The Case of the Mukkinese Battle-Horn

Shamefully hidden behind the acknowledgement "Down Among The Z Men" has as being the only major Goon film, Case of the Mukkinese Battlehorn, being only a third in length, is a vast superior. Devised by Peter Sellers and starring himself, Spike Milligan and Dick Emery (filling out Harry Secombes shoes) the story twists and turns about quite incomprehensibility, but the comedy is completely at the floor ALL THE TIME. You've heard of people saying the films a-laugh-a-minute? Well, Case of the Mukkinese Battlehorn is the only time I've known it be true. Any fan of comedy, not just Goons, would see this and appreciate it.

The best way to make comedy is to have performers who conceived the material themselves, and know how funny it is, and enjoy themselves acting it out. And keep a straight face as they do so. This is what Sellers and Milligan did best, and is the highlight of this short film.

This is not to say that all of the jokes in the picture work-some are certified duds that will leave you groaning-but the ones that do will make you wet yourself with laughter. In the midst of scenes that don't earn a single laugh will come bits that leave you breathless with hilarity, completely out of nowhere, and without warning (the brilliant and sudden silent film sequence is a perfect example of this).

British comedy in general will leave many Americans befuddled, but those of us with the right sensibility will no doubt be thrilled with this film.

I'm not going to say it'll be easy, but if you enjoy British comedy at all you must find this film on tape, somewhere. In just under half an hour it packs in as many gleefully absurd laughs as anybody-- Pythons included-- ever got into even a full-length movie. Absolutely the best showcase for the hot-and-cool (in a McLuhanesque sense) team of Spike milligan and Peter Sellers-- Milligan working the corny old gags like a classic vaudevillian, and Sellers off in another dimension of brilliance entirely. (Good example: Sellers' languidly decadent police commissioner, lying on his chaise with cigarette holder in hand and demanding action from his force with all the masculine authority of Oscar Wilde getting a rubdown.)

Basically, this is the nearest you're going to get to a filmed Goon Show (1950's British radio programme). A lot of the jokes are lifted directly from Goon Shows. It's a pity Harry Secombe wasn't in it but Dick Emery is excellent. Peter Sellers excels as Quilt, Commissioner Gervaise and Henry Crun running a pawn shop (with Minnie off screen telling him there's someone knocking at the door). Milligan plays Brown or White depending which bit of the film (I think that was a re-write error) but it's Eccles. He also does a superb silent actor looking for the labour exchange skit and is the Police Sergeant assisting Inspector Quilt (and, of course the voice of Minnie Bannister). Dick Emery plays the museum curator and Maurice Ponk ("nothing to do with the story but we wanted you to see what a real idiot looks like"). It's long while since I've seen this film so I can't be certain but I think Emery plays Plackett (Willium Mate), the museum guard though it might be Sellers as the character was most often played by him on radio and the "they kept walloping me on the head" bit is from The Missing Prime Minister/10 Downing St and Sellers played Mate in both those radio shows

If you can't find the film on video, at least get some Goon Show CDs or tapes. The BBC and EMI both released some. The BBC set with 1985 on it is my favourite. The EMI one with Dishonoured is another good choice (featuring The Dance of the Seven Army-Surplus Blankets)

Peter Sellers and Spike Milligan display their comic talents in this brilliant short. Full of sight gags and inspired puns, this film is guaranteed to keep you laughing. If you get a chance to see this inspired lunacy, take advantage of it, as it is not available on DVD or VHS and is rarely shown anywhere. You may not get a second chance.