One of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing

19751975
GG
1h 34m

A suspected Western spy steals a secret microfilm from China and hides it in the skeleton of a museum dinosaur, prompting a frantic search for it by various interested parties.A suspected Western spy steals a secret microfilm from China and hides it in the skeleton of a museum dinosaur, prompting a frantic search for it by various interested parties.A suspected Western spy steals a secret microfilm from China and hides it in the skeleton of a museum dinosaur, prompting a frantic search for it by various interested parties.

6.0/10

1.8K

Director
- Robert Stevenson
Writers
- Bill Walsh(screenplay)
- David Forrest(novel "The Great Dinosaur Robbery")
Stars

Top credits

See production, box office & company info

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Peter Ustinov and Helen Hayes in One of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing (1975)

Peter Ustinov, Helen Hayes, Derek Nimmo, Clive Revill, and Joan Sims in One of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing (1975)

Peter Ustinov, Bernard Bresslaw, Helen Hayes, and Joan Sims in One of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing (1975)

Peter Ustinov, Helen Hayes, and Joan Sims in One of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing (1975)

Helen Hayes in One of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing (1975)

Joss Ackland and Amanda Barrie in One of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing (1975)

Peter Ustinov and Clive Revill in One of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing (1975)

Lord Southmere escapes from China with a microfilm of the formula for the mysterious "Lotus X", and is captured by Chinese spies who have been instructed to retrieve the microfilm from him. Escaping from his captors, Lord Southmere hides the microfilm in the bones of a large dinosaur at the National History Museum. However, he has been followed into the museum by the spies, so Lord Southmere asks Hettie (his former nanny), to retrieve the microfilm before the spies can find it. He is then promptly recaptured by the head spy, Hnup Wan. Hettie, and her friend Emily (another nanny), devise a plan for a group of nannies to search for the microfilm, but they are unsuccessful in their endeavors. The spies then decide to steal the dinosaur, but are outmaneuvered by Hettie and Emily, who, with a young nanny named Susan, take the dinosaur skeleton on an unforgettable journey around the countryside. When Hettie's two young charges, Lord Castleberry and his younger brother, Truscott, also become involved in the plot, all seems lost, especially for Lord Southmere. —David McAnally <D.McAnally@uq.net.au>

spy nanny museum spoof title based on novel 1 more

Taglines
- It's kung-fu fun...that'll tickle your funny bone!
Genres
Certificate
- G
Parents guide
- Add content advisory

Trivia
The skeleton prop was used in the scene where C-3PO sees the Jawa transporter in Star Wars (1977), which was made at Elstree Studios.

Goofs
When the nannies are searching the dinosaur, Hettie observes that if the skeleton fell on them they would be the first people to be killed in a dinosaur in two million years. Dinosaurs actually became extinct about 65 million years ago. Humans emerged only about 500,000 years ago, so Hettie is wrong on multiple counts.

Quotes
Susan: You lose 3 points, you hit a Granny!

Connections
Referenced in Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)

Top review

6/10

Dinosaur skeleton meets panda nose!

Lord Southmere has a ring of Chinese spies chasing him because he has in his possession a secret microfilm, the contents of this microfilm reveals the formula for mysterious Lotus X. After being chased into the Natural History Museum, Southmere hides the film in the bones of a Brontosaurus skeleton. After Southmere's capture, it's up to his old nanny and her hardy band of friends to find the film and keep it from the clutches of the evil Hnup Wan.....

.....and so is the plot for Disney's charmingly silly live action venture. It's not masquerading as anything other than a fun family film, it's got bags of energy, and it boasts a quite delightful premise. Obviously taking its lead from Ealing's brilliant The Ladykillers, One Of Our Dinosaur's Is Missing's strength is that a couple of English old dears are taking on {and defying} a gang of Chinese nasties. Some mirthful gags {both visual and oral} light up the film, including a great sequence as the ladies steal the skeleton and whisk thru London with it on the back of a coal fuelled truck!

It's good old harmless fun that doesn't deserve the charge of stereotyping the Chinese, it's 1975 and the cast are having fun, and honestly, so should the family. 7/10

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