The Court Jester

"We asked Shakespeare and Francis Bacon would they declare which one wrote this and they both said, “Get outta here!”"

1955 1h 41m EN

👍

7.3

SOLID

★7.3TMDB · 222

MusicAdventureComedy

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

A hapless carnival performer masquerades as the court jester as part of a plot against a usurper who has overthrown the rightful king of England.

“We asked Shakespeare and Francis Bacon would they declare which one wrote this and they both said, “Get outta here!””

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Cast

Danny Kaye
Hubert Hawkins
Glynis Johns
Maid Jean
Basil Rathbone
Sir Ravenhurst
Angela Lansbury
Princess Gwendolyn
Cecil Parker
King Roderick I
Mildred Natwick
Griselda
Robert Middleton
Sir Griswold
Michael Pate
Sir Locksley

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Norman Panama
Writers: Norman Panama, Melvin Frank
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Shot for just $4.0M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

71 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Norman Panama, shot by Ray June. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Vic Schoen. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Tom McAdoo shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Danny Kaye and Glynis Johns and Basil Rathbone carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "We asked Shakespeare and Francis Bacon would they declare which one wrote this and they both said, “Get outta here!”".

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0049096 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Norman Panama directs. Ray June behind the camera. Vic Schoen scores. Tom McAdoo cuts. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Shot for just $4.0M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.
271 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
3Directed by Norman Panama, shot by Ray June. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Vic Schoen. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Tom McAdoo shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Danny Kaye and Glynis Johns and Basil Rathbone carry the top of the cast.
7Marketing tagline: "We asked Shakespeare and Francis Bacon would they declare which one wrote this and they both said, “Get outta here!”".
8IMDB entry: tt0049096 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography: Ray June
Original score: Vic Schoen
Editing: Tom McAdoo
Costume design: Edith Head
Makeup / hair: Wally Westmore
Runtime: 101 min · 1h 41m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $4,000,000
Original language: EN
IMDB: The Court Jester (1955)

Also by

Norman Panama

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Community reviews

What people are saying

John Chard2019-08-02
★ 8/10
Discretion is for fools and simpletons. From the opening credits as Danny Kaye sings dressed as a harlequin jester you get the impression that this film will be a joyous romp, and so it is. Perhaps the most talked about film in Kaye's CV (even though it lost close to two million dollars on release), The Court Jester is a perfect vehicle for his blend of madcap showboating and serene warbling. Here he gets to play both the coward and the hero in a delightful dual role that is as energetic as it is mirthful - and thankfully the supporting cast (Cecil Parker, Angela Lansbury and Basil Rathbone in particular) are clued into the nature of the film to bring about top entertaining results. Though to be fair, it would be ignorant of me to not point out that Glynis Johns' Maid Jean is under formed. A number of hilarious sequences stand out in the film, from Hubert Hawkins transformation back and forth as Giacomo, to a brilliantly funny knighting ceremony, the film ticks all the boxes for fun family entertainment. Whilst do I need to mention "the vessel with the pestle, the flagon with the dragon, and the chalice with the palace" section of film that rightly stands the time for classic status. Great songs, great routines, Kaye on form, with Rathbone as the hissable villain, what more do you need? The Court Jester, a perfect movie for all the family. 8/10
JPV8522021-01-16
★ 8/10
Really entertaining and all around fun musical parody featuring a charismatic performance from David Kaye and also has Basil Rathbone serviceable as the villain. Also nice having Glynis Johns and Angela Lansbury in there, Johns particularly stunning. 3.75/5
sykobanana2021-05-13
★ 9/10
Oh, this is a gem of celluloid that just keeps giving joy. An adventure, comedy, romance, musical made for the whole family. A movie written specifically for one actor (who then agrees to play the central part) doesnt happen often, let alone have that role portrayed with perfection....But Danny Kaye is that special kind of actor. A spoof of The Adventures Of Robin Hood that even managed to get its villain, the great Basil Rathbone (and its light-years ahead of Men In Tights). This is an underrated masterpiece that I watch, laugh at and notice new things regularly. It is one of those movies that can always lift your mood (or at the very least make you smile). The plot starts slowly and simply, becomes intricate, and weaves its medieval tapestry-like threads into a beautiful, neat picture at the end, tying everything up (as all good musicals should). The dialogue is at a level that we miss in modern film. And the timing of the lines is perfect from the classic chalice from the palace to the: “I’d like to get in, get on with it, get it over with, and get out. Get it? “Got it.” “Good.” This film is endlessly quotable (in fact, the quotes page on IMDB is lengthy). Perfectly cast, Kaye is supported by Johns and Landsbury who glide across their scenes with grace and beauty, and Rathbone sneers and schemes his way through his limited screen time. The swordplay in the final fight is glorious - up there with the best (the Princess Bride) in terms of skill and creativity. And the small gestures that the actors make through the movie, be they nudges, winks, kicks....the detail and timing here is outstanding and worthy of the greatest comedians in the business. What else - the costumes (perfectly completed by Edith Head) and sets are gorgeous. The colouring is stunning in a way that only a few films are. And the music will keep you humming (and whistling) for ages after. Hell, they even tried to make the credits interesting as Danny sings about the different roles involved in the making of the movie. My issues (and why its not 5 stars) - the pacing (it starts out very slow), the effects (rope swings, etc) and the "march" feel dated. But, I fell in love with this movie as a child (when my Mother introduced me to it). It became a regular watch on video. For me this has just gotten better as I get older, and like any long term loves, the issues fall aside. One of my top 10 favourites of all time.