The Mouse That Roared (1959)

An impoverished backward nation declares a war on the United States of America, hoping to lose, but things don't go according to plan.

Director:

Jack Arnold

Writers:

Roger MacDougall (screenplay) (as Roger Macdougall), Stanley Mann (screenplay)

Stars:

Peter Sellers, Jean Seberg, William Hartnell

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Peter Sellers	...	Grand Duchess Gloriana XII / Prime Minister Count Rupert of Mountjoy / Tully Bascombe
Jean Seberg	...	Helen Kokintz
William Hartnell	...	Will Buckley
David Kossoff	...	Doctor Alfred Kokintz
Leo McKern	...	Benter
MacDonald Parke	...	General Snippet (as Macdonald Parke)
Austin Willis	...	United States Secretary of Defense
Timothy Bateson	...	Roger
Monte Landis	...	Cobbley (as Monty Landis)
Alan Gifford	...	Air Raid Warden
Colin Gordon	...	BBC Announcer
Harold Kasket	...	Pedro

Storyline

The Duchy of Grand Fenwick, the smallest country in the world, is nestled in the French Alps. Being as isolated as it is, its life is a throwback to olden days. It is a happy, peace-loving country. Its economy solely rests on export of its only wine, Pinot Grand Fenwick, to the US. When a California vintner starts producing and selling a knock-off of the Pinot Grand Fenwick at a lower price, the Grand Fenwick economy goes into a crisis situation, the country on the brink of bankruptcy. Three protests to the US go largely unanswered. Grand Fenwick's Prime Minister, Rupert of Mountjoy, believes the solution is to declare war on the US, and promptly lose the war in less than a day with no casualties on either side, after which the US, which it has historically done, will provide vast financial aide to rebuild the country. Grand Fenwick's monarch, the Grand Duchess Gloriana XII, ultimately supports this concept. The plan is to send an official declaration of war to the US, have a small ...

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Plot Keywords:

satire | actor playing multiple roles | new york city | black comedy | cold war | 

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Taglines:

The Smallest Country in the World Invades the U.S.A.!

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

The tiny ship that transports the Grand Duchy's soldiers is the Paladin.

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Goofs

The stormy crossing of the Paladin transporting Grand Fenwick's invasion force to the US was achieved by simply tilting the camera, as exposed by the way the sky moves at exactly the same angle as the deck.

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Quotes

Prime Minister Count Rupert of Mountjoy: My dear fellow, with then new stabilizers and all that sort of rigamarole, the modern ocean liner is as steady as a row boat.

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Crazy Credits

The opening credits include an animation of a big mouse coming out of a castle on its drawbridge. However, it is drawn as if it walks off the side of the drawbridge.

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Connections

Referenced in How I Met Your Mother: The Ashtray (2013)

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Soundtracks

Rule Britannia
(1740) (uncredited)
Music by Thomas Augustine Arne
Played in the score

User Reviews

Hansel and Gretel Meet Dr. Strangelove

This comedy is riotous, ridiculous cold-war satire. Peter Sellers really shines in this comedy gem by playing multiple characters - The Prime Minister Count Montjoy, The Constable of the militia Tully Bascomb, and Her Royal Highness Grand Duchess Gloriana! The plot pokes fun at the wrangling of international politics and nuclear arms proliferation in a money-making scheme by the world's smallest country that goes horribly and laughably wrong. This satire leaves nobody unscathed - the Russians, Americans, British, Cinese and French all get jabbed. The action is fast-paced without getting too slapstick. It's not exactly brain-food, but it will leave you snickering.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English French

Release Date:

November 1959 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Mouse That Roared

Filming Locations:

Southampton, Hampshire, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$450,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Highroad Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

83 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Eastman Color)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1