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The Court Jester
Directed by: Melvin Frank & Norman Panama
Starring: Danny Kaye
Genre:
Classic/Comedy
Run Time: 101
min.
Release Date:
January 1956
On The Web:
Unofficial Site
Teaser:
None Available
Reviewed by
Byron Merritt |
Amazingly funny. Incredibly
physical. Written with precision and razor sharp wit. All of these
accolades fit perfectly when discussing THE COURT JESTER.
Making fun of British royalty in the 1700s, Danny Kaye pulls off a
stunningly funny and physical performance. Much of this appreciation,
however, must be placed firmly in the laps of writer/directors Melvin
Frank and Norman Panama. The dialogue is masterful and shoots from the
characters in rapid-fire succession. The infamous “Get it. Got it.
Good.” as well as the unforgettable “The vessel with the pestle has the
pellet with the poison” routine which will most likely have you wetting
yourself with laughter.
The story, from the get-go, is light and intentionally so. We find young
Hawkins (Danny Kaye) singing in the merry forest, pretending to be The
Black Fox, a Robinhood-esque fighter against the royal crown. But
Hawkins real job is to take care of the true heir to the throne, a baby
born from royalty but saved from the slaughter of the now sitting King.
And this baby has a birthmark on its royal bottom: the purple pimpernel.
Hawkins job is to show the new recruits into The Black Fox’s legions the
royal bottom with this royal birthmark. But Hawkins craves more
excitement, and he’s going to get it ...whether its exactly what he
wants or not.
Trying to find a way into the castle via back-routes, Hawkins, along
with his beautiful companion, Maid Jean (Glynis Johns), run across
someone known as “The Incomparable Giacomo,” King of Jesters and Jester
of Kings. He’s on his way to the castle to be the King’s new court
jester. But Maid Jean conks him on the head and Hawkins takes his place.
But more trouble is brewing in the castle. Princess Gwendolyn (Angela
Landsbury) desires a marriage of love and threatens to jump from the
highest tower if she doesn’t get it. The King wants her to marry a gruff
and ugly German beast, but once Gwendolyn sets her eyes on Hawkins/Giacomo,
she wants him. With the help of her hypnotizing consort Griselda
(Mildred Natwick), Hawkins is snapped in and out of a dashing
personality and back into his more mundane life so often it makes one
dizzy to even think about it!
Giacomo/Hawkins is also supposed to kill off the King and his advisors
in a plan devised by Sir Ravenhurst (Basil Rathbone), so that Sir
Ravenhurst can assume the throne. Hawkins knows nothing about this, but
his alter-ego/hypnotized Giacomo does.
Battling multiple personalities within himself, the love of Maid Jean,
the advances of Princess Gwendolyn, the murdering schemes of Sir
Ravenhurst, and his loyalty to the purple pimperneled bottomed baby, the
story culminates as Hawkins battles the deadly German who’s ten times
his size in a show of knightly honor that is magnetic.
The Court Jester and much of its crisp and hilarious dialogue are
still heard today. Truly a credit to the writers of this now 52-year-old
flick.
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Image from The Court
Jester
DVD cost: $6.99
Purchase:
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Film Review Stew
Favorite?
Yes.
Stew Poo-Poo? No.
Newsworthy:
Danny Kaye's daughter,
Dena, said for the rest of his life, when people recognized Danny in a
restaurant, they would walk up and spout the entire "brew that is true"
speech.
Movie Quote: "The
vessel with the pestle has the pellet with the poison. The chalice from
the palace has the brew that is true."
Other Actors/Actresses
from The Court Jester
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