The Mouse That Roared (film) - Revision history

Kurt at 15:47, 25 August 2024

2024-08-25T15:47:07Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:47, 25 August 2024
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	\| image_size =		\| image_size =
	\| caption =		\| caption =
	\| director = [[w:Jack Arnold (director)\|Jack Arnold]]		\| director = [[Jack Arnold (director)\|Jack Arnold]]
	\| producer = [[~~w:Walter Shenson\|~~Walter Shenson]]		\| producer = [[Walter Shenson]]
	\| writer = [[w:Leonard Wibberley]]		\| writer = [[Leonard Wibberley]]
	\| based_on = ''[[~~w:The Mouse That Roared\|~~The Mouse That Roared]]''		\| based_on = ''[[The Mouse That Roared]]''
	\| screenplay = [[~~w:Roger MacDougall\|~~Roger MacDougall]]<br />[[~~w:Stanley Mann\|~~Stanley Mann]]		\| screenplay = [[Roger MacDougall]]<br />[[Stanley Mann]]
	\| starring = [[Peter Sellers]]<br />[[~~w:Jean Seberg\|~~Jean Seberg]]<br />[[William Hartnell]]		\| starring = [[Peter Sellers]]<br />[[Jean Seberg]]<br />[[William Hartnell]]
	\| music = [[~~w:Edwin Astley\|~~Edwin Astley]]		\| music = [[Edwin Astley]]
	\| cinematography = [[w:John Wilcox (cinematographer)\|John Wilcox]]		\| cinematography = [[John Wilcox (cinematographer)\|John Wilcox]]
	\| editing = [[~~w:Raymond Poulton\|~~Raymond Poulton]]		\| editing = [[Raymond Poulton]]
	\| studio = Highroad Productions		\| studio = Highroad Productions
	\| distributor = [[~~w:Columbia Pictures\|~~Columbia Pictures]]		\| distributor = [[Columbia Pictures]]
	\| released = {{Film date\|df=y\|1959\|07\|17\|UK}}		\| released = {{Film date\|df=y\|1959\|07\|17\|UK}}
	\| runtime = 83 minutes		\| runtime = 83 minutes
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	\| language = English<br>French		\| language = English<br>French
	\| budget = $450,000<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.tcm.com/this-month/article/220553%7C220560/Trivia-The-Mouse-That-Roared.html\|title=Trivia – The Mouse That Roared\|website=Turner Classic Movies}}</ref>		\| budget = $450,000<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.tcm.com/this-month/article/220553%7C220560/Trivia-The-Mouse-That-Roared.html\|title=Trivia – The Mouse That Roared\|website=Turner Classic Movies}}</ref>
	\| gross = $2,000,000 (US & Canada [[theatrical rental\|rentals]])<ref name="us">{{cite magazine\|title=Rental Potentials of 1960\|magazine= [[Variety (magazine)\|Variety]]\|date=4 January 1961 \|page= 47}} Please note figures are rentals as opposed to total gross.</ref> <br />$200,000 (UK rentals)<ref name="uk">{{cite magazine\|title='Mouse' Amused U.S.; Not Blighty\|magazine= [[w:Variety (magazine)\|Variety]]\|date=24 January 1962 \|page= 1}}</ref>		\| gross = $2,000,000 (US & Canada [[theatrical rental\|rentals]])<ref name="us">{{cite magazine\|title=Rental Potentials of 1960\|magazine= [[Variety (magazine)\|Variety]]\|date=4 January 1961 \|page= 47}} Please note figures are rentals as opposed to total gross.</ref> <br />$200,000 (UK rentals)<ref name="uk">{{cite magazine\|title='Mouse' Amused U.S.; Not Blighty\|magazine= [[Variety (magazine)\|Variety]]\|date=24 January 1962 \|page= 1}}</ref>
	}}		}}

	'''''The Mouse That Roared''''' is a 1959 British [[w:satire\|satirical]] [[~~w:comedy film\|~~comedy film]] on a [[~~w:Ban The Bomb\|~~Ban The Bomb]] theme, based on [[~~w:Leonard Wibberley\|~~Leonard Wibberley]]'s novel ''[[~~w:The Mouse That Roared\|~~The Mouse That Roared]]'' (1955).<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6b0dc0d2\|title=The Mouse That Roared (1959)\|publisher=}}</ref> It stars [[Peter Sellers]] in three roles: Duchess Gloriana XII; Count Rupert Mountjoy, the Prime Minister; and Tully Bascomb, the military leader; and co-stars [[~~w:Jean Seberg\|~~Jean Seberg]]. The film was directed by [[w:Jack Arnold (director)\|Jack Arnold]], and the screenplay was written by [[~~w:Roger MacDougall\|~~Roger MacDougall]] and [[~~w:Stanley Mann\|~~Stanley Mann]].		'''''The Mouse That Roared''''' is a 1959 British [[satire\|satirical]] [[comedy film]] on a [[Ban The Bomb]] theme, based on [[Leonard Wibberley]]'s novel ''[[The Mouse That Roared]]'' (1955).<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6b0dc0d2\|title=The Mouse That Roared (1959)\|publisher=}}</ref> It stars [[Peter Sellers]] in three roles: Duchess Gloriana XII; Count Rupert Mountjoy, the Prime Minister; and Tully Bascomb, the military leader; and co-stars [[Jean Seberg]]. The film was directed by [[Jack Arnold (director)\|Jack Arnold]], and the screenplay was written by [[Roger MacDougall]] and [[Stanley Mann]].

