The Court Jester (1955)
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- Approved
- 1h 41min
- Adventure, Comedy
- 27 Jan 1956 (USA)
- Movie
A hapless carnival performer masquerades as the court jester as part of a plot against an evil ruler who has overthrown the rightful King.
Directors:
Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
- 1 win & 1 nomination.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Danny Kaye | ... |
Hubert Hawkins
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| Glynis Johns | ... |
Maid Jean
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| Basil Rathbone | ... |
Sir Ravenhurst
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| Angela Lansbury | ... |
Princess Gwendolyn
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| Cecil Parker | ... |
King Roderick I
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| Mildred Natwick | ... |
Griselda
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| Robert Middleton | ... |
Sir Griswold
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| Michael Pate | ... |
Sir Locksley
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| Herbert Rudley | ... |
Captain of the Guard
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| Noel Drayton | ... |
Fergus
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| John Carradine | ... |
Giacomo
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| Edward Ashley | ... |
Black Fox
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| Alan Napier | ... |
Sir Brockhurst
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| Lewis Martin | ... |
Sir Finsdale
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Patrick Aherne | ... |
Sir Pertwee
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Richard Kean | ... |
Archbishop
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Hermine's Midgets | ... |
Ensemble
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The Jackson Michigan Zouave Drill Team | ... |
Marching Knights - Knighthood Ceremony
(as The American Legion Zouaves Of Richard F. Smith Post No. 29 Jackson Michigan)
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Eric Alden | ... |
King's Man (uncredited)
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Brandon Beach | ... |
Court Member (uncredited)
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Lee Belser | ... |
Court Lady (uncredited)
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Chad Dee Block | ... |
Specialty Dancer (uncredited)
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| Phil Bloom | ... |
Forester (uncredited)
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Leo Britt | ... |
Sir Bertram (uncredited)
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| George Bruggeman | ... |
Knight (uncredited)
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Bill Cartledge | ... |
Pageboy (uncredited)
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Phyllis Coghlan | ... |
Hairdresser (uncredited)
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Tommy Cottonaro | ... |
One of Hermine's Midgets (uncredited)
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| Billy Curtis | ... |
One of Hermine's Midgets (uncredited)
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| Frank Delfino | ... |
One of Hermine's Midgets (uncredited)
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| Leslie Denison | ... |
Guard (uncredited)
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Burnell Dietsch | ... |
Specialty Dancer (uncredited)
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Floyd Hugh Dixon | ... |
One of Hermine's Midgets (uncredited)
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Irving Douglas | ... |
One of Hermine's Midgets (uncredited)
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Ken DuMain | ... |
Forester (uncredited)
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Alan Eric | ... |
Forester (uncredited)
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| Franklyn Farnum | ... |
Townsman (uncredited)
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William Augustus Fuller | ... |
Forestry Officer (uncredited)
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Irving Fulton | ... |
One of Hermine's Midgets (uncredited)
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Russell Gaige | ... |
Chamberlain (uncredited)
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| Joe Garcio | ... |
Knight (uncredited)
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Edward Peter Gibbons | ... |
One of Hermine's Midgets (uncredited)
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| Richard Gilden | ... |
Forester (uncredited)
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| Harry Guardino | ... |
Forester (uncredited)
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Roy G. Gunther | ... |
Pageboy (uncredited)
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| Kenneth Harp | ... |
Forester (uncredited)
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Robert Hart | ... |
Specialty Dancer (uncredited)
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Len Hendry | ... |
Guard (uncredited)
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| Robin Hughes | ... |
Black Fox's Man with Message (uncredited)
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John Irving | ... |
Gate House Guard (uncredited)
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| Charles Irwin | ... |
Griswold Aide (uncredited)
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James B. Jordan | ... |
One of Hermine's Midgets (uncredited)
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Morgan Justin | ... |
Bit Part (uncredited)
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| Ray Kellogg | ... |
Court Official (uncredited)
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| Ethan Laidlaw | ... |
King's Soldier (uncredited)
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Mike Mahoney | ... |
Soldier (uncredited)
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Tipp McClure | ... |
Knight (uncredited)
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Roger Lee McKee | ... |
Knight Recruit (uncredited)
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Frank Meservey | ... |
Knight Recruit (uncredited)
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Lee Miller | ... |
Frank (uncredited)
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| Harry Monty | ... |
One of Hermine's Midgets (uncredited)
