The Case of the Mukkinese Battle-Horn | |
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Directed by | Joseph Sterling |
Written by | Larry Stephens (original story and screenplay) Harry Booth (screenplay) Jon Penington (screenplay) Peter Sellers (additional material) Spike Milligan (additional material) |
Produced by | Harry Booth Michael Deeley Jon Penington |
Starring | Peter Sellers Spike Milligan Dick Emery |
Cinematography | Gerald Gibbs |
Music by | Edwin Astley |
Distributed by | Archway Film Distributors |
Release date |
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Running time | 27 minutes |
Country | United Kingdom |
Language | English |
Budget | £4,500[1] |
Box office | £45,000[1] |
The Case of the Mukkinese Battle-Horn (also known as Gone Goon) is a 1956 British short comedy film directed by Joseph Sterling and starring Peter Sellers, Spike Milligan and Dick Emery.[2] It 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.
It was made in November 1955 and released in 1956.[3][4]
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.
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]
Emery replaced Harry Secombe, who was too expensive for the film's low budget.[citation needed]
The titular battle horn prop was based on a serpent.[5]
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]
Kine Weekly wrote: "Its players work hard, but its humour, pretty crude, is mainly addressed to the lowbrows."[6]
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."[7]
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