	==Plot==		==Plot==
	The minuscule European [[~~w:Duchy\|~~Duchy]] of [[~~w:Grand Fenwick\|~~Grand Fenwick]] is bankrupted when an American company comes up with a cheaper imitation of Fenwick's sole export, its fabled Pinot Grand Fenwick wine. Crafty Prime Minister Count Mountjoy (Peter Sellers) devises a plan: Grand Fenwick will declare war on the United States, then surrender, taking advantage of American largesse toward its defeated enemies to rebuild the defeated nation's economy. Duchess Gloriana (also Sellers) is hesitant but agrees to the plan. Mild-mannered game warden Tully Bascomb (also Sellers) is charged as Field Marshal to lead the Grand Fenwick troops, aided by Sergeant Will Buckley ([[William Hartnell]]).		The minuscule European [[Duchy]] of [[Grand Fenwick]] is bankrupted when an American company comes up with a cheaper imitation of Fenwick's sole export, its fabled Pinot Grand Fenwick wine. Crafty Prime Minister Count Mountjoy (Peter Sellers) devises a plan: Grand Fenwick will declare war on the United States, then surrender, taking advantage of American largesse toward its defeated enemies to rebuild the defeated nation's economy. Duchess Gloriana (also Sellers) is hesitant but agrees to the plan. Mild-mannered game warden Tully Bascomb (also Sellers) is charged as Field Marshal to lead the Grand Fenwick troops, aided by Sergeant Will Buckley ([[William Hartnell]]).

	The contingent of 20 soldiers in medieval [[w:Chain mail\|mail]] books passage across the Atlantic on a small merchant ship, arriving in [[w:New York Harbor\|New York Harbour]] during an air-raid drill that leaves the city deserted and undefended. They chance upon a [[w:United States civil defense\|civil defence]] truck and are mistaken for invading [[~~w:Martian\|~~Martian]]s, prompting an investigation by blustering but ineffectual General Snippet ([[~~w:MacDonald Parke\|~~MacDonald Parke]]). Puncturing the tyres of the general's jeep with their bows and arrows, the Grand Fenwick troops take him and four [[~~w:NYPD\|~~NYPD]] officers hostage. Still looking for a place to surrender, Tully and Will stumble across Dr. Alfred Kokintz ([[David Kossoff]]), whose invention of the Q Bomb – capable of destroying an entire continent – has prompted the defence drills. He has built a football-sized prototype of the unstable bomb, which Tully takes possession of. With Kokintz and his attractive daughter Helen ([[~~w:Jean Seberg\|~~Jean Seberg]]) as additional hostages, Tully declares victory and returns with them to Grand Fenwick.		The contingent of 20 soldiers in medieval [[Chain mail\|mail]] books passage across the Atlantic on a small merchant ship, arriving in [[New York Harbor\|New York Harbour]] during an air-raid drill that leaves the city deserted and undefended. They chance upon a [[United States civil defense\|civil defence]] truck and are mistaken for invading [[Martian]]s, prompting an investigation by blustering but ineffectual General Snippet ([[MacDonald Parke]]). Puncturing the tyres of the general's jeep with their bows and arrows, the Grand Fenwick troops take him and four [[NYPD]] officers hostage. Still looking for a place to surrender, Tully and Will stumble across Dr. Alfred Kokintz ([[David Kossoff]]), whose invention of the Q Bomb – capable of destroying an entire continent – has prompted the defence drills. He has built a football-sized prototype of the unstable bomb, which Tully takes possession of. With Kokintz and his attractive daughter Helen ([[Jean Seberg]]) as additional hostages, Tully declares victory and returns with them to Grand Fenwick.

	The duchess indulges Tully's victory, and the prime minister resigns in disgust at Tully's blunder, leaving him as acting prime minister. When the incident is discovered, the U.S. government is thwarted from retaking the weapon and hostages by force, fearing the dishonour of attacking such a small and defenceless nation. Instead, they send the [[~~w:U.S. Secretary of Defense\|~~U.S. Secretary of Defense]] (Austin Willis) to discuss terms of surrender and get back the bomb. Meanwhile, Grand Fenwick receives competing offers of defensive aid from each of the world's powers, in exchange for the weapon.		The duchess indulges Tully's victory, and the prime minister resigns in disgust at Tully's blunder, leaving him as acting prime minister. When the incident is discovered, the U.S. government is thwarted from retaking the weapon and hostages by force, fearing the dishonour of attacking such a small and defenceless nation. Instead, they send the [[U.S. Secretary of Defense]] (Austin Willis) to discuss terms of surrender and get back the bomb. Meanwhile, Grand Fenwick receives competing offers of defensive aid from each of the world's powers, in exchange for the weapon.

