The Court Jester | 
| Directors: Melvin Frank, Norman Panama
Actors: Danny Kaye, Glynis Johns, Basil Rathbone, Angela Lansbury, Cecil Parker
Studio: Paramount
Category: DVD
List Price: $9.98
Buy New: $4.82
You Save: $5.16 (52%)
New (40) Used (14) from $4.41
Avg. Customer Rating:  148 reviews
Sales Rank: 888
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dvd-video, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), French (Original Language)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 101
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
DVD Layers: 1
DVD Sides: 1
Picture Format: Anamorphic Widescreen
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.7 x 0.6
MPN: D055127D
ISBN: 079215519X
UPC: 097360551273
EAN: 9780792155195
ASIN: 079215519X
Theatrical Release Date: January 27, 1956
Release Date: March 30, 1999
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Danny Kaye spoofs Robin Hood and Scaramouche in this inventive slapstick swashbuckler. Portraying the clownish but good-hearted entertainer Hawkins, he infiltrates the court of the corrupt Basil Rathbone (up to his usual brand of cruel villainy) disguised as the legendary king of jesters, Giacomo. After a court sorceress hypnotizes Hawkins into believing he is also a legendary assassin, Hawkins has more identities than he can keep straight, and Kaye zips back and forth between them at, literally, a snap of the fingers. Comic highlights include a wonderful sword fight with Rathbone in which he constantly switches identities, and the classic "chalice from the palace/vessel with pestle" wordplay as Hawkins plays "hide the poison" and forgets where it is. With comely Glynis Johns as his spy-in-arms love interest, Angela Lansbury as the scheming princess, and Mildred Natwick as the dotty spellcaster, this is Danny Kaye at his comic best. --Sean Axmaker
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| Customer Reviews: Read 143 more reviews...
 The vessel with the pestle... and all that jazz May 11, 2008
Outside of the obligatory "White Christmas" this is one of my personal Danny Kaye favorites as he takes on once again the role of the good-hearted, if bumbling, soul that has fortune on his side. Toss in what could-have-been a very serious adventure story of kingdom overthrowing and the like and he could have been a serious brooding actor.
But alas! There is simply too much fun to be had with this film, as his told from the opening song that pretty much lets us know that historical facts and presence were completely ignored here. So what we get is a truly hilarious, spunky movie with wildly outlandish performances. Indeed, I like to think Monty Python got some inspiration from "The Holy Grail" from this film.
The baddies are bad, the goodies are good, and there is even a husband-desperate princess bossing around a wicked witch. Oh, and there are midgets. At the risk of not sounding politically correct, it's funny.
Danny Kaye, Angela Lansbury, and even the lovely Glynis Johns are all hilarious. This is a vital comedy of errors.
"...a jester unemployed is nobody's fool" April 26, 2008
I think the court Jester is one of the cleverest comedies ever made, a spoof on Robin Hood linked by Basil Rathbone as the villian in both films, but done with intelligence ~ a seamless mixture of high and low comedy.The way the plots are interwoven boarders on genius ~ a real comedy of errors.
If you haven't seen this 1955 film, you're in for a treat. The supporting cast including Cecil Parker and Basil Rathbone is so good that Court Jester is almost an ensemble piece.
The timing of the "vessel with the pestle" skit with Mildred Natwick and Glynis Johns makes it one of the funniest things ever executed.
Danny Kaye, whatever else, was a multi-talented man: sing, dance, clown he was great at all and this one it truly family entertainment. The kids will love Kaye's sight gags and clowning and the parents will "get" the clever word plays.
 Court Jester DVD April 6, 2008
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
I returned this DVD almost three weeks ago as it was for ZONE 1 rather than ZONE 4 [I am in Australia] so I was not able to use it. I am still waiting for some acknowlegement from Amazon that they have received it and if they will be sending me my money back or replacing the video.
Kaye At His Finest March 25, 2008
This is a classic for kids of all ages. There is something very satisfying about bringing home a movie that brings so much laughter to children. Of course, the credit for this fun film goes to Danny Kaye and co. but I take credit for helping my children discover these old gems. Now my family wants me to find them more classics!
magical musical with Danny Kaye and Glynis Johns March 13, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Entertaining comedy-musical nonsense with Danny Kaye and a dream cast. THE COURT JESTER was tailor-made for the musical comedy brilliance of Kaye, and he's in his element playing Hawkins, an entertainer asked to infiltrate the palace of the king, disguised as a famous court jester. Once inside the palace, Hawkins is also brainwashed into becoming the ardent lover of the princess (Angela Lansbury). With each personality only a fingersnap away, Hawkins will need every ounce of his wits if he wants to survive the mission...and win the heart of the fair Jean (played by the almost impossibly-beautiful Glynis Johns).
Danny Kaye sings and acts up a storm in this hysterical comedy. Perfect for the whole family, THE COURT JESTER costars Basil Rathbone, Mildred Natwick and Cecil Parker. The DVD has a crisp VistaVision print. (Single-sided, single-layer disc).
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