The Mouse That Roared poster & wallpaper
Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Peter Sellers, Jean Seberg, David Kossoff, William Hartnell, Leo McKern ... see more see more... , Timothy Bateson , MacDonald Parke , Colin Gordon , Austin Willis , George Margo , Robin Gatehouse , Jacques Cey , Bill Nagy , Mavis Villiers , Charles Clay , Henry DeBray , Bill Edwards , Larry Cross , Guy Deghy , Harold Kasket , Monte Landis , Robert O'Neill , Stuart Saunders

The economy of the teeny-tiny European duchy of Grand Fenwick is threatened when an American manufacturer comes up with an imitation of Fenwick's sole export, its fabled wine. Crafty prime minister Co... read more read more...unt Mountjoy (Peter Sellers) comes up with a plan: Grand Fenwick will declare war on the United States. Grand Duchess Gloriana (Peter Sellers again) is hesitant: how can meek little Grand Fenwick win such a conflict? Mountjoy explains that the plan is to lose the war, then rely upon American foreign aid to replenish Grand Fenwick's treasury. Bumbling military officer Tully Bascombe (Peter Sellers yet again) leads his country's ragtag army into battle. They cross the Atlantic in an ancient wooden vessel, then set foot on Manhattan Island, fully prepared to down weapons and surrender. But New York City is deserted, due to an air raid drill. While wandering around, Sellers comes upon atomic scientist David Kossoff and the scientist's pretty daughter Jean Seberg. Kossoff has been working on the deadly "Q Bomb," a football-sized weapon with the destructive capacity of a hundred hydrogen bombs. Suddenly seized with patriotic fervor, Tully captures Kossoff, his daughter and the bomb and brings them all back to Grand Fenwick. Tully has "won" the war-precisely what he'd been told not to do. The upshot of this "victory" is that every world power converges upon Grand Fenwick to claim the Q Bomb for themselves. The satire is heavy-handed at times, but The Mouse That Roared contains several unforgettably hilarious moments, including one startling "false ending." One of the best gags involves the Columbia Pictures logo--a bit frequently cut from TV showings, worse luck. Based on one of the many "Grand Fenwick" novels by Leonard Wibberly, The Mouse That Roared was a success, yielding a Peter Sellers-less sequel, 1963's Mouse on the Moon. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Flixster Users

71% liked it

4,095 ratings

Critics

89% liked it

18 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 23 min.

Directed by: Jack Arnold

Release Date: October 26, 1959

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: July 8, 2003

Get It:

Stats: 223 reviews

report incorrect info

Photos

None yet... Got one?

Your Rating


clear rating

Flixster Reviews (223)

  • ajv2688
    November 21, 2010
    ajv2688
    I'm not a big fan of Sellers, but I really liked him in this movie, it's really hilarious, and he starts that trend where the same actor plays multiple characters in the same movie. The story is good too. I really liked this movie.
  • DrLappos
    December 27, 2007
    DrLappos
    I have always loved the Peter Sellers romps and this doesnt dissapoint.
  • PinkMinkPrincess
    September 8, 2011
    PinkMinkPrincess
    If you're a Peter Sellers fan, than this silly Film is for you as Peter Sellers plays Three parts in this one(The Grand Duchess, Count Mountjoy, &Military Officer Tully Bascombe). The Tiny Duchy of Fenwick declares War on America so that we will capture them & then help them wit... read moreh Foreign Aid for their economy as is our custom to do.They send their Army of 50, in Renaissance Chain Mail Armour & Bow & Arrow for Weapons,& an Ancient Relic of a Ship to New York, on a Day there is an Air Raid Drill & everyone is underground.By Sheer luck they capture a General & his Counsel, & a Scientist & his Daughter with the worlds most deadly Weapon, the "Q" Bomb, & seemingly WIN the War.It's all quite Silly, but Delicious.
  • ColMongol
    October 6, 2010
    ColMongol
    Another splendid example of Peter Sellers' transmogrification skills, and such a tiny country 'conquering' the almighty U.S. to boot is a hoot. Of course the welfare scheme behind it all was really quite ingenious, haha
  • toru771
    January 23, 2007
    toru771
    A very clever satirical comedy, marked by creative, Monty Python-esque British humor and the amazing Peter Sellers (who plays 3 roles in the film).

View All The Mouse That Roared Reviews

Critic Reviews

Pablo Villaca
March 31, 2008
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena

Sátira anti-belicista que envelheceu mal e cuja relevância diz respeito apenas à performance de Sellers como a grã-duquesa de Fenwick.

Dennis Schwartz
January 20, 2007
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Sellers distinguished himself only in his role in drag. Full Review

Jon Niccum
January 5, 2005
Jon Niccum, Lawrence Journal-World

Quirky little cult movie

Steve Crum
October 26, 2004
Steve Crum, Kansas City Kansan

Even hilarious today; politics haven't changed!

Martin Scribbs
September 26, 2004
Martin Scribbs, Low IQ Canadian

A welcome return to a more innocent time in geopolitics. Also be sure to catch the mod! fab! DVD preview for Dr. Strangelove.

Bob Bloom
June 12, 2004
Bob Bloom, Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)

A witty British satire about war, diplomacy and foreign policy.

Ryan Cracknell
January 27, 2004
Ryan Cracknell, Apollo Guide

While it's easy and fair to praise Peter Sellers for his work under many guises, it's the cheeky and slightly subversive attitude of the script that kept my attention. Full Review

Ken Hanke
August 21, 2002
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Sellers is great. The movie is so-so

March 26, 2009
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Bosley Crowther
March 25, 2006
Bosley Crowther, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Cast

More Like This

Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • Ratatouille
    Ratatouille (33%)
  • The Mouse on the Moon
    The Mouse on the Moon (100%)
  • Alvin and the Chipmunks
    Alvin and the Chipmunks (14%)
  • Passport to Pimlico
    Passport to Pimlico (100%)

More Movies like The Mouse That Roared

Facts

No facts approved yet. Be the first

The Mouse That Ro... : Watch Free on TV

The Mouse That Roared Trivia

  • The sequal to "The Mouse That Roared" was?  Answer »
  • How many parts did Peter Sellers play in "The Mouse That Roared"?   Answer »
More The Mouse That Roared Trivia

Movie Quizzes

No quizzes for The Mouse That Roared. Want to create one?

Video Clips

No video clips yet. Want to upload one?

Meet Other Fans

Add The Mouse That Roared to favorites

Recent News

No recent headlines. Got one?

Recent Lists

Make a List |

View All Lists

Most Popular Skin

No skins yet. Interested in creating one?