| The Case of the Mukkinese Battle-Horn | |
| Director: | Joseph Sterling |
| Producer: | Harry Booth Michael Deeley Jon Penington |
| Starring: | Peter Sellers Spike Milligan Dick Emery |
| Cinematography: | Gerald Gibbs |
| Music: | Edwin Astley |
| Distributor: | Archway Film Distributors |
| Runtime: | 27 minutes |
| Country: | United Kingdom |
| Language: | English |
| Budget: | £4,500[1] |
| Gross: | £45,000 |
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.
Emery replaced Harry Secombe, who was too expensive for the film's low budget.
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]