fiction.wikisort.org - Movie

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]

Desert Mice
Directed by	Michael Relph
Screenplay by	David Climie
Produced by	Basil Dearden
Starring	Alfred Marks Sid James Dora Bryan
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
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

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

• Alfred Marks as Major Poskett
• Sid James as Bert Bennett
• Dora Bryan as Gay Bennett
• Dick Bentley as Gavin O'Toole
• Joan Benham as Una O'Toole
• Reginald Beckwith as Fred
• Irene Handl as Miss Patch
• Kenneth Fortescue as Peter
• Patricia Bredin as Susan
• Liz Fraser as Edie
• Marius Goring as German Major
• Anthony Bushell as Plunkett
• George Rose as Popados
• Alan Tilvern as German Captain
• John Le Mesurier as Staff Colonel
• M. E. Clifton James as Field Marshal Montgomery

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

External links

• Desert Mice at IMDb

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