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Court Jester (Widescreen)

Starring: Danny Kaye, Glynis Johns Director: Norman Panama, Melvin Frank

4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (60 customer reviews)

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Product Details

Actors: Danny Kaye, Glynis Johns, Basil Rathbone, Angela Lansbury, Cecil Parker
Directors: Norman Panama, Melvin Frank
Format: NTSC, Widescreen
Language: English, French
Region: (US and Canada This DVD will probably NOT be viewable in other countries. Read more about DVD formats.)
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Studio: Paramount
DVD Release Date: May 11 2004

Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (60 customer reviews)

ASIN: 079215519X
Amazon.ca Sales Rank: #2,873 in DVD (See Bestsellers in DVD)
Popular in these categories:
#3 in DVD > En fran�ais > Com�die > Com�dies satiriques
#5 in DVD > En fran�ais > Com�die > Com�dies musicales
#9 in DVD > Comedy > Musicals

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Product Description

From Amazon.com

Danny Kaye spoofs Robin Hood and Scaramouche in this inventive slapstick swashbuckler. Portraying the clownish but good-hearted entertainer Hawkins, he infiltrates the court of the corrupt Basil Rathbone (up to his usual brand of cruel villainy) disguised as the legendary king of jesters, Giacomo. After a court sorceress hypnotizes Hawkins into believing he is also a legendary assassin, Hawkins has more identities than he can keep straight, and Kaye zips back and forth between them at, literally, a snap of the fingers. Comic highlights include a wonderful sword fight with Rathbone in which he constantly switches identities, and the classic "chalice from the palace/vessel with pestle" wordplay as Hawkins plays "hide the poison" and forgets where it is. With comely Glynis Johns as his spy-in-arms love interest, Angela Lansbury as the scheming princess, and Mildred Natwick as the dotty spellcaster, this is Danny Kaye at his comic best. --Sean Axmaker

Review

The Court Jester deconstructs the swashbuckler genre, poking fun at the films of Errol Flynn in particular. Featuring one of Danny Kaye's best-known performances, it is a catalogue of satirical delights, highlighted by Kaye's "The Pellet with the Poison" bit. Written, directed, and produced by the team of Melvin Frank and Norman Panama, the film avoids self-parody thanks to the well-chosen supporting players, including Basil Rathbone and Angela Lansbury. Its major weakness is its romantic subplot, which slows the momentum at several points. Kaye's energetic humor, however, is enough to get the film back on track whenever it threatens to become maudlin. ~ Richard Gilliam, All Movie Guide

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Customer Reviews

60 Reviews

5 star:		(50)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

Average Customer Review

4.8 out of 5 stars (60 customer reviews)

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Most helpful customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Comedy Could Not Better Be!, May 28 2004

By	Deborah Earle (USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Court Jester, the (VHS Tape)

In the history of the movies, fewer things are more amusing than watching Danny Kaye behave as Danny Kaye. Watching his films was a wonderful part of my childhood,and I remember being at home from High School on the day of his passing. I'm very glad for the legacy he has left us to enjoy.
In "The Court Jester" he couldn't be more in his element as he amuses us with his usual patter numbers clever, tounge-twisting lyrics and sword play, and moves us with his loving care of the orphaned infant heir to the English throne. The scene of his lullabying the baby was shown as a tribute to him at the end of "Entertainment Tonight" the weekend after his death and it was a fitting tribute to him, his love of children, and the childlike sense of wonder he brought to all of his films.
As Kaye's love interest, Jean, a charismatic Glynis Johns is highly complimentary.She is not the sterotypical woman of medeival times, but having been raised as a boy, has a lot of cunning, ingenuity, and an occassional bit of brawn as the leader of those in rebellion against Cecil Parker's evil King.
Angela Lansbury's Princess Gwendolyn longs for true love rather than an arranged marriage. She is firm and decisive in many ways, as she helps bring the tale to a positive conclusion.
As the sourceress, Mildred Natwick leads into some of the film's funniest scenes, including the notorious "Pellet with the poison is in the vessel with the pestle" routine that has become a classic.
Hubert Hawkins' cleverness in seizing the real Court Jester,(John Carradine, a man whom I could never really think of as funny) who was very arrogant, disguising himself in his clothes, and using his tounge-twisting dialogue with the King to cover his tracks is also a riot.
Basil Rathbone as the evil henchmen is a refined villian. It's amusing the way Kaye kept pushing his name out of the way during the opening credits, and I have wondered how often Hawkins' accelerated knighthood ceremony had to be rehearsed before those on the set could stop laughing.

