Production
The film was made through Sydney Box Associates, who had a deal with the Rank Organisation. The movie was produced through Welbeck Film Distributors, one of Box's companies. Among the other films it made for Rank at this time were The Night We Dropped a Clanger , Too Young to Love , Faces in the Dark and Conscience Bay . [4]
The original title was Every Night Something Awful, which was a joke alternative meaning for ENSA. [5] Filming took place in September 1959. The title was changed to Desert Mice in October 1959. [6]
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
Sight and Sound said "good idea and a talented cast thrown away on a lazy and boorish script." [7]
Kinematograph called it a "giddy World War II burlesque, given French and North African backdrops... The sallies, mostly at ENSA, are aimed at sitting targets, but a versatile and povular cast and a resourceful director see that the fusillade, punctuated by songs, explodes in laughs. Colourful and realistic settings, worthy of actual war epics, not only furnish sharp contrast, but also amplify its down-to-earth fooling." [8]
Variety wrote "it would be foolish to pretend that “Desert Mice” is anything but a small comedy. Yet, somehow, it has an endearing quality." [9]
Filmink wrote the film "has a great idea... but no feel for its subject (Relph directed) and shoves all its plot into the last 20 minutes." [10]
TV Guide called it a "Light little comedy." [11]
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." [12]
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." [13]
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