	Tully becomes smitten with Helen, who initially despises him for taking them but falls for his simple charm. Then Snippet and Mountjoy conspire to steal the bomb and return it (and Helen) to America, but Tully gives chase and retrieves it. The Secretary of Defense and Tully agree to terms: the knock-off wine will be taken off the market, Grand Fenwick will receive monetary aid from the US, Helen and her father will remain in Grand Fenwick, and so will the bomb: held by "the little countries of the world" as a weapon of last resort if the superpowers refuse to disarm.		Tully becomes smitten with Helen, who initially despises him for taking them but falls for his simple charm. Then Snippet and Mountjoy conspire to steal the bomb and return it (and Helen) to America, but Tully gives chase and retrieves it. The Secretary of Defense and Tully agree to terms: the knock-off wine will be taken off the market, Grand Fenwick will receive monetary aid from the US, Helen and her father will remain in Grand Fenwick, and so will the bomb: held by "the little countries of the world" as a weapon of last resort if the superpowers refuse to disarm.
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	===Shooting===		===Shooting===
	Title designer [[Maurice Binder]] added a mouse in an opening joke with the [[Columbia Pictures]] logo.~~{{citation needed\|date=November 2015}}~~		Title designer [[Maurice Binder]] added a mouse in an opening joke with the [[Columbia Pictures]] logo.

	One scene has diplomats playing a board game called ''Diplomacy'', although the game more resembles ''[[Monopoly (game)\|Monopoly]]'' rather than the game ''[[Diplomacy (game)\|Diplomacy]]''.		One scene has diplomats playing a board game called ''Diplomacy'', although the game more resembles ''[[Monopoly (game)\|Monopoly]]'' rather than the game ''[[Diplomacy (game)\|Diplomacy]]''.

Kurt at 13:52, 3 February 2023

2023-02-03T13:52:00Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:52, 3 February 2023
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	~~{{Use British English\|date=April 2016}}~~
	~~{{Use dmy dates\|date=March 2016}}~~
	{{Infobox film		{{Infobox film
	\| name = The Mouse That Roared		\| name = The Mouse That Roared
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	==External links==		==External links==
	~~{{Wikiquote}}~~
	* {{AFI film\|id=52965}}		* {{AFI film\|id=52965}}
	* {{AllMovie title\|33517}}		* {{AllMovie title\|33517}}
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	* {{Rotten Tomatoes\|mouse_that_roared}}		* {{Rotten Tomatoes\|mouse_that_roared}}
	* {{TCMDb title\|28384}}		* {{TCMDb title\|28384}}

	~~{{Jack Arnold}}~~

	{{DEFAULTSORT:Mouse That Roared, The}}		{{DEFAULTSORT:Mouse That Roared, The}}

Kurt at 17:43, 15 October 2022

2022-10-15T17:43:39Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:43, 15 October 2022
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	\| language = English<br>French		\| language = English<br>French
	\| budget = $450,000<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.tcm.com/this-month/article/220553%7C220560/Trivia-The-Mouse-That-Roared.html\|title=Trivia – The Mouse That Roared\|website=Turner Classic Movies}}</ref>		\| budget = $450,000<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.tcm.com/this-month/article/220553%7C220560/Trivia-The-Mouse-That-Roared.html\|title=Trivia – The Mouse That Roared\|website=Turner Classic Movies}}</ref>
	\| gross = $2,000,000 (US & Canada [[theatrical rental\|rentals]])<ref name="us">{{cite magazine\|title=Rental Potentials of 1960\|magazine= [[Variety (magazine)\|Variety]]\|date=4 January 1961 \|page= 47}} Please note figures are rentals as opposed to total gross.</ref> <br />$200,000 (UK rentals)<ref name="uk">{{cite magazine\|title='Mouse' Amused U.S.; Not Blighty\|magazine= [[Variety (magazine)\|Variety]]\|date=24 January 1962 \|page= 1}}</ref>		\| gross = $2,000,000 (US & Canada [[theatrical rental\|rentals]])<ref name="us">{{cite magazine\|title=Rental Potentials of 1960\|magazine= [[Variety (magazine)\|Variety]]\|date=4 January 1961 \|page= 47}} Please note figures are rentals as opposed to total gross.</ref> <br />$200,000 (UK rentals)<ref name="uk">{{cite magazine\|title='Mouse' Amused U.S.; Not Blighty\|magazine= [[w:Variety (magazine)\|Variety]]\|date=24 January 1962 \|page= 1}}</ref>
	}}		}}

	'''''The Mouse That Roared''''' is a 1959 British [[w:satire\|satirical]] [[w:comedy film\|comedy film]] on a [[w:Ban The Bomb\|Ban The Bomb]] theme, based on [[w:Leonard Wibberley\|Leonard Wibberley]]'s novel ''[[w:The Mouse That Roared\|The Mouse That Roared]]'' (1955).<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6b0dc0d2\|title=The Mouse That Roared (1959)\|publisher=}}</ref> It stars [[Peter Sellers]] in three roles: Duchess Gloriana XII; Count Rupert Mountjoy, the Prime Minister; and Tully Bascomb, the military leader; and co-stars [[w:Jean Seberg\|Jean Seberg]]. The film was directed by [[Jack Arnold (director)\|Jack Arnold]], and the screenplay was written by [[w:Roger MacDougall\|Roger MacDougall]] and [[w:Stanley Mann\|Stanley Mann]].		'''''The Mouse That Roared''''' is a 1959 British [[w:satire\|satirical]] [[w:comedy film\|comedy film]] on a [[w:Ban The Bomb\|Ban The Bomb]] theme, based on [[w:Leonard Wibberley\|Leonard Wibberley]]'s novel ''[[w:The Mouse That Roared\|The Mouse That Roared]]'' (1955).<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6b0dc0d2\|title=The Mouse That Roared (1959)\|publisher=}}</ref> It stars [[Peter Sellers]] in three roles: Duchess Gloriana XII; Count Rupert Mountjoy, the Prime Minister; and Tully Bascomb, the military leader; and co-stars [[w:Jean Seberg\|Jean Seberg]]. The film was directed by [[w:Jack Arnold (director)\|Jack Arnold]], and the screenplay was written by [[w:Roger MacDougall\|Roger MacDougall]] and [[w:Stanley Mann\|Stanley Mann]].

