The Mouse on the Moon

The Mouse on the Moon is a British comedy film from 1963 directed by Richard Lester. The movie is a sequel to the 1959 film The Mouse That Roared, and it revolves around an imaginary European country called the Duchy of Grand Fenwick.

The movie starts with the Grand Fenwick's Prime Minister Mountjoy (Ron Moody) approaching the United States for financial aid because of the economic crisis in his country. However, the Americans ask for a political alliance in exchange for the aid, which Mountjoy declines. He then approaches the Soviet Union for aid, but the Soviets demand the same alliance in exchange which Mountjoy again refuses.

Desperate for aid, Mountjoy decides to approach the Western European nation of Belgium, who instead of providing aid, suggests that Grand Fenwick should embark on a space program to win the world's respect and attract aid. Mountjoy, seizing on the idea, decides to launch a manned spacecraft to the moon.

Mountjoy meets with a scientist Dr. Kokintz (Leonard Rossiter), who helps him build the spacecraft. They take along the eccentric Grand Duchess Gloriana XIII (Margaret Rutherford), who is hoping for a romantic encounter with a handsome spaceman on the moon.

Once the spacecraft reaches the moon, the crew is met by the Russians, who have already established a base there. The Russian leader (played by Terry-Thomas) is impressed by the Grand Fenwick's achievement and invites them to join in a worldwide conspiracy to take over the world.

Meanwhile, a bumbling spy, Vincent Mounteney (Bernard Cribbins), has been sent by Britain to investigate and disrupt the moon mission. His clumsy interference causes chaos on Earth and the moon, leading to a series of hilarious misadventures.

The movie is a very lighthearted take on the space craze of the 1960s. The satire it pokes on Cold War politics in a whimsical way is quite entertaining. Margaret Rutherford steals the show with her humorous portrayal of the eccentric Grand Duchess Gloriana, while Ron Moody's character, Mountjoy, is the straight man in the comedy. Bernard Cribbins is a delight as the bumbling spy, and the script is full of witty and humorous lines.

The film is notable for using a mix of traditional and innovative special effects. The lunar landscapes were created by photographer Ken Marschall, who used a unique painting technique that blended photographic and hand-painted elements. The spacecraft itself was designed by future Star Wars designer John Barry.

Overall, The Mouse on the Moon is a whimsical and fun comedy that is full of slapstick humor and political satire. It pokes fun at the political tensions of the time while providing a lighthearted take on the space race. It is a light-hearted and entertaining movie that will leave you chuckling.