The Court Jester

A hapless carnival performer masquerades as the court jester as part of a plot against an evil ruler who has overthrown the rightful king.

• Director: Melvin Frank
• Genre:Adventure / Comedy / Family / Musical
• Runtime:101 minutes

Cast

Danny Kaye : Hubert Hawkins
Glynis Johns : Maid Jean
Basil Rathbone : Sir Ravenhurst
Angela Lansbury : Princess Gwendolyn
Cecil Parker : King Roderick I

Ostensibly set in medieval England, the plot nominally concerns the struggle to restore the rightful heir, a baby, to the throne, the King and all his family having been murdered or otherwise disposed of. Kaye plays Hubert Hawkins, an ex-carnival entertainer (“a jester, unemployed, is nobody’s fool”), who becomes minstrel to the Black Fox, a Robin Hood-type character (Edward Ashley, who actually makes only a few minor appearances in the film).

The usurping King Roderick wishes his daughter, Princess Gwendolyne, to marry his neighbor, Sir Griswold of MacElwain. The king plans to enlist Griswold’s many soldiers in his effort to track down a loose band of rebels headed by the mysterious Black Fox. Princess Gwendoline however, refuses to marry the “Grim and Grisly, Gruesome Griswold”, and declares that she will wed only for love. Her personal maid Griselda, who is also a witch, has predicted that a true lover will come to the castle to court her. The King plans to honor Sir Griswold with a jousting tournament.

Hawkins, a follower of the Black Fox who likes to dress in his leader’s costume, is charged with the task of carrying the true king, an infant, across the country to safety. He travels with Maid Jean. They encounter the King’s new Jester (John Carradine) on his way to the castle. They knock him out and Hawkins impersonates him, hoping to gain entry to the King’s castle. He plans to steal the key to a secret passage into the castle, through which the Black Fox could then attack. Hawkins is unaware that the Jester he is impersonating is also a famous assassin, whom Lord Ravenhurst plans to employ. Maid Jean, proceeding alone with the infant king, is captured by the King’s men, who have been sent to round up pretty young girls to decorate the tournament.

Meanwhile, in her tower, the Princess Gwendoline threatens to kill Griselda, unless Griselda prevents her forced marriage to Griswold. Through the window, Griselda observes Hawkins’ arrival at the castle. She tells Gwendoline that he will be her romantic suitor and true love. Gwendolyne finds the jester appealing, but warns that if he doesn’t turn out to be her true love, she will kill Griselda. Read more