	==Plot==		==Plot==
Line 33:		Line 33:
	The contingent of 20 soldiers in medieval [[w:Chain mail\|mail]] books passage across the Atlantic on a small merchant ship, arriving in [[w:New York Harbor\|New York Harbour]] during an air-raid drill that leaves the city deserted and undefended. They chance upon a [[w:United States civil defense\|civil defence]] truck and are mistaken for invading [[w:Martian\|Martian]]s, prompting an investigation by blustering but ineffectual General Snippet ([[w:MacDonald Parke\|MacDonald Parke]]). Puncturing the tyres of the general's jeep with their bows and arrows, the Grand Fenwick troops take him and four [[w:NYPD\|NYPD]] officers hostage. Still looking for a place to surrender, Tully and Will stumble across Dr. Alfred Kokintz ([[David Kossoff]]), whose invention of the Q Bomb – capable of destroying an entire continent – has prompted the defence drills. He has built a football-sized prototype of the unstable bomb, which Tully takes possession of. With Kokintz and his attractive daughter Helen ([[w:Jean Seberg\|Jean Seberg]]) as additional hostages, Tully declares victory and returns with them to Grand Fenwick.		The contingent of 20 soldiers in medieval [[w:Chain mail\|mail]] books passage across the Atlantic on a small merchant ship, arriving in [[w:New York Harbor\|New York Harbour]] during an air-raid drill that leaves the city deserted and undefended. They chance upon a [[w:United States civil defense\|civil defence]] truck and are mistaken for invading [[w:Martian\|Martian]]s, prompting an investigation by blustering but ineffectual General Snippet ([[w:MacDonald Parke\|MacDonald Parke]]). Puncturing the tyres of the general's jeep with their bows and arrows, the Grand Fenwick troops take him and four [[w:NYPD\|NYPD]] officers hostage. Still looking for a place to surrender, Tully and Will stumble across Dr. Alfred Kokintz ([[David Kossoff]]), whose invention of the Q Bomb – capable of destroying an entire continent – has prompted the defence drills. He has built a football-sized prototype of the unstable bomb, which Tully takes possession of. With Kokintz and his attractive daughter Helen ([[w:Jean Seberg\|Jean Seberg]]) as additional hostages, Tully declares victory and returns with them to Grand Fenwick.

	The duchess indulges Tully's victory, and the prime minister resigns in disgust at Tully's blunder, leaving him as acting prime minister. When the incident is discovered, the U.S. government is thwarted from retaking the weapon and hostages by force, fearing the dishonour of attacking such a small and defenceless nation. Instead, they send the [[U.S. Secretary of Defense]] (Austin Willis) to discuss terms of surrender and get back the bomb. Meanwhile, Grand Fenwick receives competing offers of defensive aid from each of the world's powers, in exchange for the weapon.		The duchess indulges Tully's victory, and the prime minister resigns in disgust at Tully's blunder, leaving him as acting prime minister. When the incident is discovered, the U.S. government is thwarted from retaking the weapon and hostages by force, fearing the dishonour of attacking such a small and defenceless nation. Instead, they send the [[w:U.S. Secretary of Defense\|U.S. Secretary of Defense]] (Austin Willis) to discuss terms of surrender and get back the bomb. Meanwhile, Grand Fenwick receives competing offers of defensive aid from each of the world's powers, in exchange for the weapon.

	Tully becomes smitten with Helen, who initially despises him for taking them but falls for his simple charm. Then Snippet and Mountjoy conspire to steal the bomb and return it (and Helen) to America, but Tully gives chase and retrieves it. The Secretary of Defense and Tully agree to terms: the knock-off wine will be taken off the market, Grand Fenwick will receive monetary aid from the US, Helen and her father will remain in Grand Fenwick, and so will the bomb: held by "the little countries of the world" as a weapon of last resort if the superpowers refuse to disarm.		Tully becomes smitten with Helen, who initially despises him for taking them but falls for his simple charm. Then Snippet and Mountjoy conspire to steal the bomb and return it (and Helen) to America, but Tully gives chase and retrieves it. The Secretary of Defense and Tully agree to terms: the knock-off wine will be taken off the market, Grand Fenwick will receive monetary aid from the US, Helen and her father will remain in Grand Fenwick, and so will the bomb: held by "the little countries of the world" as a weapon of last resort if the superpowers refuse to disarm.

