The Grand Duchy of Fenwick

Behind my back, the television provides me with "white noise" while I sit and work. Usually it is tuned to CNN of C-Span (at least during the day).

Right now it is playing one of my favorite of Peter Sellers' films - The Mouse that Roared.

The plot is wonderful and Peter Sellers plays a great number of the roles himself.

The Grand Duchy of Fenwick finds itself approaching bankruptcy. Fenwick is the world's smallest country (and the only english speaking country on mainland Europe), occupies approximately 15 1/2 square miles in the French Alps.

To save the Duchy from financial ruin, Fenwick declares war on the United States of America. For as the "Hereditary Prime Minister" (Peter Sellers) puts it "there is no more profitable enterprise" for a small country today than to attack the United States. The war is launched in anticipation of the foreign aid that will be delivered by the USA once Fenwick loses. "We'll declare war today, surrender tomorrow, and begin celebrating the financial aid by Friday."

Things do not go as planned.

Peter Sellers (the "Hereditary Field Marshall") and his ragtag band of 20 farmers, dressed in chain mail and armed with bows and arrows, set sail for America - and win the war.

Upon his return the Grand Duchy must face the consequences of having won the war and the real fun begins - as the world becomes involved in the peace negotiations.

With Jean Seberg thrown in for romance and Leo McKern for being Leo McKern, this is just a fun, delightful, wonderful romp.

It's like an early Woody Allen film, only without the neurosis and existentialism.