Customer Reviews
Peter Sellers at his best - By: R. Essery, 30 Nov 2008 
One of my alll time favourite movies with Peter Sellers playing multiple roles (as he did in the Goon Show). David Kosoff is brilliant as the Professor who invents the ultimate weapon but has no intention of using it.
A film that still creates a warm feeling
" But what if we win?...." - By: Robert Morris, 26 Sep 2005 A fellow graduate school student & I saw this film in New Haven when it was first released & had no idea what to expect, except that it starred Peter Sellers whose work we both admired very much in earlier films such as The Ladykillers (1955), Tom Thumb (1958), & I'm All Right Jack (1959). So we settled back in our seats & were immediately enchanted by Grand Fenwick & its monarch, Grand Duchess Gloriana (Sellers). The best way to enjoy this film now is to see it as a whimsical fantasy rather than as a serious satire of the Cold War & the widespread concern then about thermonuclear weapons. Its greatest strength remains the same as it was 45 years ago: The talents of Peter Sellers. He plays three quite different characters, the aforementioned Grand Duchess as well as "Field Marshal" Tully Bascombe (who leads a 20-soldier invasion of the United States) & Count Mountjoy, the devious prime minister.
The plot (such as it is) consists of a series of humorous incidents prior to, during, & then following the invasion. As directed by Jack Arnold, the film focuses on the implications of a basic conceit: Declare war on the United States (as did Japan & then Germany), lose the war, & then have your economy restored to greater health than ever before (e.g. Japan & Germany). Count Mountjoy's strategy fails for reasons best revealed in the film. One of the several brilliant elements is Arnold's use of Professor Kokintz (David Kossoff) who has invented the "Q Bomb," a weapon whose nuclear power (he claims) is "approximately" equal to 100 hydrogen bombs. Better yet, it has the size & shape of an American footballl & thus can easily be tucked under an arm until activated. Presumably the straight-faced silliness throughout this film made a favorable impression on members of the Monty Python Flying Circus.
Regrettably, the DVD version I have offers no special features other than clearer image & sound. Those who enjoy this film are urged to check out Kind Hearts & Coronets (1949) in which Alec Guinness plays eight different roles.
Is it possible? - By: B. Chandler, 09 Aug 2005 
From the director Jack Arnold, who directed many great sci-fi movies such as "It Came from Outer Space (1953)", we are brought the tale about the Duchy of Grand Fenwick, a smalll country in Europe. Their major economy is the production & export of wine. After being snubbed by the U.S. wine industry they declare war on the U. S. The plan is to surrender & then be compensated with the wine concession to the U.S.
Naturallly they get a little enthusiastic & things do not go as planned. Looks like they may have won the war. Peter Sellers plays three different characters (Grand Duchess Gloriana XII/Prime Minister Count Rupert Mountjoy/Tully Bascombe.)
Someone gets the Q bomb. And you get a laugh.
The mouse that roared...still alive and kicking! - By: Dimitris Verionis, 15 Oct 2003 "The Mouse That Roared" is the film by which Peter Sellers gained the international stardom. This DVD is a great release as, unlike others, features subtitles in many languages & it has picture & sound of great quality! A real "must" for Peter Sellers fans & fans of classic comedy!