Kurt at 17:42, 15 October 2022

2022-10-15T17:42:32Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:42, 15 October 2022
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	\| image = The Mouse That Roared.jpg		\| image = The Mouse That Roared.jpg
	\| image_size =		\| image_size =
	\| caption = ~~Original British quad format film poster~~		\| caption =
	\| director = [[Jack Arnold (director)\|Jack Arnold]]		\| director = [[w:Jack Arnold (director)\|Jack Arnold]]
	\| producer = [[Walter Shenson]]		\| producer = [[w:Walter Shenson\|Walter Shenson]]
	\| writer = [[Leonard Wibberley]]		\| writer = [[w:Leonard Wibberley]]
	\| based_on = ''[[The Mouse That Roared]]''		\| based_on = ''[[w:The Mouse That Roared\|The Mouse That Roared]]''
	\| screenplay = [[Roger MacDougall]]<br />[[Stanley Mann]]		\| screenplay = [[w:Roger MacDougall\|Roger MacDougall]]<br />[[w:Stanley Mann\|Stanley Mann]]
	\| starring = [[Peter Sellers]]<br />[[Jean Seberg]]<br />[[William Hartnell]]		\| starring = [[Peter Sellers]]<br />[[w:Jean Seberg\|Jean Seberg]]<br />[[William Hartnell]]
	\| music = [[Edwin Astley]]		\| music = [[w:Edwin Astley\|Edwin Astley]]
	\| cinematography = [[John Wilcox (cinematographer)\|John Wilcox]]		\| cinematography = [[w:John Wilcox (cinematographer)\|John Wilcox]]
	\| editing = [[Raymond Poulton]]		\| editing = [[w:Raymond Poulton\|Raymond Poulton]]
	\| studio = Highroad Productions		\| studio = Highroad Productions
	\| distributor = [[Columbia Pictures]]		\| distributor = [[w:Columbia Pictures\|Columbia Pictures]]
	\| released = {{Film date\|df=y\|1959\|07\|17\|UK}}		\| released = {{Film date\|df=y\|1959\|07\|17\|UK}}
	\| runtime = 83 minutes		\| runtime = 83 minutes
Line 26:		Line 26:
	}}		}}

	'''''The Mouse That Roared''''' is a 1959 British [[satire\|satirical]] [[comedy film]] on a [[Ban The Bomb]] theme, based on [[Leonard Wibberley]]'s novel ''[[The Mouse That Roared]]'' (1955).<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6b0dc0d2\|title=The Mouse That Roared (1959)\|publisher=}}</ref> It stars [[Peter Sellers]] in three roles: Duchess Gloriana XII; Count Rupert Mountjoy, the Prime Minister; and Tully Bascomb, the military leader; and co-stars [[Jean Seberg]]. The film was directed by [[Jack Arnold (director)\|Jack Arnold]], and the screenplay was written by [[Roger MacDougall]] and [[Stanley Mann]].		'''''The Mouse That Roared''''' is a 1959 British [[w:satire\|satirical]] [[w:comedy film\|comedy film]] on a [[w:Ban The Bomb\|Ban The Bomb]] theme, based on [[w:Leonard Wibberley\|Leonard Wibberley]]'s novel ''[[w:The Mouse That Roared\|The Mouse That Roared]]'' (1955).<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6b0dc0d2\|title=The Mouse That Roared (1959)\|publisher=}}</ref> It stars [[Peter Sellers]] in three roles: Duchess Gloriana XII; Count Rupert Mountjoy, the Prime Minister; and Tully Bascomb, the military leader; and co-stars [[w:Jean Seberg\|Jean Seberg]]. The film was directed by [[Jack Arnold (director)\|Jack Arnold]], and the screenplay was written by [[w:Roger MacDougall\|Roger MacDougall]] and [[w:Stanley Mann\|Stanley Mann]].

	==Plot==		==Plot==
	The minuscule European [[Duchy]] of [[Grand Fenwick]] is bankrupted when an American company comes up with a cheaper imitation of Fenwick's sole export, its fabled Pinot Grand Fenwick wine. Crafty Prime Minister Count Mountjoy (Peter Sellers) devises a plan: Grand Fenwick will declare war on the United States, then surrender, taking advantage of American largesse toward its defeated enemies to rebuild the defeated nation's economy. Duchess Gloriana (also Sellers) is hesitant but agrees to the plan. Mild-mannered game warden Tully Bascomb (also Sellers) is charged as Field Marshal to lead the Grand Fenwick troops, aided by Sergeant Will Buckley ([[William Hartnell]]).		The minuscule European [[w:Duchy\|Duchy]] of [[w:Grand Fenwick\|Grand Fenwick]] is bankrupted when an American company comes up with a cheaper imitation of Fenwick's sole export, its fabled Pinot Grand Fenwick wine. Crafty Prime Minister Count Mountjoy (Peter Sellers) devises a plan: Grand Fenwick will declare war on the United States, then surrender, taking advantage of American largesse toward its defeated enemies to rebuild the defeated nation's economy. Duchess Gloriana (also Sellers) is hesitant but agrees to the plan. Mild-mannered game warden Tully Bascomb (also Sellers) is charged as Field Marshal to lead the Grand Fenwick troops, aided by Sergeant Will Buckley ([[William Hartnell]]).

