The Mouse on the Moon (1963)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Richard Lester

Writers:

Leonard Wibberley (novel)
Michael Pertwee (screenplay)

Release Date:

17 June 1963 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Stop shooting at our moon!

Plot:

A tiny country persuades the Americans and Soviets that they're starting a space program, when they really just want some money for new plumbing.

Plot Keywords:

Sequel | Moon | Rocket | Duchy Of Grand Fenwick | Political

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe.

Cast

Margaret Rutherford	...	Grand Duchess Gloriana XIII
Ron Moody	...	Prime Minister Rupert Mountjoy
Bernard Cribbins	...	Vincent Mountjoy
David Kossoff	...	Professor Kokintz
Terry-Thomas	...	Maurice Spender (as Terry Thomas)
June Ritchie	...	Cynthia
John Le Mesurier	...	British Delegate
John Phillips	...	Bracewell - U.S. Delegate
Eric Barker	...	M.I.5. Man
Roddy McMillan	...	Benter
Tom Aldredge	...	Wendover
Michael Trubshawe	...	British Aide
Peter Sallis	...	Russian Delegate
Clive Dunn	...	Bandleader
Hugh Lloyd	...	Plumber

Runtime:

82 min

Country:

UK

Language:

Russian | English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

UK:U | Argentina:Atp | West Germany:6 | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | USA:Approved (PCA #20379)

Filming Locations:

Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company:

Walter Shenson Films

Trivia:

David Kossoff, who played Kokintz, was the only principal cast member of The Mouse That Roared (1959) who returned to play the same role in this sequel.

Quotes:

[repeated line]
Grand Duchess Gloriana XIII: It's that nasty tin thing again!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in You Can't Do That! The Making of 'A Hard Day's Night' (1995) (V)

It's a bit of fun, innit?

It's hard for it not to pale in comparison to its predecessor, "The Mouse That Roared," but "The Mouse on the Moon" is still an amiable enough comedy that it overcomes its own slightness and miniscule budget. The plot -- which concerns the Duchy of Grand Fenwick petitioning the United States for a loan so that it can develop a space program (which is really a cover for the prime minister's insatiable desire for indoor plumbing) -- is amusing and gives director Richard Lester and screenwriter Michael Pertwee plenty of opportunities to draw parallels between the Americans and the Russians as they scramble to beat the tiny country to the moon.

Instead of Peter Sellers in three roles, we have Margaret Rutherford taking over one (as the dotty grand duchess) and Ron Moody taking over another (as the ruthless prime minister). Both are funny enough, but they're no substitute for the real thing. Joining them are a young Bernard Cribbens as Moody's son Vincent, who wants nothing more than to be an astronaut, David Kossoff (one of four actors returning from "The Mouse That Roared") as the ever resourceful Professor Kokintz, and Terry-Thomas as a thoroughly inept British spy. Also watch for John Bluthal in his first of many films for Lester as Von Noldol, the enthusiastic German scientist working for the U.S.

For Richard Lester fans, this is a must-see. After all, this is the film that got him the job directing a certain film starring four lads from Liverpool...