![]() ![]() Glynis Johns is a formidable presence with more agency for her character than many females at this time. Kaye is working on a level that few comedic performers are able to tap into, and the remainder of the ensemble matches him at every turn. An energetic number in the forest where he is impersonating The Black Fox will leave you with a slight buzzing in your bones. Fans of his vocal talents will not be disappointed, as there are multiple points throughout the film for him to show off his knack for singing and dancing. The physical comedy is drop-dead funny without being outlandish, such as when a witch, Griselda ( Mildred Natwick), hypnotizes Hawkins to change his personality upon hearing the snapping of fingers. An early disguise as an old man offers broad character laughs, whereas he gets to show off his nimble way with words in a tongue-twister of a phrase that could spell his doom near the end of the film. But Kaye certainly does get to show off every different facet of what makes him such a great performer. 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. 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. 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.
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