Most audiences would probably be delighted just to see Kaye get into humorous predicaments in a medieval setting for two hours, but the creative team ensured this was a narrative that could stand on its own even without the songs and jokes. The plot of the film is honestly stronger and more intricate than it has any right to be.
The plan is to disguise themselves as wine merchants until they meet the king’s newly hired jester, Giacomo, on the road, at which point they Jean urges Hawkins to steal his identity and infiltrate the castle. Not quite as fearless but aspiring to be is the group minstrel, Hubert Hawkins (Danny Kaye), who is tasked with whisking the baby to safety with fellow rebel Maid Jean ( Glynis Johns, Mary Poppins ) upon the discovery of their hideout. This important little fellow is being safe guarded by a fearless group of rebels led by the legendary Black Fox. The only claim to this previous, legitimate regime is an infant with the royal “purple pimpernel” birthmark on his bum, which signifies his family lineage. The stakes of the film are not too unfamiliar in medieval England the royal throne has been usurped by the self-proclaimed King Roderick ( Cecil Parker, The Lady Vanishes ) after unceremoniously sending Lord Ravenhurst ( Basil Rathbone, The Adventures of Robin Hood ) to dispatch of the rightful king and his family. The Court Jester is a very clever send-up of the swashbuckling historical epics of yore, but there is a level of care put into this production to make it an immaculate facsimile of the real thing.
BUY THE COURT JESTER FULL
This all comes full circle as Paramount has given this title the new life it deserves as one of the comedy jewels of its library. Those who saw it loved it, and it became something of an audience favorite thanks to television airings and renewed critical evaluations. The showing was abysmal, but it did not completely fade into obscurity. The film was the most expensive comedy film ever produced upon its release, and it completely crashed at the box office. One of his all-time great features is the 1955 musical adventure-comedy The Court Jester from Melvin Frank and Norman Panama, who just so happened to have also written White Christmas. While that film holds a sentimental place in the hearts of many, there are numerous roles that better represent the amazing talent he possessed. If you ask the average person about Danny Kaye, there is a decent chance you will hear about White Christmas, if you hear about anything at all.
The stellar supporting cast includes Glynis Johns, Angela Lansbury, Mildred Natwick, Cecil Parker, and John Carradine.There are certain performers from the Golden Age of Hollywood who modern audiences do not appreciate as much as they should because many of their most notable contributions have been forgotten.
Alternating identities at the snap of a finger, between swordplay and wordplay, Kaye’s comic genius shines through. Hawkins infiltrates the court of an evil villain (Basil Rathbone), but when a sorceress hypnotizes him, royal chaos ensues. In this swashbuckling comic farce, star Danny Kaye is kind-hearted entertainer Hawkins who disguises himself as the legendary king of jesters, Giacomo. Paramount Presents: The Court Jester (Blu-ray + Digital)Ĭelebrating its 65th Anniversary, Paramount’s beloved madcap musical debuts on Blu-ray, beautifully remastered from a 6K film transfer of the original VistaVision negative. By the way, “day one” is scheduled as January 26th. Life could not better be, because Danny Kaye’s best comedy, The Court Jester (1956) is heading to Blu-ray as part of the Paramount Presents line of collector’s releases.
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