The Mouse That Roared

The Mouse That Roared, a classic comedy film released in 1959, is a satire on international politics and the Cold War. The premise of the movie is both simple yet absurd: a tiny country named Grand Fenwick declares war on the United States of America with the intention of surrendering immediately and accepting aid to rebuild their struggling economy.

The story follows the exploits of Grand Fenwick, a small European country that is facing economic hardship due to its sole export product, wine, being replaced by a new American brand. The Prime Minister of the country, Count Rupert Mountjoy (Peter Sellers), is advised by his advisors that the best way to save their economy is to declare war on the United States, as the post-war world is full of aid packages to nations affected by war.

Their idea is that, since Grand Fenwick is so small and insignificant, they will be easily defeated and then can reap the spoils of war from the US government. Naturally, things do not go as per plan, and the Grand Fenwick army ends up capturing a powerful weapon that they had not intended to get their hands on. This unexpected victory sparks further events that lead to an even more absurd turn of events.

The one person who genuinely believes that Grand Fenwick has a chance to succeed in their conquest is Tully Bascombe (also played by Peter Sellers), a bumbling, ineffectual private in the Grand Fenwick army. He is initially sent on a reconnaissance mission in New York City disguised as a woman to gain access to defense secrets. However, when he finds out that his beloved Rosalie (Jean Seberg), a fellow soldier from Grand Fenwick, is being held captive in New York, he embarks on a series of ridiculous and hilarious adventures, inadvertently assisting the Grand Fenwick army in defeating the Americans.

Throughout the movie, Grand Fenwick's Prime Minister, Count Rupert Mountjoy, tries to figure out how to turn an unwanted victory into a successful surrender that can provide valuable economic aid. In the meantime, the US government tries to save face, as they do not want it to be known that they were defeated by such an insignificant country, which leads to even more hilarity.

As all things must come to an end, The Mouse That Roared reaches its conclusion, where Grand Fenwick emerges as a power player in the international political and economic arena. However, this does not occur in the manner in which the characters intended, bringing to a close a funny, light-hearted movie that will surely have audiences smiling and laughing.

The Mouse That Roared is an excellent comedic portrayal of Cold War international politics. It is a perfect example of how satire can be used to critique power dynamics and highlight the ridiculous nature of politics. With Peter Sellers' excellent double performance as both Count Rupert Mountjoy and Tully Bascombe, and Jean Seberg's charm as Rosalie, this movie is a laugh riot that deserves a place in every comedy fan's collection.