Review of The Court Jester (1955) by Barnaby E — 09 Aug 2009

When you think of great American comedians, Danny Kaye doesn't often spring instantly to mind, which is a shame. 'The Court Jester' is, I believe, a film ahead of it's time. Almost like an English pantomine, but using real wit, verve and swashbuckling action (oh, and actors who can actually act and sing!). Playing the hapless outlaw lead, who wants to be like his leader - 'The Black Fox (a parody of Robin Hood) - but is stuck as the lowliest member of the gang instead, Danny Kaye flits between physical comedy, tongue-twisting wit, romantic lead, knockabout clown, and crooning idol with ease and aplomb. His sword fight, under a hypnotic influence, at the end of the film is genuinely hilarious.

Glynis Johns brings a sweet, sensual maturity to the female lead and Basil Rathbone plays the arch villain with a manic, stressed energy that jumps between short-tempered anger and suave sophistication (the complete opposite to the role he was most famous for - Sherlock Holmes). Angela Lansbury is the supposedly dumb blonde but surprisingly clever and manipulative Princess.

The plot revolves round the real heir to the throne (who is a tiny baby with a distinctive birthmark on his behind), in the possession of The Black Fox's gang. King Roderick, played brilliantly by Cecil Parker, is the usurper who murdered the royal family to get the throne and needs the baby killed at all costs. It's quite a complex plot, all in all, for what is essentially a pantomime farce, so you really do have to pay attention to what's going on.

Without going into reams of detail, the complexity of the characters and the plot bring comedy situations piling up on top of each other like a game of Jenga, until everything comes toppling down in a laugh-out-loud conclusion at the end.

Taking the lavish trappings of Hollywood's version of Ye Olde History, and combining it with the sort of skewered hilarity that Monty Python would bring to 'The Holy Grail', makes this a winning comedy from all counts. There are some saccharine and twee moments, being as this was made in 1956, with a couple of dud performances (the supposedly charasmatic 'Black Fox' is as wooden as the forest he hides in and has developed a middle-aged paunch whilst feeding on the meat of wild animals instead of looking like a matinee idol) but - all in all - it's a light and frothy treat with some fantastic comedy songs. Definitely Danny Kaye's finest movie and his assured presence and comic ability makes this a joy to watch.