Classic Movie Monday: The Court Jester (1955)

Hawkins: I've got it! I've got it! The pellet with the poison's in the vessel with the pestle; the chalice from the palace has the brew that is true! Right? 

Griselda: Right. But there's been a change: they broke the chalice from the palace!

Hawkins: They *broke* the chalice from the palace?

Griselda: And replaced it with a flagon.

Hawkins: A flagon...?

Griselda: With the figure of a dragon.

Hawkins: Flagon with a dragon.

Griselda: Right.

Hawkins: But did you put the pellet with the poison in the vessel with the pestle?

Griselda: No! The pellet with the poison's in the flagon with the dragon! The vessel with the pestle has the brew that is true!

Hawkins: The pellet with the poison's in the flagon with the dragon; the vessel with the pestle has the brew that is true.

Griselda: Just remember that.

What a silly movie!

So many great moments and scenes and songs!

I remember watching The Court Jester as a kid, but the memory of the movie is fragmented at best, and I don't even know if I watched all of it without wondering off here and there, missing stuff.  I didn't even remember that fact that the movie is a musical.  

Melvin Frank and Norman Panama wrote, directed, and produced The Court Jester in 1955, starring Danny Kaye, Glynis Johns, Basil Rathbone, Angela Lansbury and Cecil Parker. It's so amazing seeing Glynis Johns (Mary Poppins and While you were Sleeping) and Angela Lansbury (She's done so much) so young, and playing such fun roles.

The movie itself centers around Hawkins (Danny Kaye), who is an entertainer turned court spy, helping to restore the rightful king to the throne.  Who is this king? A baby!  Who has the purple pimpernel tattoo to his bottom.  One of the movie's running gags is the fact that in order to prove the baby is the rightful heir, the baby's butt must be shown, quickly prompting those who see to kneel and bow their heads in respect, to a... baby's bottom.  Glynis Johns is Maid Jean, a rebel captain.  Angela Lansbury is Gwendolyn, the princess of England, so desperate for love that's she's cool with Hawkins being tricked into loving her. 

While watching The Court Jester I wondered if this was The Princess Bride of its time.  A medieval story full of clever one liners and silly tongue twisters.  There's plenty to quote.  The music is nice, too.  Comedy overflowing.  And a little Scarlet Pimpernel action from Hawkins as well.

I remember loving this movie as a kid, and now that I've seen it again I understand why.  It's just a really great movie.

Sarah