The Mouse on the Moon [DVD]

This classic movie has the character development, relaxed pace, gentle humor, and demure special effects you expect and enjoy from a classic "oldie" comedy. The movie is actually a sequel to "The Mouse that Roared" and both films are based on the political satire books of Leonard Wibberly. (Hint: if you enjoy this movie, you will likely also enjoy Wibberly's other books, such as "The Mouse on Wall Street".The metaphorical "mouse", of course, is the tiny European country of Grand Fenwick, which brings the mighty nations to their knees through hilarious and accidental circumstances. For example, in The Mouse that Roared, we encounter the Cold War arms race; in The Mouse on the Moon, we chuckle as the race to reach the moon gets turned on its historical tail.It's insightful to know that this movie was produced before the moon was actually reached in 1969. The show therefore premises on several outdated science hypotheses, such as the moon being covered with a 50 ft layer of soft dust that could swallow a spacecraft. I actually bought this movie for partly educational reasons, so my kids can view firsthand our evolving scientific concepts over the last century.But even if you don't have young learners, you'll enjoy this movie purely on the merits of its hilarious satire: as crooked politicians apply for international research grants as a cover to install indoor plumbing; as superpowers elbow each other for global image points; and as sidelined nations claim fame for helping conquer space because the astronaut wore a watch made in their country.

I just watched this for the first time on Prime Video and loved it. It's not side-splittingly hilarious, but it is pretty funny. Anyone with a basic knowledge of the 1960's space race will get most of the jokes and there's a tasteful amount of slapstick too. It's cheesy without being obnoxious and just a fun little movie. Great kind of movie for a rainy day.Apparently it's a sequel to a movie called The Mouse That Roared. I haven't seen that one yet, but I followed this one without seeing the first movie. After watching this, I definitely plan on checking that one out.

This rip-roaring riotously funny sequel to "The Mouse That Roared" (1959), in spite of the absence of Peter Sellers, is a prime example of a side to the space race that fans of political satire could always stand more of -- political science fiction! When the wines of Grand Fenwick backfire (Literally!), the tiny duchy is yet thrown into another crazy crisis that ol' Prime Minister Mountjoy tries his best to swindle, connive, side-wind his way out of the mess. However, all is not lost when Grand Fenwick's leading scientist finds the latest vintage of the nation's wine (and sole export) makes for excellent rocket fuel. When the Americans and Soviets try to get in on the action, a great space-out of laughs is had by all! This piece of political science fiction-satire-comedy is not to be missed. Go to Amazon.com, buy a DVD copy, and sit down and enjoy it -- laughs-wise!

Unless you are at least fifty-five, most people will likely miss some of the topical comical references in this 1962 movie.If you are living in 1962, here are some things that you are most likely aware of.It is the early days of the space age. The first two satellites - Russia's Sputnik 1 and 2 - to orbit the Earth were launched five years ago. Sputnik 2 carried the first animal to go into space: a dog named Laika. So little was known at the time about the effects of space travel on human beings that animals were used initially to learn if there were any show stoppers. The Soviet Union used dogs.Last April, the first man was launched into space aboard the Russian Vostok 1. His name was Yuri Gagarin. He flew a single orbit around the Earth and landed safely. One month later, U.S. President John F. Kennedy made his famous speech committing the United States to landing a man on the moon and returning him safely. The project was called Apollo. The race to the Moon was on.Last August, the Soviets built a wall separating East and West Berlin.And lastly, there is a subculture in some cities known as 'beatniks': young people who reject society.Double-sided disc. On one side of the disc is the Full Screen version. On the flip side is the Widescreen version; however, it is formatted in letterbox designed for old TV screens. When you view the widescreen side of the disc on a flat-panel wide-screen TV, you will see a small widescreen picture in the middle of your screen. To fill the screen on my TV (Sony), I had to select: 'Screen', 'Wide Mode', 'Zoom'.Picture (DVD): Good.

