The Court Jester

1 9 5 6 (USA)

Hyperkinetic funnyman Danny Kaye turned his antics to spoofing Arthurian films in the 1956 classic The Court Jester. Switching personalities as deftly as he shuffled his dancing feet, Kaye used his comic gifts to tweak the notions of chivalry, magic and more.

Wicked King Roderick has usurped the throne from the rightful king, a baby with a purple birthmark. A gang of peasant warriors, led by the masked Black Fox, determines to restore the true monarch, by any means necessary.

As part of the plan, lowly peasant Hawkins (Kaye) disguises himself as the king's new jester to gain access to the court. What follows is a non-stop barrage of comic bits, including a madcap swordfight, a ludicrous knighting ceremony and the famous "poison pellet" mix-up.

Kaye's talent as a song and dance man served him well in the film, which included several memorable musical numbers. To give a bit of swashbuckling legitimacy to the proceedings, Basil Rathbone (Sir Guy in 1938's The Adventures of Robin Hood) took the part of the unlawful king, while Angela Lansbury (Queen Anne in 1948's The Three Musketeers) played the beautiful Princess Gwendolyn. The combination was a winner, as many fans consider this to be the best (and funniest) of Danny Kaye's film work.