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Court Jester (Clam) | 
| Directors: Melvin Frank, Norman Panama
Actors: Danny Kaye, Glynis Johns, Basil Rathbone, Angela Lansbury, Cecil Parker
Studio: Paramount
Category: Video
List Price: $9.95
Buy Used: $3.08
You Save: $6.87 (69%)
New (2) Used (9) Collectible (4) from $3.08
Avg. Customer Rating:  151 reviews
Sales Rank: 34521
Format: Color, Hifi Sound, Ntsc
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Media: VHS Tape
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 101
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 7.3 x 4.2 x 1.1
ISBN: 0792143418
UPC: 097360551204
EAN: 9786304310083
ASIN: 6304310080
Theatrical Release Date: January 27, 1956
Release Date: February 24, 1998
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Condition: Very good condition
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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 146 more reviews...
A very good laugh June 12, 2008
One of my favorite movies. Haven't got tired of watching it again and again. Especially useful when I need a good laugh.
"Klassic Kaye" June 7, 2008
Danny Kaye is definitely an aquired taste. People seem to run hot and cold, but if you like him, this is your kind of movie. Full of dancing , singing, and all the hair-brained antics that Kaye fans love, this movie is probably his best (although the Govermeny Inspector and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty are right up there). In additon to Kaye and the charming Glynis Johns (her first major role), we also have the injenue (?), Angela Lansbury, a delightfully dotty ("Get it? Got it? Good!") Cecil Parker, and an aged Basil Rathbone (watch him try to catch his breath during the initial court scene). The movie includes some wonderful "patter", most notably: faux languages and the famous "chalice with the palace" routine, which is worth the purchase price alone. Finally, it is filmed in the kind of vibrant color with vaguely phony backdrops seemingly only possible during its era (mid 50s). All in all a funny and nostalgic romp not to be missed!
Court Jester May 20, 2008
This is one of my favorite Danny Kaye movies. I am 46 years old and my son is 19. We both love this movie. Danny Kaye's quick wit is unmatched. I highly recommend this movie to anyone of any age. Simply a superb comedy.
 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.
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