I bought this movie based on reviews I read here on Amazon.com and wasn't disappointed. I watched "The Mouse That Roared" first and thought it was funny, but in my opinion this movie is even better.Magaret Rutherford is great as the clueless Grand Duchess, I wish there was more of her in the movie.Ron Moody does a great job as the prime minister who is hung up on getting running hot water for his bathtub at any cost.There was a small take off on Dr. Strangelove that I liked. Two ex-German scientists one for the US and one for the USSR give their boss a Nazi salute before catching themselves.I had some good laughs throughout the movie. If you liked "The Mouse That Roared" I'm sure you'll like this movie.

The historical references are extremely funny with their mix of modern & old world. The story goes: after a failed attempt to produce wine (that turned out to be explosive) in order to get indoor plumbing this least progressive country in the world (where people dressed in 1800s clothes & coexisted with protesters from the 1960s) devised a scheme to launch a missile to the moon to get money from America & Russia. The mission is spearheaded by an old fashioned scientist, and a naive astronaut. The interior of the rocket is atypical & looks more like a cozy grandmas' living room ready for tea. The surprising successful mission spurred the Americans & Russians to send their own astronauts to outdo them with surprising results.

欧州の小国が、米ソの宇宙開発競争を尻目に独自技術で人類の月面着陸を為し得てしまう、という国際情勢パロディ。往年の東京12チャンネル平日午後の映画番組で、ときどき流れていたが、今は観ることができない。そしてこのDVD。リージョンは北米なので、家庭用のデッキでは再生できない。パソコンで再生できるが、都度、リージョンを日本以外に一時切り替えすることになるので、数回で打ち止めになる。私はWindowsパソコンの更新を辞めたので、そのマシンを北米地域専用のDVD再生機にした。

A lovely and wacky movie, a deliciously silly, comic escape from the realities of the present day. Only possible to seriously consider making in a simpler and more innocent time, there are no spectacular special effects. Earnest efforts however were made, which reflect the popular scientific opinions of this early 'Space Age' creation. May the Ancient Duchy of Grand Fenwick never fade from the face of our world!

The Mouse in question is the Duchy of Grand Fenwick, a fictional state somewhere in Middle Europe. This sequel to 'The Mouse that Roared' is another British gem satirizing the geo-political struggles of the Cold War, in this case the Space Race and foreign aid. A brilliant scientist, played impeccably by David Kossoff, discovers a form of propulsion which can take a rocket to the Moon in a most leisurely fashion. The Duchy of Grand Fenwick enters the Space Age and the Americans send them money while the Soviets send them a superannuated rocket which the Americans think is going to be used as a hot water system for the Palace. The film takes pot-shots at student protest movements, the U.S.A., the Soviets, the British Empire, the monarchy, the scientific establishment and pomposity in all its forms. Dame Margaret Rutherford plays the absent-minded Duchess to perfection and she is ably supported by Ron Moody in the role of Prime Minister, hamming it up in the best pantomime tradition. Bernard Cribbins (he of 'Right Said Fred' fame) bumbles along amiably as the would-be astronaut. Watch out for a young Michael Crawford in one of his earliest roles. Terry Thomas is also at his toothy best. Some classic lines and scenes: the rocket launch is hilarious as is the meeting between American and Soviet astronauts in the Duchy's rocket! Directed by Richard Lester, this is a comedy classic.

A tiny bankrupt country tries to beat both the Americans and the Russians to The Moon. Light-hearted satire. I enjoyed it.

A classic of British comedy, full to the brim with those great character actors who seem to be in every film of that era in one role or another.As well as the excellent main roles, look out for the late Ed Bishop as a US astronaut (a sign of things to come!), Peter Sallis as theSoviet ambassador, and even an uncredited walk-on by Frankie Howerd.For some reason, this film hasn't surfaced on TV for a couple of decades, and that's a crime. It's easily as inventive and funny as the acknowledged classics of the period which are repeated incessantly. Some of the political jokes are uncannily like those in "Yes Minister", some 20 years later.This double-sided DVD has both wide-screen and normal versions. There's no apparent restoration, but once you're past the title sequence, the images are crisp and clear, although the sound quality is a bit woolly.Well worth tracking down.