Movie Review: The Court Jester (1955)

The Court Jester (1955) co-written and co-directed by Melvin Frank and Norman Panama

In medieval England, circus performer Hubert Hawkins (Danny Kaye) wants to fight against the tyranny of a king who has usurped the throne. Royal adviser Sir Ravenhurst (Basil Rathbone) has managed to kill all of the royal family except for a baby that has the royal birthmark--a purple pimpernel on his posterior. So the false king (Cecil Parker) is one step from security. Meanwhile, the Black Fox (Edward Ashley) leads the resistance. Hawkins wants to fight along side the Black Fox but is relegated to royal baby care. The king's men raid the forest, forcing Hawkins to take the baby to a monastery for safety. As part of his cover, he travels with Captain Jean (Glynis Johns), a fighter he is smitten with. She likes him too but they can't get married until peace has returned to the kingdom. On the way, they come across Giacomo (John Carradine), a jester hired by Ravenhurst to entertain the king. They knock him out and Hawkins passes himself off as the jester, thus getting an inside man into the castle. Hawkins has to get a key to a secret passage that will let the Fox's men launch a surprise attack and take over the king's castle. Once there, a lot of other secret intrigues complicate the plot.

The movie is a musical comedy that pokes gentle fun at swashbuckler films. In addition to the political intrigue, there's a lot of sword play and a witch who casts spells (mostly hypnotizing Hawkins into thinking he is a much more competent fighter and lover). The film is very entertaining and plays up to Kaye's strengths as a physical comedian who can sing and dance. The jousting scene, with the famous "Vessel with the pestle has the pellet with the poison" scene is comedy gold.

Highly recommended, though my kids thought there was too much music and too much kissing.