Although the film overlooks the fact that a person can't be hypnotized against their will, the way Hubert Hawkins is, the comedy is generally light, and goofy, doesen't get any saucier than the exposure of an infant's backside, and children will love it.
And as Hawkins reassures us at the beginning,"What starts like a scary tale ends like a fairy tale, and life couldn't possibly better be!"

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5.0 out of 5 stars So funny your cheeks will ache from laughing!!, April 21 2004

By	Teresa (Santa Rosa, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This is one of Danny Kaye's best. He was so talented and his comic timing is impeccable. The "chalice from the palace" scene is so funny that I have not forgotten it over the years. This movie will get you out of the blues in no time.

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5.0 out of 5 stars You will go and buy this movie and do it like that (snap)!, Mar 12 2004

By	Joseph J. Slevin (Carlsbad, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This is my favorite movie of all time. When I was a kid Danny Kaye movies played every Sunday morning and we would wait the few months until it came around again.

I have never stopped laughing at the scenes, the funny interplay between Danny Kaye and the court and his continual buffonery.

Even kids will love this movie. It starts with a dance routine which is almost like Robin Hood Men in Tights. That is quaint, yet the next scene will take you in and take you on the funniest rides of all time.

Kaye, disquised as an old man who is hard of hearing having a scream fest with the captain of the guard. This few minutes is one of the funniest scenes I have ever witnessed. Then there are just funny scenes that will make you split your sides with laughter from there on out.

The wit it took to bring together this cast and the concept of the movie seems that it will never be outdated.

What Danny Kaye and the rest do here is ascend age and time making this movie appeal to any age group, young or old. I have seen a young family start off thinking this was a silly movie then, taken by the first comedic interaction, launch into continuous laughter. I laugh getting a kick out of watching everyone else laugh too.

This movie is a must for any DVD or VHS library. Share it with your friends, watch it when you are a little too stressed out to do anything else to lighten up your day.

The plays on words, the different fast paced situational scenes that will have you thinking; 'how clever...,' even when you think that Hawkins/Giacommo is at his end, then it gets even funnier. The Chalis with the poisly has the pellet with the pesly......

This movie is so fast paced that you cannot believe you have sat there and laughed for the better part of 90 minutes. The great thing about the DVD, you do not have to worry about watching this over and over again and wearing it out.

This movie has great color and scenery. The imagery is wonderful. You wonder if they really were in a castle.

Laugh and love this movie......I recommend it for school, church and family activities. It is a classic that may become more well known with time.

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Most recent customer reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars DANNY KAYE, A VERY TALENTED GUY.
"The Court Jester" is one of the most original comedies that one can see: the film combines quick dialogues, physical stunts and tricks, very original jokes, screwball, slapstick... Read more

Published on Mar 3 2004 by Alejandro Cortes

4.0 out of 5 stars Jest Wonderful
Possibly the funniest musical comedy ever made. Even if you are not a Danny Kaye fan, you should try this movie. Read more

Published on Feb 10 2004 by Peter Reeve

5.0 out of 5 stars The whole family will laugh 'til it hurts
If you haven't encountered the unbelievably talented Danny Kaye yet, this film is an excellent introduction. It moved him to the top of my list! Read more

Published on Jan 15 2004 by Judebert