Customer Reviews
One of the funniest films ever - By: Ms. L. R. Fisher, 08 Nov 2008 
Yes, there's slapstick, but it's the best - see the fight between museum guards & Chinese criminals, using stuffed animals as weapons, or the rematch pitting the Chinese against British nannies armed only with umbrellas & a determination not to take any more nonsense from you, young man! But a lot of the comedy comes from character & script, & perfect playing from all concerned. Ustinov, Hayes & Nimmo stand out, but Roy Kinnear & Geoffrey Pearson arein there somewhere, along with a long string of British character actors. The maid at Lord Castleberry's home has one brilliant wordless moment "Florence will look after you!" (Florence humphs silently). OK, so these days, we wouldn't have Europeans disguising themselves as Asiatics with blue eye makeup . (Can you spot Hugh Laurie & Joan (Marple) Hickson?)
One of our dinosaurs is missing - By: Darles Chickens, 27 Nov 2007 One of the funniest films I have ever seen
I was thrilled to see you can get it on DVD I want to share this with my 3 daughters great film lovers with great senses of humours.
Derek Nimo was brilliantin this film, when I saw this originally many years ago, he wasin a british sit com called 'O Brother' he always made/makes me laugh!
Still funny 20 years on! - By: K. Sinclair, 24 Mar 2007 I first saw this film when I was about 5 ~ I'm now 25 & still find it wonderful. It is definately suitable for adults as well as children.
The previous reviewer has given a great overview of the plot, so I will just add this:
It is setin 1920's London. Lord Southmere has escaped China with a microfilm containing the secret of 'Lotus X', but must prevent the Chinese from stealing it back.
After falling from one of the dinosaur skeletonsin the Natural History Museum {"But was it the diplodocus or the brontesaurus?"}, & being held prisoner by Hnup Wan, he confides allin 'Nanny' {Hettie}. But he keeps protesting that he is not a spy, just "An ordinary businessman."
Hettie enlists the help of a couple of fellow Nannies, including young Susan who is something of a tomboy! But despite her best efforts, not only can Hettie not find the microfilm, she fails to keep their suspicious activities from her young charges ~ Lord Castleberry & Truscott. These two befriend Hnup Wan {who Hettie recognises as the son of the Chinese ambasador, & procedes to intimidate him!}, seeing a way to make some money.
But, all comes wellin the end {I won't spoil it by telling you!}.
Peter Ustinov & Helen Hayes play off each other wonderfully. Derek Nimmo is a credible 'Lord', & the cast also features Bernard Breslaw, Joan Sims, Max Wall, Joss Ackland, Roy Kinnear, joan Hickson, John Laurie, Amanda Barrie, & Jon Pertwee, among others.
The actual use of the Natural History Museum for some scenes adds to the suspension of disbelief.
Allin all, well worth watching for children & adults alike!
Terrifying British nannies foil cunning Oriental plan - By: Sally-Anne, 21 Apr 2005 
An English gentleman, Lord Southmere (Derek Nimmo) left China by novel means carrying a precious secret. A most fiendishly clever Chinese agent, Hnup Wan (Peter Ustinov) & his crack(ed) team of martial arts specialists, were under strict instructions to get the stolen treasure back. All would have been lost for Lord Southmere, had he not run into his old nanny, Hettie (Helen Hayes) when Hnup Wan & his boys tracked him to the dinosaur section of the British Museum of Natural History. He managed to tell nanny where he had hidden the coveted item just before passing out. Hettie & her gang of fearless nannies were forced to appropriate one of the dinosaurs to stop the Chinese chaps from finding the hiding place of the mysterious stolen secret.
I'm assured this is a film for children & adults will not appreciate it. However, some adults have a childish sense of humour & I'm one of those. This film has kept me happily gurgling with mirth for most of its 90 minute running time. The myth of British eccentricity is exploited shamelessly & the well-spring of English wackiness is shown to be the British nanny - the formidable women with the power to shape tender young toffs. It may be a lot of slap-stick nonsense, but it's fun. I recommend it to all who are young at heart, including children.
