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    Home»Movies»Movies by Decade»Movies - 1950s
    Movies - 1950s Movies - C 2 Mins Read

    Court Jester, The (1956)

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    Hyperkinetic funnyman Danny Kaye turned his antics to spoofing Arthurian films in the 1956 classic The Court Jester. Switching personalities as deftly as he shuffled his dancing feet, Kaye used his comic gifts to tweak the notions of chivalry, magic and more.

    Wicked King Roderick has usurped the throne from the rightful king, a baby with a purple birthmark. A gang of peasant warriors, led by the masked Black Fox, determines to restore the true monarch, by any means necessary.

    As part of the plan, lowly peasant Hawkins (Kaye) disguises himself as the king’s new jester to gain access to the court. What follows is a non-stop barrage of comic bits, including a madcap swordfight, a ludicrous knighting ceremony and the famous “poison pellet” mix-up.

    Kaye’s talent as a song and dance man served him well in the film, which included several memorable musical numbers.

    To give a bit of swashbuckling legitimacy to the proceedings, Basil Rathbone (Sir Guy in 1938’s The Adventures of Robin Hood) took the part of the wicked Sir Ravenhurst, while Angela Lansbury (Queen Anne in 1948’s The Three Musketeers) played the beautiful Princess Gwendolyn.

    The combination was a winner, as many fans consider this to be the best (and funniest) of Danny Kaye’s film work.

    The best comic moment comes when, as a reluctant participant in a joust, Hawkins is provided with knockout drops for this antagonist, but must remember in which cup they have been put.

    Thus the mnemonic: “The pellet with the poison’s in the vessel with the pestle, the chalice from the palace has the brew that is true”.

    Norman Panama and Melvin Frank took equal credit for the direction and the screenplay.

    Hubert Hawkins
    Danny Kaye
    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

    Director
    Melvin Frank
    Norman Panama

    Video

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