The Court Jester Overview:

The Court Jester (1956) was a Adventure - Comedy Film directed by Melvin Frank and Norman Panama and produced by Melvin Frank, Norman Panama, Danny Kaye and Sylvia Fine.

SYNOPSIS

A 12th-century court jester in England becomes involved with a desperate band of outlaws who are attempting to overthrow the king.

(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).

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The Court Jester was inducted into the National Film Registry in 2004.

BlogHub Articles:

Silver Screen Standards: The Court Jester (1955)

By Jennifer Garlen on Jan 14, 2020 From Classic Movie Hub Blog

Silver Screen Standards: The Court Jester (1955) I turn to colorful, upbeat musicals whenever I feel sick or depressed, especially in the winter, when I most need a bright escape from dark, dreary days stuck indoors. Recently I found myself revisiting one of my very favorite examples of the genre... Read full article


The Court Jester (1956): The Brew That Is True

By 4 Star Film Fan on Jul 10, 2019 From 4 Star Films

Maybe I’m simply partial to Medieval forms of entertainment but it’s hard to imagine a finer vehicle for Danny Kaye than The Court Jester. It needs to be lithe enough to accommodate his goofy even acrobatic brand of song-and-dance buffoonery. What better arena for Kaye than the king̵... Read full article


The Court Jester (1955): The Brew That Is True

By 4 Star Film Fan on Jul 10, 2019 From 4 Star Films

Maybe I’m simply partial to Medieval forms of entertainment but it’s hard to imagine a finer vehicle for Danny Kaye than The Court Jester. It needs to be lithe enough to accommodate his goofy even acrobatic brand of song-and-dance buffoonery. What better arena for Kaye than the king̵... Read full article


Is "The Court Jester" the Best Classic Movie Comedy?

By Rick29 on Feb 15, 2019 From Classic Film & TV Cafe

I recently watched The Court Jester (1955) for perhaps the tenth time--and laughed just as much as the first time. I realize comedy is very subjective as some folks prefer broad laughs and others opt for dark humor. But I'm hard pressed to think of a classic film comedy that's as nearly perfect as T... Read full article


NATIONAL CLASSIC MOVIE DAY, THE CLASSIC COMFORT MOVIE BLOGATHON: The Court Jester (1955)

on May 16, 2018 From Caftan Woman

For the fourth consecutive year, the Classic Film and TV Cafe is celebrating National Classic Movie Day on May 16th by hosting a blogathon. This year the spotlight shines on those movies that we can reliably turn to for comfort. The Classic Comfort Movie Blogathon contributions can be found HERE. ... Read full article


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Quotes from

Hubert Hawkins: [disguised as an old man] Have you seen a group in the forest?
[Jean, pretending to be a deaf mute, makes a lot of hand gestures in response]
Hubert Hawkins: She says, "No."
Captain of the Guard: What took her so long?
Hubert Hawkins: Stutters.


Princess Gwendolyn: [to Griselda] Remember, if he dies, you die!


Hubert Hawkins: Why be gloomy, cut off thy nose to spite thy face? Listen to me. A nose is hard to replace.


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Facts about

In the famous "snapping" swordfight between Danny Kaye and Basil Rathbone, Kaye's sword movements were too fast for Rathbone, who was 63 at the time. The film's fight choreographer dressed up as Rathbone's character and was filmed from behind for the fast sections. If you look, you can see that most of the fight consists of "Rathbone" from the back, then shots of the real Rathbone standing "en garde".
"The American Legion Zouaves of Richard F. Smith Post No. 29, Jackson, Michigan" were a U.S. Civil War reenactment group. They performed the intricate high speed marching maneuvers during the knighting ceremony. The United States Army adopted the Model 1863 Zouave rifle, a percussion or "cap-and-ball" muzzle-loader, which was manufactured by Remington. Obviously the marching knights could not be armed with Civil War-era rifles in the movie. The original Zouave units were North African regiments of the French Army, beginning earlier in the 1800s and serving through both World Wars.
Basil Rathbone was a world-class fencer and it was due to his efforts that the hilarious fencing scene was filmed without injury. He later admitted that several times he was almost skewered by Danny Kaye's sword.
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National Film Registry

The Court Jester

Released 1956
Inducted 2004
(Sound)




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Also directed by Melvin Frank




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Also produced by Melvin Frank




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Also released in 1956




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More "Slapstick" films



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