Product: The Court Jester [VHS] (1956)
Rating: 5.0
PRIME DANNY KAYE
Some consider THE COURT JESTER Kaye's best film; while this is definitely arguable, it's a highly entertaining spoof on swashbuckler/Robin Hood type films. The colour is a bit gaudy on VHS but on recent viewing ,the DVD transfer is bright and clear. The poison's in the pellet/vessel/pestle routine is almost exceedingly clever but the songs by Sylvia Fine (Danny's wife) are cleverly engaging. Glynis Johns makes a delicious Maid Jean, and Angela Lansbury is rather cunning and cheekily selfish as Lady Gwendolyn (I can't get over how much more attractive Lansbury become as she matured) Mildred Natwick does her usual scene stealing and Basil Rathbone excels as menacing Sir Ravenhurst. The movie is abundant with charm and laughter (Kaye even makes singing a lullaby to the baby King heartfelt and touching.)