duchess and her observation of what was going on? The various plots?

15. The character of the Professor, his work, the dangers of the bomb and transporting it back to Grand Fenwick? The farcical nature of the bomb not going off and the secret being kept?

16. Helen as an attractive heroine, love for Tully, their clashes? Mountjoy and his machinations? The final chase? The happy ending?

17. The farcical behaviour of politics, the way of life, Europe and America?

18. The effectiveness and the particular thrusts of the political satire?