good back-story, and good acting

Best movie ever!

Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

I missed the first 15 minutes so I'm not sure exactly what the plot was. It deals with Danny Kaye disguising himself as a court jester to help a baby claim his rightful place as king of England. Helping him is a beautiful woman (Glynis Johns) and a princess (Angela Landsbury) who wants him as her husband...or else! There's also Basil Rathbone on hand being evil as only he can.Bright beautiful Technicolor, a fast pace and beautiful costumes are the main attraction here. Also seeing Johns and Landsbury so young and beautiful is interesting. The problem is Kaye and the script. I have nothing against Kaye but I didn't find him particularly funny and his song and dance numbers were terrible. Also some of the jokes were groaners--one was repeated FOUR TIMES! Still I watched it all and was entertained. This is best for kids who would probably love it.

I really don't like Technicolor costume films from the 1950s too much. I also wouldn't normally think that a comedy about a medieval court jester would be funny at all. On top of that, I'm not a big Danny Kaye fan. However, I believe that "The Court Jester" is one of the funniest movies I've ever seen.The plot involves intrigue within a medieval kingdom, with Kaye as a bumbling jester, with fine support from beautiful Glynis Johns and Angela Lansbury. Basil Rathbone is great as the bad guy, appearing with familiar faces such as Alan Napier, Robert Middleton, Mildred Natwick, and Harry Guardino (although I'm not sure which role he played). There are numerous very funny vignettes, including the "chalice from the palace" routine, Kaye's sword fight with Rathbone, the knighting ceremony, and the Purple Pimpernel.I'm not that crazy about Danny Kaye, but he was achingly funny throughout the movie. Rathbone played the evil villain to perfection, too. I found myself repeatedly laughing out loud during the film when I recently watched it. The movie doesn't need profanity or toilet humor--it's just exceedingly well acted and scripted. It's guaranteed to lift your spirits.

I won't pretend like I'm the biggest fan of Danny Kaye, given that the only other projects I've seen him in are "The Inspector General" and his guest appearance on The Muppet Show. However, I feel like this movie is to Danny Kaye what Muppet Treasure Island was for Tim Curry: a must-see for any and all who want others to join in worship of their idol.The film borrows a few elements from Robin Hood: band of rebels in a forest, evil usurper sitting on the throne, romance, swordplay, antics for everyone. However, the focus of the film is, in fact, the bumbling sidekick that no one expects anything of. Hawkins (played by Kaye), after he's done singing musical numbers while impersonating his boss, finds himself caught up in a plot to oust the tyrant usurper and restore the rightful heir: a small baby with an obviously painted flower on his left buttock. And even though Hawkins is as bumbling as bumblers get, he manages to woo a princess, insult nobility, assassinate royal advisers, and avoid any morning stars on a collision course with his cranium.Like I said, this movie has about everything Danny Kaye can bring to the table in it: he jumps around, he swings on ropes, he's bumbling, he talks quickly, he sings, he dances, he injures himself for our amusement, he steals props from the set (seriously, look that up on YouTube; he's even more over-the-top as himself), he's just all-around a great lead.And, to the movie's credit, the songs are pretty entertaining as well. "The Maladjusted Jester" is one of the best solo numbers I've ever seen in a movie, certainly a cut above the stuff that roles out from The Muppets or whatever hot new band is being paraded around by record companies. "The Black Fox" number in the beginning is also wonderful, being mysterious and quick like its subject matter, as well as providing a good fake-out for first time viewers.Overall, I have no complaints about this movie. The story's great, the songs are great, the characters are great, the comedy's great, and Danny Kaye is FANTASTIC.

I never seem to get tired of seeing this movie. It's funny craziness executed perfectly, and I don't know of any other movie that's done it so well.I've seen comedy where everyone is funny and the main character is playing strait, but this is a movie where everyone else is playing strait and Danny Kaye is the only one playing the comedy. Screen writer for this movie should have gotten the Oscar. It's one of the best play I've ever seen. When this movie was made, it's greatness was probably never noticed, but now it's surprising that this movie was not nominated for any awards.This movie and the "Five Pennies" are probably the best movie Danny Kaye ever made. He's just fantastic as the court jester/unwitting assassin.Great comedy to watch even today.