Upon Hawkins' arrival, Griselda hypnotizes him and changes his personality for that of a gallant, dashing lover, who sneaks into the Princess Gwendolyn's chambers and wins her affections, though he rapidly switches in and out of this personality whenever anyone (including himself) snaps their fingers. However, Hawkins is unaware that the jester he is impersonating is also a famous assassin whom Lord Ravenhurst plans to employ to murder his rivals at court: Brockhurst, Finsdale, and Pertwee. He is assigned to steal the key to a secret passage into the castle, through which the Black Fox could then attack. They knock him out and Hawkins impersonates him, hoping to gain entry to the King's castle. They encounter the King's new jester, "Giacomo, 'King of Jesters and Jester of Kings'" (John Carradine) on his way to the castle. On the journey, a romance blossoms between Hawkins and Jean. The Black Fox orders Hawkins to carry the infant-king across the country to safety, accompanied by his captain, the maid Jean. The Griswold marriage plan also displeases Lord Ravenhurst (Basil Rathbone), who fears that Griswold's presence may cost him his privileged position with the king. Princess Gwendolyn refuses, since she dreams of a more handsome, gallant lover, and her personal maid Griselda (Mildred Natwick), who is a witch, has predicted that her true love will arrive at the castle to court her. The usurping King Roderick (Cecil Parker) wishes his daughter, Princess Gwendolyn (Angela Lansbury), to marry his neighbour, Sir Griswold of MacElwain (Robert Middleton), and to enlist Griswold's aid against the band of forest rebels. Danny Kaye plays Hubert Hawkins, an ex-carnival entertainer who becomes minstrel to the Black Fox, a Robin Hood-type character who leads a band of rebels in the forest in support of the true infant-king.
Set in medieval England, the plot concerns the struggle to restore to the throne the rightful heir, a baby with a distinguishing birthmark, the purple pimpernel on his posterior. In 2004, The Court Jester was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." The film contains the famous exchanges: "Get it?" "Got it." "Good!" and "The pellet with the poison's in the vessel with the pestle the chalice from the palace has the brew that is true!" (mainly between Kaye and Mildred Natwick as Griselda). Since then, it has become a television matinee favorite.
The motion picture bombed at the box-office on its release, bringing in only $2.2 million in receipts the following winter and spring of 1956. Made for a cost of $4 million in the fall of 1955, it was the most expensive comedy film produced at the time. The film was released by Paramount Pictures in Technicolor and in the VistaVision widescreen format.ĭanny Kaye received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Motion Picture Actor – Comedy/Musical. The movie was co-written, co-directed, and co-produced by Melvin Frank and Norman Panama. But the pivotal performance came from Basil Rathbone, who not only excelled at such hissable villainy, but whose presence also linked the movie to the very swashbuckling costumers, like The Adventures of Robin Hood (1937), that it was seeking to lampoon.The Court Jester is a 1956 musical-comedy film starring Danny Kaye, Glynis Johns, Basil Rathbone, Angela Lansbury and Cecil Parker. Indeed, only Glynis Johns is short-changed, as Kaye never got the hang of love scenes and the romantic subplot is something of a dud. Cecil Parker essays another of his genial dupes, while Angela Lansbury revels in the rare opportunity to be glamorous and coquettish, as the amorous princess. Yet, while Kaye sought to steal every scene, the film's success owed much to the excellence of the supporting cast.
But Kaye was always more verbally than physically dexterous and his tongue-twisting ingenuity during the scene in which he, Mildred Natwick and Glynis Johns lace a goblet of wine gave rise to perhaps his most famous line, `The pellet with the poison's in the vessel with the pestle the chalice from the palace is the brew that's true.' Yet, it has since become one of Kaye's best-loved outings.Īs ever, there were some amiable songs and plenty of pantomimic tomfoolery. Although it remained his favourite picture, his initial venture, Knock On Wood, had only done moderate business. So, he formed Dena Productions to attempt some uniquely Kayesque vehicles. He had been performing live since he was 14 and a rapport with his audience was key to his appeal. Even after a decade in Hollywood, during which time he had scored with The Secret Life of Walter Mitty and White Christmas, Danny Kaye was still concerned that the energy and spontaneity of his cabaret performances didn't come across on screen.
0 kommentar(er)
