The Case of the Mukkinese Battle-Horn

About this episode

The episode discusses the film 'The Case of the Mukkinese Battle-Horn' and its background with guest Chris Diamond.

“Their gags are paralysing. Sometimes the director has to let everybody have five minutes’ rest, so that we can laugh the laughs out.” (Pamela Thomas, supporting cast) In 1956 a short film was released which with hindsight was probably the most successful Goon Show celluloid transfer, despite only featuring two-thirds of the team. Ironically, it wasn't even intended for theatre release but a lack of interest by US television networks nixed any further forays so it ended up as a cinematic supporting feature. The Case of the Mukkinese Battle-Horn (an early working title was The Yard Has Three Feet) starred Peter Sellers as Superintendent Quilt and Spike Milligan as Sgt Brown plus honorary Goon Dick Emery as Nodule, a museum curator. All three appear in multiple guises, including Sellers as Henry Crun, Milligan as Eccles and Emery as Maurice Ponque. Joining Tyler this week to talk about the background to the film, including the revelation that it sprang from The Adventures of Robin Hood on television and that Harry Secombe's absence could at least be partly laid at the door of Jimmy Grafton, is returning guest Chris Diamond.

People in this episode

Host: Tyler

Guest: Chris Diamond

Topics covered

• Goon Show
• film review
• comedy history
• cinematic adaptation
• British cinema

Keywords

• Goon Show
• Peter Sellers
• Spike Milligan
• comedy
• film history
• short film
• British comedy

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: The Case of the Mukkinese Battle-Horn, The Adventures of Robin Hood

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