The Court Jester (1955)

The Court Jester (1955) (DVD) (*)

$21.99

Screened, competed or awarded at:
Golden Globes
Other Film Festival Awards

Language Selections:
English ( Dolby Digital 2.0 )
English ( Subtitles )
Spanish ( Dolby Digital 2.0 )
Spanish ( Subtitles )

Product Origin/Format:
Spain ( PAL/Region 0 )

Running Time:
97 min

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen

Special Features:
Interactive Menu
Scene Access

Movie filmed in 1955 and produced in:
United States ( USA, Canada )

Directed By:
Melvin Frank
Norman Panama

Written By:
Norman Panama
Melvin Frank

Actors:
Danny Kaye ..... Hubert Hawkins
Glynis Johns ..... Maid Jean
Basil Rathbone ..... Sir Ravenhurst
Angela Lansbury ..... Princess Gwendolyn
Cecil Parker ..... King Roderick I
Mildred Natwick ..... Griselda
Robert Middleton ..... Sir Griswold
Michael Pate ..... Sir Locksley
Herbert Rudley ..... Captain of the Guard
Noel Drayton ..... Fergus
John Carradine ..... Giacomo
Edward Ashley ..... Black Fox
Alan Napier ..... Sir Brockhurst
Lewis Martin ..... Sir Finsdale
Patrick Aherne ..... Sir Pertwee

Synopsis:

Danny Kaye spoofs medieval swashbucklers in this classic musical comedy. While the infant King of England awaits his rightful place as leader of the British Empire, his rule is usurped by Roderick (Cecil Parker), an evil pretender to the throne. Brave rebel leader The Black Fox (Edward Ashley) intends to remove Roderick from the palace and bring the crown back to its true owner, but in the meantime the baby king needs to be looked after, which is the job of a man named Hawkins (Kaye). The Black Fox travels with the little king and his rebels as they search for the key to a secret tunnel that will allow them passage into the castle. Maid Jean (Glynis Johns), one of the rebels, meets a man en route to the Castle who is to be Roderick's new jester. The rebels quickly hatch a plan: detain the jester and send Hawkins in his place; the king can then find the key and initiate the overthrow. Hawkins is able to persuade Roderick and his men that he is indeed a jester, but his espionage work gets complicated when Princess Gwendolyn (Angela Lansbury) falls in love with him, and he runs afoul of Sir Ravenhurst (Basil Rathbone), the evil genius behind Roderick. Court Jester features Kaye's famous "Pellet with the Poison" routine.

The throne of rightful king of England, the small babe with the purple pimpernel birthmark, has been usurped by the evil King Roderick. Only the Black Fox can restore the true king to the throne--and all he needs is the king's key to a secret tunnel. And while he's trying to steal it, someone has to change the king's diapers. The task falls to Hawkins, the gentlest member of the Fox's band. The Fox's lieutenant, Maid Jean, guards Hawkins and the babe while they travel, but when they meet the King's new jester on the road, they decide to initiate a daring plan for Hawkins to replace him, become an intimate at the court, and steal the key. So, humble Hawkins becomes Giacomo: the king of jesters and jester to the king. But things begin to get zany when the King's daughter falls for Giacomo, the King falls for Jean, people randomly sing what are supposed to be recognition codes, and a witch with very effective spells (and poison pellets) begins to interfere.

This spectacular production features the tremendous pageantry and color of 12th-century England and the considerable talents of Danny Kaye. Kaye plays a court jester who becomes involved with outlaws trying to overthrow the king. In between singing, dancing and clowning, he still finds time for some jousting with knights, dangerous duels with swordsmen, and rescuing damsels in distress. A delightful comedy for the whole family.

This product was added to our catalog on Sunday 19 July, 2020.