The Court Jester

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The Court Jester

1956,

1h 41m,

Musical/

Comedy

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Watchlist

96%

27 Reviews

Tomatometer

93%

5,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

96%

Tomatometer

27 Reviews

93%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Former carnival performer Hubert Hawkins (Danny Kaye) and maid Jean (Glynis Johns) are assigned to protect the infant royal heir from tyrannical King Roderick I (Cecil Parker). While Jean takes the baby to an abbey, Hawkins gains access to the court by impersonating the king's jester, unaware that the jester is really an assassin hired by scheming Sir Ravenhurst (Basil Rathbone). When Princess Gwendolyn (Angela Lansbury) falls for Hawkins, a witch secretly aids him in becoming a knight.

Critics Consensus

A witty spoof of medieval swashbuckler movies, The Court Jester showcases Danny Kaye at his nimble, tongue-twisting best.

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Sam Adams

The Dissolve

Dec 16, 2013

4/5

Rightly regarded as one of the peaks of Kaye's career.

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Variety Staff

Variety

Jan 28, 2011

Costumed swashbucklers undergo a happy spoofing in The Court Jester with Danny Kaye heading the fun-poking.

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David Parkinson

Empire Magazine

Jan 28, 2011

4/5

A cracking jest, wonderfully enjoyable.

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Aug 29, 2022

8/10

In a fitting fashion, all of the supporting roles remain serious with precise consistency, employing the rules of chivalry to absurd heights, allowing Kaye to remain the lone source of over-the-top comedy relief.

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Bill Newcott

Movies For The Rest Of Us

Jan 30, 2021

4/5

It's a Danny Kaye vehicle from the first frame...meant to be nothing more than a good bit of fun... More significantly, it's a reminder of how easily we can forget some of Hollywood's most extraordinary, if nonconforming, geniuses.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Jan 29, 2021

4/4

Nothing can top the fantastic wordplay involving the vessel with the pestle, the chalice from the palace, and the flagon with a dragon ... only one of which holds the brew that is true.

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Kylo P

Mar 28, 2019

the duelling scenes are great!

Harry G

Mar 17, 2018

So pleased to see this film getting the credit it deserves. All the jokes crack me up no matter how many times I watch it. Brilliant physical comedy as well as dialogue. this is a timeless classic.

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Harry W

Feb 1, 2018

Fantastic movie. Classic humor and talent at its best.

Ron M

Dec 31, 2017

Danny Kaye's finest role. Witty and charming. Laugh-out-loud funny.

Abraham P

Sep 24, 2017

Without a doubt, Kaye's best film, a wonderful, cartoonish mixture of farce, satire and song, and with a stellar supporting cast; includes the classic exchange, "The pellet with the poison's in the vessel with the pestle." A must-see.

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Melvin Frank

Director

Norman Panama

Director

Danny Kaye

Hubert Hawkins

Glynis Johns

Maid Jean

Basil Rathbone

Sir Ravenhurst

Angela Lansbury

Princess Gwendolyn

The Court Jester: Official Clip - The Flagon with the Dragon

2:09

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The Court Jester: Official Clip - The Pellet with the Poison's in the Vessel with the Pestle

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The Court Jester: Official Clip - They Say It Isn't Catching

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The Court Jester: Official Clip - Bewitched by Griselda

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The Court Jester: Official Clip - Master of Many Tongues

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The Court Jester: Official Clip - The Wine Merchant and the Mute

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The Court Jester: Official Clip - Get It? Got It. Good.

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The Court Jester: Official Clip - The Maladjusted Jester

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The Court Jester: Official Clip - Crossing Blades with the Snap of a Finger

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Synopsis

Former carnival performer Hubert Hawkins (Danny Kaye) and maid Jean (Glynis Johns) are assigned to protect the infant royal heir from tyrannical King Roderick I (Cecil Parker). While Jean takes the baby to an abbey, Hawkins gains access to the court by impersonating the king's jester, unaware that the jester is really an assassin hired by scheming Sir Ravenhurst (Basil Rathbone). When Princess Gwendolyn (Angela Lansbury) falls for Hawkins, a witch secretly aids him in becoming a knight.

Director: Melvin Frank, Norman Panama
Producer: Melvin Frank, Norman Panama
Screenwriter: Melvin Frank, Norman Panama
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Dena Enterprises
Genre: Musical, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 27, 1956, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2014
Runtime: 1h 41m

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