The Mouse on the Moon

The Duchy of Grand Fenwick is in financial trouble.  Their prime source of income comes from their international wine sales, but their bottles have started exploding when opened and no one wants to buy it.  Prime Minister Rupert Mountjoy (Moody) wants indoor plumbing for the castle, but cannot find the money for the project.  He decides to requests financial aid from the United States for a space program, but plans to use the funds for his plumbing plan.

The Americans send the money, pretending they don't know the true purpose, which spurs Russia to send an old rocket to help the cause.  While Mountjoy starts his project, he puts scientist Professor Kokintz (Kossof) in charge of the space project, so it looks like they are using the funds appropriately.  Kokintz is joined by Mountjoy's son Vincent (Cribbins).  Together they plan to defy the odds and actually go to Mars.  Meanwhile, England sends spy Maurice Spender (Thomas) to Grand Fenwick to get the truth.  Can Grand Fenwick beat the superpowers to the moon?



In 1955, author Leonard Wibberley introduced the world to the Duchy of Grand Fenwick with his Mouse series: "The Mouse that Roared", "Beware of the Mouse" (prequel), "The Mouse on the Moon", "The Mouse on Wall Street," and "The Mouse that Saved the West".  In 1959, the first book in the series was adapted to film, The Mouse that Roared.  The film was directed by Jack Arnold and actor Peter Sellers portrayed three of the main characters.  Four years later, they decided to adapt the sequel, "The Mouse on the Moon."

The film follows many of the same characters from The Mouse that Roared, but the only cast member to return is David Kossof.  Veteran actress Margaret Rutherford replaces Sellers as Grand Duchess Gloriana and keeps the spirit of the character: loopy but endearing.  Ron Moody replaces Sellers as Prime Minister Mountjoy.  Moody gives his own spin on the ruthless prime minister, and is the best character in the film.  Terry-Thomas is the inept spy, Bernard Cribbins is the new hero alongside Kossof.

The story is funny and the cast is good.  Unfortunately this film and it's predecessor are rarely shown and are not as popular as other films made by these actors.  This film tends to suffer when compared to it's predecessor, due to the loss of Sellers in the main roles, but it is still a strong film.  It is a smart, political film and makes me want to read Wibberley's novels (and other novels in the series that sadly have never been adapted to film).  A funny gem.

The Mouse on the Moon (1963) 100 minutes
Director: Richard Lester
Starring: Ron Moody as Prime Minister Rupert Mountjoy
Bernard Cribbins as Vincent Mountjoy
David Kossof as Professor Kokintz
Terry-Thomas as Maurice Spender
June Ritchie as Cynthia
Margaret Rutherford as Grand Duchess Gloriana XIII
Roddy McMillan as Benter