Mouse Hunt
Mouse Hunt
Mouse Hunt is a 1997 American slapstick black comedy film written by Adam Rifkin and directed by Gore Verbinski in his feature film directorial debut. It stars Nathan Lane, Lee Evans), Maury Chaykin, and Christopher Walken. The film follows two Laurel and Hardy-like brothers in their struggle against one small but crafty house mouse for possession of a mansion which was willed to them by their father. While the film is set in the late 20th century, styles range humorously from the 1940s to the 1990s.
Background
Mouse Hunt's script was written by Adam Rifkin and it was directed by Gore Verbinski in his feature directorial debut. Verbinski was then known for his work on commercials, such as the 1995 Budweiser Frogs campaign that aired during Super Bowl XXIX. He was chosen by Spielberg, who also chose first time feature director Mimi Leder to direct The Peacemaker. Rifkin and Verbinski were both inspired by Coen Brothers films like The Hudsucker Proxy, as well as Terry Gilliam's Brazil). Verbinski was insistent that the film stay faithful to Rifkin's original script, with Rifkin saying in 2023 that Verbinski wanted the film "to be dystopian and in its own universe of weirdness". Rifkin described he and Verbinski as being a perfect match, and said that Spielberg trusted them to both carry out the vision they saw for the movie.
Casting and filming
The outdoor scenes have depictions of snow and the majority of them were shot in Central and Northern California, particularly around Fresno and the Yosemite region. Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills was used for exterior shots representing the upscale restaurant. Additionally, Raleigh Studios in Hollywood was where many of the mansion's interior shots were constructed and filmed. In a 1997 interview, Verbinski said that the flood scene towards the end of the film was a collaborative effort between special effects leader Michael Lantieri and the film's stunt team. In this same interview, Verbinski reflected on the shooting, saying that "we weren't anywhere near anything sane during the entire shooting of the movie. Especially with Nathan and Lee, they sort of promote insanity."
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