The Court Jester

A hapless carnival performer (Danny Kaye) masquerades as the court jester as part of a plot against an evil ruler who has overthrown the rightful king. I love Danny Kaye. I have never sought out his films, but each time a new one crosses my path, I am overjoyed to see it. With "Court Jester", I found myself enjoying yet another of his classic films, and wondered how i had not heard of it previously. Is he not the huge star he should be? Should I be actively seeking out his work? This is just a great story, very loosely based on Robin Hood... very, very loosely. It is said to be a musical, but it really is not much of one. There is singing, there is dancing, but this is really just a great comedy about a man pretending to be a jester, and actually pulling it off rather well.

I have seen this movie literally hundreds of times but everytime it is on TV, I sit and watch it again. This is a sweet, funny, light-hearted movie that the entire family can watch--no gratuitous sex, no four-letter words--just fun. They don't make them like this anymore. I still laugh about the "pistol with the poison is in the flagon with the dragon, the chalice from the palace has the brew that is true". Danny Kaye is a genius, no one can utter tongue twisters like he can. This movie also features a very young and beautiful Angela Lansbury (for you "Murder, She Wrote" fans). Of course there is Basil Rathbone, who is of course, suave and dashing. What more could you ask of a movie? Watch this movie--you'll be glad you did.

"The Court Jester" is an obvious film - it's witty, colorful, and adventurous. It not only works as fine example of the Medieval era film, but is also a spoof of the genre. Norman Panama and Melvin Frank wrote, produced, and directed; with brilliant style, and cohesiveness. Danny Kaye fits the title role like a glove; and, additional archetypal characterizations are highlighted by Basil Rathbone (as Sir Ravenhurst) and Mildred Natwick (as Griselda). The latter provides Mr. Kaye with the unforgettable advice: "The pellet with the poison's in the flagon with the dragon; the vessel with the pestle has the brew that is true." Just remember that. ********* The Court Jester (12/25/55) Norman Panama, Melvin Frank ~ Danny Kaye, Glynis Johns, Basil Rathbone

IMHO, one of the top funny films. I saw it when it first came out, and we enjoyed it so much, we nearly bought tickets to see it again, right away. There are so many high points in the film that listing them would put me over quota. A close relative who's nearly humorless to this day says, "Get it? Got it. Good," when she wants to underscore a point she's made. Once in a while, I'll mutter "The vessel with the pestle..." when things seem to be getting a tad complicated. The film has impacted me significantly. The lyrics of some of the sings are really good. "The Malajusted Jester" seems like something out of a Gilbert & Sullivan operetta. This is doubtless Danny Kaye's comedic magnum opus. It isn't a "must see" (what is?) but if you haven't seen it, you're missing a lot.

Danny Kaye is excellent in this old fashioned family comedy mixed some musical numbers, slapstick humour with wonderful wit and wordplay. The story moves along regardless of the fact that some events occur just to set up some of the jokes, and also some of the editing effects in one scene are really dated! But you're laughing so much that it doesn't matter. This is a wonderfully old fashioned family comedy that despite it's age still feels freshly funny and acts to show us how crude and ham-fisted comedies such as American Pie etc really are. Go and find this and watch it today!…..Get it? Got it! Good!