Peter Sellers, who had played three roles in the first film, did not return for this sequel and was replaced by Margaret Rutherford and Ron Moody for two of Sellers' characters. The third character, Tully Bascombe, was not present in the sequel. Likewise Leo McKern did not reprise his role of Benter; this part was played by Roddy McMillan. The film also featured June Ritchie, Bernard Cribbins and Terry-Thomas, with David Kossoff reprising his role as Professor Kokintz.
Plot
Financial disaster looms for Grand Fenwick when the current vintage of its only export, wine, starts exploding in would-be consumers' faces. Prime Minister Mountjoy decides to ask the United States for a loan, ostensibly to fund its entry in the race to the Moon, but actually to save the duchy (and both introduce television and install modern plumbing so he can have a hot bath). The devious politician knows that the Americans will not believe him, but will consider the half million dollars he is asking for to be cheap propaganda supporting their hollow call for international co-operation in space. He is delighted when they send him double the amount as an outright gift. The Soviets, not wishing to be one-upped by their Cold War rivals, deliver an obsolete rocket (with its nose cone accidentally breaking a window of Grand Fenwick's parliament in the process).
Mountjoy asks resident scientist Professor Kokintz to arrange a small explosion during the "launch" of their lunar rocket to make it look like they have actually spent the money as intended. Meanwhile the news media commends this effort by Grand Fenwick in promoting international co-operation in space by citing its space program using American financial backing, Soviet rocket technology and British horology (the watch that Vincent wears during the moon mission is British made).
Meanwhile, Mountjoy's son Vincent returns after being educated in England. Mountjoy is disappointed to find that Vincent has picked up the British sense of fair play and the ambition to be an astronaut. Professor Kokintz has pleasant news for Vincent: he has discovered that the exploding wine - if properly treated - makes excellent rocket fuel. Together, they secretly begin preparing the rocket for flight. Maurice Spender, a bumbling spy sent by the suspicious British, is given a tour of the ship, including the shower heads converted into attitude jets, and reports back to his bosses that it is all a hoax.
Mountjoy invites the Americans, Soviets, British and other European dignitaries to the launching. To everyone's surprise, the rocket leisurely takes off with Kokintz and Vincent aboard. Kokintz calculates it will take three weeks to reach the Moon. Shocked and humiliated, the Americans and Soviets decide to risk sending their own crewed rockets ahead of schedule, timing it so they will land at the same time as (or a little before) Grand Fenwick's ship. However, Vincent accidentally hits a switch, speeding up the vessel, and he and Kokintz become the first to set foot on the Moon. The latecomers are greatly disappointed. When the Americans and Soviets try to race home to salvage some sort of propaganda coup, they almost enter the wrong ships and then, when they attempt lift-off, both descend deep into the soft lunar dust, so the American and Soviet spacemen have to hitch a ride with Kokintz and Vincent.
They return to Grand Fenwick during a memorial ceremony (they had been out of radio contact for weeks and presumed lost). The diplomats immediately begin squabbling about who reached the Moon first. Aloof from all of this, Grand Fenwick's Grand Duchess Gloriana XIII unveils a statue/monument commemorating the successful moon mission.
The film had it's worldwide premiere on 3 May 1963, London, United Kingdom before its general release later that month, followed by premieres in Spain and the United States in June 1963.
Reception
Box Office
The film had a minuscule box office release in the United States, where it was ranked 129th for that year. Despite it's small release, it performed well financially.[3]
Critical response
The film received critical acclaim from both critics and audiences. The film has a fresh 88% on Rotten Tomatoes from 8 Critic Reviews.[4] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 63 out of 100 based on 5 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[5]
The New York Times wrote: "Delightful confounding of the great powers" and a "gayly documented nonsense" that spoofs international statecraft and the space race, highlighting its humor through the small Duchy of Grand Fenwick achieving the first moon landing, and praising it as a silly, funny British farce.[6]
The Guardian wrote: "A jolly sequel" and a "droll laidback satire, of the space race and Cold War politics".[7]
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