Desert Mice

Last updated

Desert Mice
Desert Mice film Theatrical release poster (1959).png
Theatrical release quad poster
Directed by Michael Relph
Screenplay byDavid Climie
Produced by Basil Dearden
Starring
Cinematography Ken Hodges
Edited by Reginald Beck
Music by Philip Green
Distributed by J. Arthur Rank Film Distributors (UK)
Release date
  • December 1959 (1959-12)(UK)
Running time
85 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Desert Mice is a 1959 British comedy film directed by Michael Relph and starring Alfred Marks, Sid James, Dora Bryan, Irene Handl, John Le Mesurier and Liz Fraser. [1] The screenplay was by David Climie. A group of ENSA entertainers with the British army in the North Africa desert during the Second World War thwart a Nazi plan. [2] The title is a play on the Desert Rats. [3]

Contents

Plot

An ENSA group tours around North Africa entertaining British troops. One night, Bert hears the tune (with no words) for "Lily Marlene". He sets about writing a variety of lyrics to the tune. Attached to an intelligence unit they realise that when singing their words to the well-known tune some in the audience are singing in German, exposing them as spies.

Cast

Production

In one of the lorries a photo of football player Dave Mackay is visible. While the film is set during the Second World War, Mackay did not start his professional football career until 1952.

Critical reception

TV Guide called it a "Light little comedy." [4]

Sky Cinema said: "A good-hearted, sporadically enjoyable tribute to ENSA," whilst noting "an enjoyable roster of familiar British character actors, headed by Sidney James, Dora Bryan, Reginald Beckwith, Irene Handl and Dick Bentley, all seen at near their best. Director Michael Relph's serious-minded talents are not entirely suited to this featherweight farce, although he does deliver some agreeably funny moments." [5]

The Radio Times Guide to Films gave the film 3/5 stars, writing: "The feeble title pun on "Desert Rats" ...rather sets the tone for this overlookable comedy from director Michael Relph. Full of predictable characters, humdrum incidents and gags that would have lowered the morale of even the most battle-hardened tommy, it accompanies an ENSA concert party on its tour of army camps." [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Irene Handl</span> British character actress (1901–1987)

Irene Handl was a British character actress who appeared in more than 100 British films; she also wrote novels.

<i>The Pure Hell of St Trinians</i> 1960 British comedy film by Frank Launder

The Pure Hell of St Trinian's is a 1960 British comedy film directed by Frank Launder and starring Cecil Parker, George Cole, Joyce Grenfell and Eric Barker. It was written by Launder, Sidney Gilliat and Val Valentine, and set in the fictional St Trinian's School. It was the third in a series of four films.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dora Bryan</span> English actress (1923–2014)

Dora May Broadbent,, known as Dora Bryan, was a British actress of stage, film and television.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Basil Dearden</span> English film director (1911–1971)

Basil Dearden was an English film director.

<i>Double Bunk</i> 1961 British film by C. M. Pennington-Richards

Double Bunk is a 1961 British black-and-white comedy film directed by C.M. Pennington-Richards and starring Ian Carmichael and Sid James.

<i>Rockets Galore!</i> 1958 British film by Michael Relph

Rockets Galore! is a 1957 British comedy film directed by Michael Relph and starring Jeannie Carson, Donald Sinden and Roland Culver. The sequel to Whisky Galore!, it was much less successful than its predecessor.

<i>The Sandwich Man</i> (1966 film) 1966 British film by Robert Hartford-Davis

The Sandwich Man is a 1966 British comedy film directed by Robert Hartford-Davis starring Michael Bentine, with support from a cast of British character actors including Dora Bryan, Harry H. Corbett, Bernard Cribbins, Diana Dors, Norman Wisdom, Terry-Thomas and Ian Hendry. It was written by Hartford-Davis and Bentine.

<i>The Big Job</i> (film) 1965 British film by Gerald Thomas

The Big Job is a 1965 British comedy film directed by Gerald Thomas and starring Sid James, Dick Emery, Joan Sims, Sylvia Syms, Jim Dale and Lance Percival.