	The contingent of 20 soldiers in medieval [[Chain mail\|mail]] books passage across the Atlantic on a small merchant ship, arriving in [[New York Harbor]] during an air-raid drill that leaves the city deserted and undefended. They chance upon a [[United States civil defense\|civil defence]] truck and are mistaken for invading [[Martian]]s, prompting an investigation by blustering but ineffectual General Snippet ([[MacDonald Parke]]). Puncturing the tyres of the general's jeep with their bows and arrows, the Grand Fenwick troops take him and four [[NYPD]] officers hostage. Still looking for a place to surrender, Tully and Will stumble across Dr. Alfred Kokintz ([[David Kossoff]]), whose invention of the Q Bomb – capable of destroying an entire continent – has prompted the defence drills. He has built a football-sized prototype of the unstable bomb, which Tully takes possession of. With Kokintz and his attractive daughter Helen ([[Jean Seberg]]) as additional hostages, Tully declares victory and returns with them to Grand Fenwick.		The contingent of 20 soldiers in medieval [[w:Chain mail\|mail]] books passage across the Atlantic on a small merchant ship, arriving in [[w:New York Harbor\|New York Harbour]] during an air-raid drill that leaves the city deserted and undefended. They chance upon a [[w:United States civil defense\|civil defence]] truck and are mistaken for invading [[w:Martian\|Martian]]s, prompting an investigation by blustering but ineffectual General Snippet ([[w:MacDonald Parke\|MacDonald Parke]]). Puncturing the tyres of the general's jeep with their bows and arrows, the Grand Fenwick troops take him and four [[w:NYPD\|NYPD]] officers hostage. Still looking for a place to surrender, Tully and Will stumble across Dr. Alfred Kokintz ([[David Kossoff]]), whose invention of the Q Bomb – capable of destroying an entire continent – has prompted the defence drills. He has built a football-sized prototype of the unstable bomb, which Tully takes possession of. With Kokintz and his attractive daughter Helen ([[w:Jean Seberg\|Jean Seberg]]) as additional hostages, Tully declares victory and returns with them to Grand Fenwick.

	The duchess indulges Tully's victory, and the prime minister resigns in disgust at Tully's blunder, leaving him as acting prime minister. When the incident is discovered, the U.S. government is thwarted from retaking the weapon and hostages by force, fearing the dishonour of attacking such a small and defenceless nation. Instead, they send the [[U.S. Secretary of Defense]] (Austin Willis) to discuss terms of surrender and get back the bomb. Meanwhile, Grand Fenwick receives competing offers of defensive aid from each of the world's powers, in exchange for the weapon.		The duchess indulges Tully's victory, and the prime minister resigns in disgust at Tully's blunder, leaving him as acting prime minister. When the incident is discovered, the U.S. government is thwarted from retaking the weapon and hostages by force, fearing the dishonour of attacking such a small and defenceless nation. Instead, they send the [[U.S. Secretary of Defense]] (Austin Willis) to discuss terms of surrender and get back the bomb. Meanwhile, Grand Fenwick receives competing offers of defensive aid from each of the world's powers, in exchange for the weapon.

Kurt at 17:34, 15 October 2022

2022-10-15T17:34:23Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:34, 15 October 2022
Line 1:		Line 1:
	~~{{More citations needed\|date=June 2015}}~~
	{{Use British English\|date=April 2016}}		{{Use British English\|date=April 2016}}
	{{Use dmy dates\|date=March 2016}}		{{Use dmy dates\|date=March 2016}}
	{{Infobox film		{{Infobox film
	\| name = The Mouse That Roared		\| name = The Mouse That Roared
	\| image = The Mouse That Roared ~~British Poster~~.jpg		\| image = The Mouse That Roared.jpg
	\| image_size =		\| image_size =
	\| caption = Original British quad format film poster		\| caption = Original British quad format film poster

Kurt: 1 revision imported

2022-10-15T16:55:33Z

1 revision imported

← Older revision	Revision as of 11:55, 15 October 2022
(No difference)

en>Ser Amantio di Nicolao: add Category:1950s British films

2022-09-03T18:11:38Z

add Category:1950s British films

New page

{{More citations needed|date=June 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2016}}
{{Infobox film
| name = The Mouse That Roared
| image = The Mouse That Roared British Poster.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Original British quad format film poster
| director = [[Jack Arnold (director)|Jack Arnold]]
| producer = [[Walter Shenson]]
| writer = [[Leonard Wibberley]]
| based_on = ''[[The Mouse That Roared]]''
| screenplay = [[Roger MacDougall]] [[Stanley Mann]]
| starring = [[Peter Sellers]] [[Jean Seberg]] [[William Hartnell]]
| music = [[Edwin Astley]]
| cinematography = [[John Wilcox (cinematographer)|John Wilcox]]
| editing = [[Raymond Poulton]]
| studio = Highroad Productions
| distributor = [[Columbia Pictures]]
| released = {{Film date|df=y|1959|07|17|UK}}
| runtime = 83 minutes
| country = United Kingdom
| language = English French
| budget = $450,000<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tcm.com/this-month/article/220553%7C220560/Trivia-The-Mouse-That-Roared.html|title=Trivia – The Mouse That Roared|website=Turner Classic Movies}}</ref>
| gross = $2,000,000 (US & Canada [[theatrical rental|rentals]])<ref name="us">{{cite magazine|title=Rental Potentials of 1960|magazine= [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=4 January 1961 |page= 47}} Please note figures are rentals as opposed to total gross.</ref> $200,000 (UK rentals)<ref name="uk">{{cite magazine|title='Mouse' Amused U.S.; Not Blighty|magazine= [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=24 January 1962 |page= 1}}</ref>
}}

