The Mouse on the Moon (1963)

Pretty Good

Good movie, but best of all time? Hardly . . .

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

The DVD box claims that this mild comedy is 'hilarious' are somewhat inflated. Okay, the box copy on any comedy tends to exaggerate its hilarity, so we won't hold such hyperbole too strongly against it. That said, this modest sequel to The Mouse That Roared manages to entertain as what it is: a low key family comedy of moderate charms. The idiot locals of the tiny and pastoral Grand Duchy of Fenwick return, this time with a scam to get Uncle Sugar to pay to restore the place's ancient plumbing by way of a 'technology loan'. Wink, wink. When U.S. inspectors arrive to view the results of Fenwick's space program, the locals scramble to keep them off-balance while enlisting the aid of an eccentric old professor to build them a REAL moon rocket. And it just so happens he has been working on that very thing. There are the usual farcical runnings around and the presence of the quirky Terry-Thomas is always welcome in this sort of exercise, but the whole thing is less clever and less fun than the original or the many Ealing Studios caper movies from which it clearly draws inspiration. The look is good, the characters all have their modest individual charms and everything turns out nifty in the end, aww, but don't expect anything overly inspired. There isn't a lot of real cinematic cleverness here, just good, competent old-fashioned movie entertainment. As that it works just fine. Enjoy.

The tiny principality of Grand Fenwick applies for a loan from the US under the pretence of funding for space research. They are pleasantly surprised when the money is granted and the Russians donate an old rocket, but even more so when local scientist Professor Kokintz perfects a new atomic fuel to power a lunar expedition. Can Grand Fenwick be the first nation on the moon ?This good-natured sequel to The Mouse That Roared is a pleasant mixture of satire and slapstick, as everyone seeks to exploit the situation to their advantage. The Americans want to appear generous, the Russians don't want to lose face, the British want to keep in with whoever wins, while the locals really just want indoor plumbing for their castle. Surprisingly, the science fact in the movie is pretty good as well as funny (the rocket fuel comes from an explosive batch of local wine), and there are numerous clever riffs on the frantic activities of the Space Race so prevalent at the time. The cast are all fun, with Kossoff and Cribbins a nice double act as the gentle inventor and astronaut-wannabe, Moody in fine Machiavellian form as Prime Minister Mountjoy, and Rutherford enjoying herself as the dopey ruler, Duchess Gloriana. Frankie Howerd also has a funny walk-on. There's some nice music by Ron Grainer and a typically sixties title sequence designed by Maurice Binder (in pre-James Bond days). Based on the third of the five Mouse books by Leonard Wibberley, a talented and versatile author who also wrote mysteries, travel and sailing guides, auto-racing stories, children's books and an epic biography of Thomas Jefferson. This was the always-interesting Lester's second feature (after It's Trad, Dad!), and whilst not as a good as the Jack Arnold / Peter Sellers classic which preceded it, it's an agreeably goofy comedy and a pleasant way to spend a slow evening.

There could do with some watching of films such as this in high offices in the US or indeed, in many other "world powers".Pragmatism and a certain amount of humility might be learnt by those watching and a realisation that acts of domination aren't necessarily a good thing nor will they end in their intended way; are the basic premise of this film.What it lacks in subtle finesse, it makes up for in it's universal humour and it's now poignant reminder that we can all be fools when we think first of ourselves and only later of the consequences for others.A film made in 1963, more than 40 years old, still has a message for us today, a message that it seems many need reminding of.Splendid farce and superb comedy moments and a jolly gripping tale to boot.I'll drink champagne to that!

This is one of the best political satires I have ever seen. Ironically, I saw this film before I saw the predecessor, The Mouse That Roared, and I still have yet to see all of that film. I really enjoyed the fact that this film poked fun at how obsessed the United States and the Soviet Union were on the space race that they didn't know how the Duchy of Grand Fenwick beat them in the construction of a rocket to the moon. Bernard Cribbins, Ron Moody and David Kossoff were all exceptional in this film and they made it an enjoyable experience. Too bad this or the original "Mouse" film are rarely, if ever shown on television anymore.