The Mouse that Roared on DVD

Here’s a film that’s even more timely today, in the wake of the Iraq war of 2003 and the global situation in general.

Peter Sellers stars, and stars and stars (he plays three roles) in this tale of a tiny, English-speaking country that, faced with bankruptcy, decides to declare war on the United States. Why? So it can lose and then experience Amerian generosity as the Yanks occupy and rebuild the “war torn” country.

Diabolical! And, given that Americans are an incredibly generous people, it just could work.

Grand Fenwick’s Prime Minister Count Mountjoy (Sellers) dreams up the scheme and they send their armed forces, dressed in their medieval armor and brandishing bows and arrows, to invade New York.

Well, not invade exactly; they’re supposed to surrender, kicking off the foreign aid bonanza.

But things don’t work out as planned. The Grand Fenwick forces happen to come across New York city just as its streets are deserted due to an air raid test, so there’s no one to whom they can surrender!

They wander around the Big Apple, finding their way to the laboratory of a scientist (David Kossoff) who has invented the ultimate weapon. Seizing upon the opportunity to strike a blow on behalf of Grand Fenwick, leader Tully Bascombe (Sellers again) orders the professor and his daughter (Jean Seberg) captured as prisoners of war and, with the weapon, brought back home with them.

On the way back they also manage to capture an American general, and take him back with them, too.

Meanwhile, in Grand Fenwick, the powers that be are awaiting the return of the troops, accompanied by the American occupying force. But what they get is a scientist, a general, and the ultimate weapon - which in fact means that Grand Fenwick, much to its own chagrin, has won the war!

What the heck do they do now?

The Mouse That Roared is a very funny satire, obviously a product of the cold war (though, as mentioned, just as relevant today). And though it ends up being heavy handedly liberal (back then, however, the word liberal hadn’t been corrup6;t skip past it!).

Sellers is great, not surprisingly, and his backup cast turns in some good performances - though they're overshadowed by the ubiquitous Sellers. And watch for the first Doctor (Who), William Hartnell as Tully’s right hand man.

The DVD is presented in anamorphic widescreen, 16x9 TV compatible, and the picture quality, overall, is good. It isn’t great, alas; there’s some grain and the color could be a tad more realistic, but it’s still watchable.

Audio is Dolby Digital mono and is unremarkable.

The only extras are some trailers.

The Mouse That Roared, from Columbia Tristar Home Video
83 min. anamorphic widescreen (1.85:1, 16x9 TV compatible), Dolby Digital mono
Starring Peter Sellers, Jean Seberg
Produced by Walter Shenson
Written by Roger MacDougall and Stanley Mann, directed by Jack Arnold

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