'''''The Mouse That Roared''''' is a 1959 British [[satire|satirical]] [[comedy film]] on a [[Ban The Bomb]] theme, based on [[Leonard Wibberley]]'s novel ''[[The Mouse That Roared]]'' (1955).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6b0dc0d2|title=The Mouse That Roared (1959)|publisher=}}</ref> It stars [[Peter Sellers]] in three roles: Duchess Gloriana XII; Count Rupert Mountjoy, the Prime Minister; and Tully Bascomb, the military leader; and co-stars [[Jean Seberg]]. The film was directed by [[Jack Arnold (director)|Jack Arnold]], and the screenplay was written by [[Roger MacDougall]] and [[Stanley Mann]].

==Plot==
The minuscule European [[Duchy]] of [[Grand Fenwick]] is bankrupted when an American company comes up with a cheaper imitation of Fenwick's sole export, its fabled Pinot Grand Fenwick wine. Crafty Prime Minister Count Mountjoy (Peter Sellers) devises a plan: Grand Fenwick will declare war on the United States, then surrender, taking advantage of American largesse toward its defeated enemies to rebuild the defeated nation's economy. Duchess Gloriana (also Sellers) is hesitant but agrees to the plan. Mild-mannered game warden Tully Bascomb (also Sellers) is charged as Field Marshal to lead the Grand Fenwick troops, aided by Sergeant Will Buckley ([[William Hartnell]]).

The contingent of 20 soldiers in medieval [[Chain mail|mail]] books passage across the Atlantic on a small merchant ship, arriving in [[New York Harbor]] during an air-raid drill that leaves the city deserted and undefended. They chance upon a [[United States civil defense|civil defence]] truck and are mistaken for invading [[Martian]]s, prompting an investigation by blustering but ineffectual General Snippet ([[MacDonald Parke]]). Puncturing the tyres of the general's jeep with their bows and arrows, the Grand Fenwick troops take him and four [[NYPD]] officers hostage. Still looking for a place to surrender, Tully and Will stumble across Dr. Alfred Kokintz ([[David Kossoff]]), whose invention of the Q Bomb – capable of destroying an entire continent – has prompted the defence drills. He has built a football-sized prototype of the unstable bomb, which Tully takes possession of. With Kokintz and his attractive daughter Helen ([[Jean Seberg]]) as additional hostages, Tully declares victory and returns with them to Grand Fenwick.

The duchess indulges Tully's victory, and the prime minister resigns in disgust at Tully's blunder, leaving him as acting prime minister. When the incident is discovered, the U.S. government is thwarted from retaking the weapon and hostages by force, fearing the dishonour of attacking such a small and defenceless nation. Instead, they send the [[U.S. Secretary of Defense]] (Austin Willis) to discuss terms of surrender and get back the bomb. Meanwhile, Grand Fenwick receives competing offers of defensive aid from each of the world's powers, in exchange for the weapon.

Tully becomes smitten with Helen, who initially despises him for taking them but falls for his simple charm. Then Snippet and Mountjoy conspire to steal the bomb and return it (and Helen) to America, but Tully gives chase and retrieves it. The Secretary of Defense and Tully agree to terms: the knock-off wine will be taken off the market, Grand Fenwick will receive monetary aid from the US, Helen and her father will remain in Grand Fenwick, and so will the bomb: held by "the little countries of the world" as a weapon of last resort if the superpowers refuse to disarm.

Checking the bomb for damage, Tully, Helen, and Dr. Kokintz find it was "a dud" all along, and leave it in the dungeon, conspiring to keep its impotence secret. However, after they leave, a mouse emerges from it, and it appears to rearm, sitting ready to explode if disturbed.

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

== Production ==
Stage rights to the book were bought in 1955 by [[Howard Dietz]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=DIRECTOR TO ACT IN 'SALUTE' SHOW|author=L. C.|date=Mar 31, 1955|work=New York Times|id={{ProQuest|113471187}}}}</ref>

Walter Shenson was doing publicity for ''[[Abandon Ship!]]'' (1956) in England in 1956 when given a copy of the novel by that film's star [[Tyrone Power]]. Shenson optioned the film rights in 1957 as his first independent production.<ref>{{cite news|title=NEW ROLE LISTED FOR ROCK HUDSON|author=THOMAS M PRYOR|date=Apr 30, 1957|work=New York Times|id={{ProQuest|114014388}}}}</ref> He spent over a year trying to raise finance. He eventually obtained interest from [[Carl Foreman]] who had an arrangement to produce films for Columbia through his Highroad Films.<ref name="new">{{Cite news|title=PREMINGER BUYS TOP BEST-SELLER|author=R. N.|date=Nov 11, 1959|work=New York Times|id={{ProQuest|114882002}}}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|author=Scott, J. L.|date=Oct 1, 1958|title=Major studio rise to power foreseen.|work=Los Angeles Times|id={{ProQuest|167302974}}}}</ref>

===Changes from book===
Liberties were taken in the film adaptation to display Peter Sellers' versatile comedy talents. The lead character of the book is the Duchess Gloriana XII, an attractive young royal in the manner of the young [[Queen Elizabeth II]] and [[Grace Kelly|Princess Grace]] of [[Monaco]].

