
The Court Jester
1955, Comedy/Musical, 1h 41m
30 Reviews 5,000+ RatingsWhat to know
critics consensus
A witty spoof of medieval swashbuckler movies, The Court Jester showcases Danny Kaye at his nimble, tongue-twisting best. Read critic reviews
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Where to watch
The Court Jester Photos
Movie Info
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.
Cast & Crew
Danny Kaye
Hubert Hawkins
Hubert Hawkins
Glynis Johns
Maid Jean
Maid Jean
Basil Rathbone
Sir Ravenhurst
Sir Ravenhurst
Angela Lansbury
Princess Gwendolyn
Princess Gwendolyn
Cecil Parker
King Roderick I
King Roderick I
Mildred Natwick
Griselda
Griselda
Critic Reviews for The Court Jester
Audience Reviews for The Court Jester
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Jan 03, 2020An insane vehicle for Danny Kaye. Each scene slowly adds more and more outrageous farce elements until the frenzied finale. Its often quite funny but the movie is a little exhausting.Alec B Super Reviewer
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May 26, 2009Wonderfully deconstructing the swashbuckler genre, poking fun at the films of Errol Flynn in particular, and featuring one of Danny Kaye's best performances, a catalogue of satirical delights, highlighted by Kaye's "pellet with the Poison" bit.hawk l Super Reviewer
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Sep 23, 2007Danny Kaye's mistaken identity comedy set on the medieval British court is nothing less than one of the funniest films of all times. Sure, it starts out slowly and with a couple of old-fashioned yet catchy musical pieces. But once things are moving and the innocent bard starts playing the court jester's role, it's a joy to watch the mix-ups, puns and jokes that come with it. That's so cleverly written and charming that you can't help but smile for 90 minutes. It also helps that Danny Kaye is simply incredibly funny, with the sped-up knighting process and poisoned goblet sequence being the outrageous highlights. The old castle and ramparts sets from the classic knight adventures of that era are oozing with nostalgia. During the hilarious showdown things get particularly wacky and hilarious. You just have to love a film where dwarfs juggle grown men on their feet and the hero's fencing skills depend on a snap of the fingers. And you know you've just watched a feel good film when even the evil king sings along to the happy ending tune. A timeless masterpiece of comedy.Jens S Super Reviewer
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Jul 18, 2007the tongue twisters in one scene will keep you in stitches for awhileKevin M. W Super Reviewer
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