<i>Next to No Time</i> 1958 film by Henry Cornelius

Next to No Time, also known as Next to No Time!, is a 1958 British colour comedy film written and directed by Henry Cornelius and starring Kenneth More, Betsy Drake, John Laurie, Sid James and Irene Handl. It was based on Paul Gallico's short story The Enchanted Hour. It was the last feature film completed by Cornelius before his death in 1958. The film concerns an underconfident engineer who is helped by the advice of a ship's barman.

<i>Upstairs and Downstairs</i> 1959 British film by Ralph Thomas

Upstairs and Downstairs is a 1959 British comedy film directed by Ralph Thomas and starring Michael Craig, Anne Heywood, Mylène Demongeot, Claudia Cardinale, James Robertson Justice, Joan Sims, Joan Hickson and Sid James. It features the first English-language performance of Claudia Cardinale.

<i>A Weekend with Lulu</i> 1961 British film by John Paddy Carstairs

A Weekend with Lulu, also known as A Week-end with Lulu, is a 1961 British comedy film directed by John Paddy Carstairs and starring Bob Monkhouse, Leslie Phillips, Alfred Marks, Shirley Eaton and Irene Handl. The screenplay was by Ted Lloyd.

<i>Law and Disorder</i> (1958 film) 1958 British film by Charles Crichton

Law and Disorder is a 1958 British crime comedy film directed by Charles Crichton and starring Michael Redgrave, Robert Morley, Joan Hickson, and Lionel Jeffries. It was based on the 1954 novel Smugglers' Circuit by Denys Roberts. The film was initially directed by Henry Cornelius, who died while making the film. He was replaced by Crichton.

<i>The Captains Table</i> 1959 British film by Jack Lee

The Captain's Table is a 1959 British comedy film directed by Jack Lee and starring John Gregson, Donald Sinden, Peggy Cummins and Nadia Gray. The film is based on the 1954 novel of the same title by Richard Gordon, later adapted into the 1971 German film The Captain starring Heinz Rühmann.

<i>The Night We Got the Bird</i> 1961 British film by Darcy Conyers

The Night We Got the Bird is a 1961 British comedy film directed by Darcy Conyers and starring Brian Rix, Dora Bryan, Ronald Shiner and Irene Handl. It was written by Conyers, Rix and Tony Hilton, based on Basil Thomas's 1957 play The Lovebirds.

<i>The Crowning Touch</i> 1959 British film by David Eady

The Crowning Touch is a 1959 British comedy film directed by David Eady and starring Ted Ray, Irene Handl and Greta Gynt.

<i>Doctor in Love</i> 1960 British film by Ralph Thomas

Doctor in Love is a 1960 British comedy film, the fourth of the seven films in the Doctor series, directed by Ralph Thomas and starring James Robertson Justice and Michael Craig. It was the first film in the series not to feature Dirk Bogarde, although he did return for the next film in the series Doctor in Distress. It was loosely based on the 1957 novel of the same title by Richard Gordon.

<i>Hair of the Dog</i> (film) 1962 British film by Terry Bishop

Hair of the Dog is a 1962 second feature British comedy film directed by Terry Bishop and starring Reginald Beckwith, Dorinda Stevens and John Le Mesurier.

<i>Never Put It in Writing</i> 1964 British film by Andrew L. Stone

Never Put It in Writing is a 1964 British comedy film directed by Andrew L. Stone and starring Pat Boone, Milo O'Shea, Fidelma Murphy and Reginald Beckwith.

<i>Circle of Danger</i> 1951 British film by Jacques Tourneur

Circle of Danger is a 1951 British thriller film directed by Jacques Tourneur which stars Ray Milland, Patricia Roc, Marius Goring, Hugh Sinclair and Naunton Wayne. An American travels to England to discover the truth behind his brother's death during the Second World War. The screenplay was by Philip MacDonald.

References

  1. ↑ "I'm All Right Jack". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  2. ↑ "Desert Mice (1959) - Michael Ralph, Michael Relph - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related". AllMovie.
  3. ↑ "Desert Mice – review - cast and crew, movie star rating and where to watch film on TV and online". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 17 May 2019. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
  4. ↑ "Desert Mice - TV Guide". TVGuide.com.
  5. ↑ "Desert Mice". Find and Watch.
  6. ↑ Radio Times Guide to Films (18th ed.). London: Immediate Media Company. 2017. p. 244. ISBN   9780992936440.


This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.