In the film version, however, Peter Sellers plays the role as a parody of an elderly [[Queen Victoria]] (who thinks the President of the United States is [[Calvin Coolidge]]), whilst his Mountjoy is a parody of [[Benjamin Disraeli]].

The [[Marseille]] and [[New York Harbor]] sequences were filmed in [[Southampton]]; the presence of the {{RMS|Queen Elizabeth}} ocean liner there was a lucky coincidence. In addition, in the novel, an encounter with the [[New York Police Department]] leads to bloodshed that complicates peace negotiations; this does not appear in the film.

Additionally, in the film, both Tully and Helen are with Dr. Kokintz when he discovers the bomb is a dud, and it is Tully who suggests that they keep that fact a secret; in the book Dr. Kokintz discovers the fact alone and apparently keeps it to himself.

===Casting===
The lead role went to [[Peter Sellers]]. The female lead went to [[Jean Seberg]], who was then under contract to Columbia. At the time [[William Hartnell]] was well known for playing army sergeants, having played Sgt. Grimshaw in ''[[Carry on Sergeant]]'' in 1958 and Sgt. Maj. Percy Bullimore in the TV sitcom ''[[The Army Game]]''.

===Shooting===
Title designer [[Maurice Binder]] added a mouse in an opening joke with the [[Columbia Pictures]] logo.{{citation needed|date=November 2015}}

One scene has diplomats playing a board game called ''Diplomacy'', although the game more resembles ''[[Monopoly (game)|Monopoly]]'' rather than the game ''[[Diplomacy (game)|Diplomacy]]''.

==Reception==
The film did not perform up to expectations in the UK earning [[theatrical rental]]s of $200,000<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=20 April 1960|page=47|title=Gag-Films Rule British Trade|url=http://www.archive.org/stream/variety218-1960–04#page/n200/mode/1up|via=[[Archive.org]]}}</ref><ref name=uk/> but was a surprise hit at the US box office with rentals of $2 million.<ref name="new"/><ref name=us/> It was felt that the reluctance of the characters to join the army in a time of need was received less well in the UK than in the US.<ref name=uk/>

The ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' said the film "laid an egg",<ref>{{Cite news|author=Warren, G.|date=Dec 26, 1959|title='Mouse that roared' also lays an egg|work= [[Los Angeles Times]] |id={{ProQuest|167609871}}}}</ref> but [[Bosley Crowther]] at ''[[The New York Times]]'' offered a more positive review.<ref>{{cite news |last= Crowther |first= Bosley |author-link=Bosley Crowther|title='The Mouse That Roared' Wins War Against U.S. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1959/10/27/archives/the-mouse-that-roared-wins-war-against-us-guild-comedy-depicts.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |accessdate=25 December 2019}}</ref>

On [[Rotten Tomatoes]], which retrospectively collected a mix of contemporary and later reviews, the film has an approval rating of 90% based on reviews from 20 critics.<ref>{{cite web |title= The Mouse That Roared (1959) |url= https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mouse_that_roared |website= [[Rotten Tomatoes]]}}</ref>

==Adaptations==
=== Television pilot ===
In 1964, Jack Arnold obtained exclusive television rights for ''The Mouse That Roared'' from Leonard Wibberley.<ref>{{cite book|author=Reemes, Dana M. |title=Directed by Jack Arnold|publisher= McFarland|date= 1988|page=140}}</ref> He produced and directed a colour [[television pilot]] with [[ABC Weekend TV|ABC Television]] and [[Screen Gems]] called ''The Mouse That Roared'', starring [[Sid Caesar]] as the Duchess, Mountjoy, and Tully, and co-starring [[Joyce Jameson]], [[Sigrid Valdis]], and [[Richard Deacon (actor)|Richard Deacon]]. However, the pilot was not picked up for production. It was filmed by [[Richard H. Kline]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cinematographers.nl/PaginasDoPh/kline.htm |title=Richard H. Kline |website=Cinematographers.nl |date= |accessdate=18 June 2015}}</ref>

==Sequel==
[[Richard Lester]] directed a film sequel, ''[[The Mouse on the Moon]]'' (1963), adapted from [[Leonard Wibberley|Wibberley]]'s 1962 novel ''[[The Mouse on the Moon (novel)|The Mouse on the Moon]]''.

==Home video==
The film was released on VHS 14 July 1993. It was also released on DVD for the first time on 8 July 2003. It was released on Blu-Ray in Australia by Umbrella Entertainment on 7 April 2021.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{AFI film|id=52965}}
* {{AllMovie title|33517}}
* {{IMDb title|0053084}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes|mouse_that_roared}}
* {{TCMDb title|28384}}

{{Jack Arnold}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mouse That Roared, The}}
[[Category:1959 films]]
[[Category:1959 comedy films]]
[[Category:British comedy films]]
[[Category:British satirical films]]
[[Category:British political satire films]]
[[Category:Columbia Pictures films]]
[[Category:Films based on Irish novels]]
[[Category:Films set in Europe]]
[[Category:Films set in New York City]]
[[Category:Films directed by Jack Arnold]]
[[Category:1950s satirical films]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Stanley Mann]]
[[Category:1950s British films]]