Desert Mice: Difference between revisions

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| image         = Desert Mice.jpg
| image         = Desert Mice.jpg
| caption        =  
| caption        =  
| director      = [[Michael Relph]]
| director      = [[w:Michael Relph|Michael Relph]]
| screenplay    = David Climie
| screenplay    = David Climie
| producer      = [[Basil Dearden]]
| producer      = [[w:Basil Dearden|Basil Dearden]]
| narrator      =  
| narrator      =  
| starring      = {{ubl|[[Alfred Marks]]|[[Sid James]]|[[Dora Bryan]]}}
| starring      = {{ubl|[[Alfred Marks]]|[[Sid James]]|[[Dora Bryan]]}}
| music          = [[Philip Green (composer)|Philip Green]]
| music          = [[w:Philip Green (composer)|Philip Green]]
| cinematography = [[Ken Hodges (cinematographer)|Ken Hodges]]
| cinematography = [[w:Ken Hodges (cinematographer)|Ken Hodges]]
| editing        = [[Reginald Beck]]
| editing        = [[w:Reginald Beck|Reginald Beck]]
| distributor    = [[The Rank Organisation|J. Arthur Rank Film Distributors]] (UK)
| distributor    = [[w:The Rank Organisation|J. Arthur Rank Film Distributors]] (UK)
| released      = {{Film date|df=y|1959|12||UK}}
| released      = {{Film date|df=y|1959|12||UK}}
| runtime        = 85 minutes
| runtime        = 85 minutes
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| gross          =  
| gross          =  
}}
}}
'''''Desert Mice''''' is a 1959 British [[comedy film]] featuring [[Alfred Marks]], [[Sid James]], [[Dora Bryan]], [[Irene Handl]], [[John Le Mesurier]] and [[Liz Fraser]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6a8b0bb8|title=Desert Mice (1960)|website=BFI}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/film/desert_mice/|title=Desert Mice - Film|first=British Comedy|last=Guide|website=British Comedy Guide}}</ref> A group of [[ENSA]] entertainers with the British army in the North Africa desert during the Second World War thwart a Nazi plan.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/desert-mice-v89182|title=Desert Mice (1959) - Michael Ralph, Michael Relph - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related|website=AllMovie}}</ref>  The title is a play on the [[Desert Rats]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/film/9rh4/desert-mice/|title=Desert Mice – review - cast and crew, movie star rating and where to watch film on TV and online|website=Radio Times}}</ref>
'''''Desert Mice''''' is a 1959 British [[w:comedy film|comedy film]] featuring [[Alfred Marks]], [[Sid James]], [[Dora Bryan]], [[Irene Handl]], [[John Le Mesurier]] and [[Liz Fraser]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6a8b0bb8|title=Desert Mice (1960)|website=BFI}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/film/desert_mice/|title=Desert Mice - Film|first=British Comedy|last=Guide|website=British Comedy Guide}}</ref> A group of [[w:ENSA|ENSA]] entertainers with the British army in the North Africa desert during the Second World War thwart a Nazi plan.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/desert-mice-v89182|title=Desert Mice (1959) - Michael Ralph, Michael Relph - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related|website=AllMovie}}</ref>  The title is a play on the [[w:Desert Rats|Desert Rats]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/film/9rh4/desert-mice/|title=Desert Mice – review - cast and crew, movie star rating and where to watch film on TV and online|website=Radio Times}}</ref>


==Plot==
==Plot==

Revision as of 13:13, 18 October 2022

Desert Mice
Desert Mice.jpg
Directed byMichael Relph
Screenplay byDavid Climie
Produced byBasil Dearden
Starring
CinematographyKen Hodges
Edited byReginald Beck
Music byPhilip Green
Distributed byJ. 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 featuring Alfred Marks, Sid James, Dora Bryan, Irene Handl, John Le Mesurier and Liz Fraser.[1][2] A group of ENSA entertainers with the British army in the North Africa desert during the Second World War thwart a Nazi plan.[3] The title is a play on the Desert Rats.[4]

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

There is one big gaffe in the film, when in one of the lorry journeys you see a photo of Dave Mackay, of Spurs, stuck on the lorry canopy; clearly it dates from the 1959 period of the film, and not WW2, as 1959 was when Mackay began playing for Spurs Football team.

Critical reception

TV Guide called it a "Light little comedy."[5] and Sky Cinema "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."[6]

References

  1. ^ "Desert Mice (1960)". BFI.
  2. ^ Guide, British Comedy. "Desert Mice - Film". British Comedy Guide.
  3. ^ "Desert Mice (1959) - Michael Ralph, Michael Relph - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related". AllMovie.
  4. ^ "Desert Mice – review - cast and crew, movie star rating and where to watch film on TV and online". Radio Times.
  5. ^ "Desert Mice - TV Guide". TVGuide.com.
  6. ^ "Desert Mice". Find and Watch.

External links


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