The Court Jester (DVD, 1999, Widescreen)

Yes, it's back in print, in both cheap not really digitally remastered format, and wonderful clear pristine remastered format. (The trick is to figure out which one you are looking at to buy). But its all there: the wonderful singing, dancing, humor, bright Hollywood costumes (medieval England in this case), spoofy special effects that one looks for in a Danny Kaye film....not to mention, romance, excitement, double dealing....and the famous "the vessel with the pestle has the pellet with the poison routine.".

Then there's Angela Lansbury and Glynnis Johns during their starlet phase, and of course, Basil Rathbone as one of the villains. (Kaye and Rathbone provide one of the more humorous rapier battles on screen.) Then there are all the wondrous "little people" that seem to have escaped from Munchkinland. And oldtimers and movie buffs will recognize many MGM musical supporting actors and actresses who do their best to maintain a straight face thruout Kaye's many antics...how I so wish that they were making "outtakes" in those days.

So if you like Kaye, Rathbone, Angela Lansbury, Glynnis Johns, munchkins, or just plain clean simple nonsense, along with singing, dancing, secret identities, medieval/renaissance costume films, or humorous fencing...this is the movie for you.

I love the actor Danny Kaye and my daughter shares these same feelings, we enjoy the hilarity of his moves and his comedy in the old show timey way. He is so funny and down to earth he pulls you into the movies with him. Especially this movie the Court Jester. I could not pass up the opportunity to buy this dvd for my daughter for christmas. We have really enjoyed watching it together. It brings back old time memories and is neat that I was able to find it on Ebay!!!!! This movie is much better for a family than say Texas chainsaw massacre. I guess we are just down home people at heart.Thank you for this chance to write a review on the above mentioned purchase of mine.

Sit down and get ready for a true-blue comedy, back in the days when "comedy" didn't mean two hours of cursing, fart jokes, and lowbrow hooting and grunting.

The plot is completely absurd, down to the core of it-an ex-carnival performer joins up with a band of rebels, impersonates the new jester so he can get into the palace and find a way in for the rest of the rebels, and promptly gets snared in about four or five completely separate plots, most of which he is completely unaware of thanks to a little black magic hypnosis. At no point does the film take itself seriously, instead being perfectly content to settle the ending with a horde of midgets and a swordfight. The "villain" of the movie surrenders upon being shown a purple flower birthmark on a baby's behind, and it could not better be.

In short, the movie is patently absurd, but it's a solid comedy that's very much worth the price and the time.

The Court Jester has to be one of the funniest movies ever made. Danny Kaye is at his peak and is marvelous in this roll. Who would ever forget the piece about the "chalice from the palace holding the brew that is true". It was an A 1 example of Danny Kaye's love of tongue twisters. The movie sets him off like a great setting for a great jewel. Basil Rathbone plays the villian as perfectly as he always does. He is the perfect foil for Kaye's bone headed character. And we can't forget the beautiful Angela Lansberry. She is probably about 18 years old in this movie and is already showing her potential of being a great actress. I bought this movie on DVD because my VHS was wearing out. The quality is much better on the DVD. I recommend this jewel to anyone who loves a good laugh and a good evening of entertainment.

I bought this DVD because I LOVE Danny Kaye. My KIDS love Danny Kaye. Let me be clear on this point...I love raw Eddie Murphy or Robyn Williams as much as the next guy. But anyone can be "funny" by dropping an "F" bomb every other sentence. There's comedy and then there's pure shock value (see Howard Stern for details). The Court Jester is a classic movie that is hilarious! It's one of those rare movies that an entire family can watch and enjoy.