The Case of the Mukkinese Battle-Horn

1956 British film by Joseph Sterling

1956 (1956)

Running time

27 minutesCountryUnited KingdomLanguageEnglishBudget£4,500^[1]Box office£45,000^[1]

The Case of the Mukkinese Battle-Horn (also known as Gone Goon) is a 30-minute comedy film directed by Joseph Sterling and starring Peter Sellers, Spike Milligan and Dick Emery.^[2] It was made in November 1955, and released in 1956.^[3]^[4]

Plot

Supposedly filmed in "Schizophrenoscope" ("the New Split-Screen"), it concerns Superintendent Quilt of Scotland Yard's attempts to retrieve a "Mukkinese Battle-Horn'" stolen from a London museum. Along the way he meets characters not dissimilar to Eccles, Henry Crun and Minnie Bannister from The Goon Show.

Production

This attempt to adapt Goon humour to the big screen was written by Harry Booth, Jon Penington and regular Goon show co-writer Larry Stephens, from a story by Stephens, with additional material by Sellers and Milligan. Emery replaced Harry Secombe, who was too expensive for the film's low budget.^{[citation needed]}

The budget of £4,500 was raised from Archway Film Distributors (£1,500); Peter Weingreen, who worked with Michael Deeley and Harry Booth on The Adventures of Robin Hood (£1,500); and Joseph Sterling, who wanted to direct (£1,500). Peter Sellers was paid £900.^[1]

The titular battle horn prop was based on a serpent.^[5]

Release

The film was unable to secure a release in the US but screened widely as a supporting short in British cinemas. Michael Deeley says it remains the most profitable film he was ever associated with, returning its cost ten times over.^[1]

Critical reception

The New York Times wrote "It is a good thing Mr. Sellers and his helpers didn't try to stretch it for longer than a half hour. But within that time and with reservations ... it makes a lively little lark."^[6]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Michael Deeley, Blade Runners, Deer Hunters and Blowing the Bloody Doors Off: My Life in Cult Movies, Pegasus Books, 2009 p 17-20
^ "The Case of the Mukkinese Battle-Horn". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
^ Scudamore, Pauline (1985). Spike Milligan: A Biography. London: Granada. ISBN 0-246-12275-7. p.173. Scudamore states the film was made by Richard Lester, but it is not clear from other sources that this was the case
^ Lewis, Roger (1995). The Life and Death of Peter Sellers. London: Arrow Books. ISBN 0-09-974700-6.
^ Bevan, Clifford (2000). The Tuba Family (2nd ed.). Winchester: Piccolo Press. p. 120. ISBN 1-872203-30-2. OCLC 993463927. OL 19533420M. Wikidata Q111040769.
^ Crowther, Bosley (31 July 1962). "Screen: British 'Coming-Out Party':Comedy on Prisoners of War at the Plaza". The New York Times – via NYTimes.com.