MEMORIES:
-Alan D Hopewell remembers...What else can I say? "The pellet with the poison's In the vessel with the pestle; The chalice from the palace Has the brew ... More »
Posted on 11/25/06
CATCH PHRASE:
Cast:
Maid Jean...Glynis Johns
Sir Ravenhurst...Basil Rathbone
Princess Gwendolyn...Angela Lansbury
King Roderick...Cecil Parker
Griselda...Mildred Natwick
Sir Griswold...Robert Middleton
Sir Locksley...Michael Pate
Captain of the Guard...Herbert Rudley
Fergus...Noel Drayton
Giacomo...John Carradine
Black Fox...Edward Ashley
Sir Brockhurst...Alan Napier
Sir Finsdale...Lewis Martin
Sir Pertwee...Patrick Aherne
Studio:
Release History:
In 1956, Danny Kaye turned his antic energy towards ancient times, spoofing Arthurian-style legends in The Court Jester. Kaye used his hyperkinetic comedic skills to put his own manic twist on old notions of magic, chivalry, and royal pretensions in this classic.
The masked Black Fox leads a posse of peasant fighting men aiming to win back the monarchy for the rightful king, a baby who has a distinctive purple birthmark. Hawkins (Kaye), one of these lowborn peasants, insinuates himself into the the court of the usurper, the villainous King Roderick, by disguising himself as a new court jester. The ensuing cavalcade of comic delights includes a ridiculous knighting ceremony, a classic “poison-pellet” switcheroo, and a farcical swordfight.
With its several memorable musical numbers, the movie depended as much on Danny Kaye’s song-and-dance prowess as his funnyman flair. But Kaye wasn’t alone. Basil Rathbone, who had played Sir Guy in the 1938 classic The Adventures of Robin Hood, lent some swordsmanlike legitimacy as the wicked king. Angela Lansbury – who had made her own “royal” mark on filmdom as Queen Anne in The Three Musketeers eight years earlier – took on the role of the lovely Princess Gwendolyn. All these elements added up to a big success; a good case can be made for naming The Court Jester Danny Kaye’s best and funniest film.