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| Lloyd Nelson | ... |
Knight (uncredited)
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Nels P. Nelson | ... |
One of Hermine's Midgets (uncredited)
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| Paul Newlan | ... |
Soldier / Guard (uncredited)
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John O'Malley | ... |
Courier / Announcer (uncredited)
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| Tudor Owen | ... |
Friar (uncredited)
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Norman Papson | ... |
Page Boy (uncredited)
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| Larry Pennell | ... |
Novice Knight (uncredited)
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Gerald R. Peters | ... |
Forester (uncredited)
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| Joe Ploski | ... |
Townsman (uncredited)
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William Pullen | ... |
(uncredited)
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A.J. Buster Resmondo | ... |
One of Hermine's Midgets (uncredited)
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'Little Billy' Rhodes | ... |
One of Hermine's Midgets (uncredited)
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Ronald R. Rice | ... |
Knight Recruit (uncredited)
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| John Roy | ... |
Forester (uncredited)
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Thomas G. Royal Jr. | ... |
Forester (uncredited)
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Wallace Russell | ... |
Forester (uncredited)
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Joel Smith | ... |
Forestry Officer (uncredited)
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Robert E. Smith | ... |
Priest / Forester / Guard (uncredited)
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| Stephen Soldi | ... |
Forester (uncredited)
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| Ray Spiker | ... |
Knight (uncredited)
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George Spotts | ... |
One of Hermine's Midgets (uncredited)
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Gary Stalley | ... |
Infant (uncredited)
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Larry Stalley | ... |
Infant (uncredited)
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Ed Stoddard | ... |
Forester (uncredited)
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Henry Lewis Stone | ... |
One of Hermine's Midgets (uncredited)
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Trevor Ward | ... |
Bit Role (uncredited)
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Marilyn Watson | ... |
Woman (uncredited)
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Leo Wheeler | ... |
Specialty Dancer (uncredited)
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Claud Wuhrman | ... |
Knight (uncredited)
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Stephen Wyman | ... |
Forester (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Melvin Frank | ||
| Norman Panama | ||
Written by
| Norman Panama | ... | (written by) and |
| Melvin Frank | ... | (written by) |
Produced by
| Sylvia Fine | ... | executive producer (uncredited) |
| Melvin Frank | ... | producer (produced by) |
| Danny Kaye | ... | executive producer (uncredited) |
| Norman Panama | ... | producer (produced by) |
Music by
| Vic Schoen | ... | (music scored by) (as Victor Schoen) |
| Walter Scharf | ... | (uncredited) |
Cinematography by
| Ray June | ... | director of photography: VistaVision |
| Ray Rennahan | ... | director of photography (uncredited) |
Editing by
| Tom McAdoo | ... | (edited by) |
Editorial Department
| Richard Mueller | ... | color consultant: Technicolor |
Art Direction by
| Roland Anderson | ... | (art direction) |
| Hal Pereira | ... | (art direction) |
Set Decoration by
| Sam Comer | ... | (set decoration) |
| Arthur Krams | ... | (set decoration) |
Costume Design by
| Edith Head | ... | (costumes) |
| Yvonne Wood | ... | (costumes) |
Makeup Department
| Wally Westmore | ... | makeup supervisor |
| Willard Colee | ... | makeup artist (uncredited) |
| Gertrude Reade | ... | hair stylist (uncredited) |
Production Management
| Hugh Brown | ... | assistant production manager (uncredited) |
| Frank Caffey | ... | production manager (uncredited) |
| Charles Woolstenhulme | ... | unit production manager (uncredited) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| John R. Coonan | ... | assistant director (as John Coonan) |
| William Watson | ... | second unit director (as Wm. Watson) |
| Bernard McEveety | ... | second assistant director (uncredited) |
Art Department
| Carl Coleman | ... | props (uncredited) |
| Dorothea Holt | ... | illustrator (uncredited) |
| Joe Keller | ... | props (uncredited) |
| Lew Vasquez | ... | prop shop (uncredited) |
| Gösta Åberg | ... | poster artist : Sweden (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| John Cope | ... | sound recordist |
| Harry Lindgren | ... | sound recordist |
| A.H. Barnett | ... | production sound mixer (uncredited) / recordist (uncredited) |
| Doug Grant | ... | boom man (uncredited) |
| Bill Wistrom | ... | sound editor (uncredited) |
Visual Effects by
| Farciot Edouart | ... | process photography |
| John P. Fulton | ... | special photographic effects |
| Irmin Roberts | ... | special photographic effects |
Stunts
| Eric Alden | ... | stunt double: Basil Rathbone (uncredited) |
| George Dockstader | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Richard Elmore | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Ralph Faulkner | ... | fencing double (uncredited) |
| Lila Finn | ... | stunt double: Glynis Johns (uncredited) |
| Bob Herron | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Allen Pinson | ... | stunt double: Danny Kaye (uncredited) |
| Clint Sharp | ... | stunt double: Danny Kaye (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Alfred Cline | ... | assistant camera (uncredited) |
| Howard Kelly | ... | gaffer (uncredited) |
| William Schurr | ... | camera operator (uncredited) |
| Joe Schuster | ... | electrician (uncredited) |
| Mike Semenario | ... | grip (uncredited) |
Casting Department
| Bert McKay | ... | casting (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Bud Clark | ... | wardrobe: men (uncredited) |
| Hazel Hegarty | ... | wardrobe: women (uncredited) |
| Joan Joseff | ... | costume jeweller (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Sammy Cahn | ... | words and music |
| Sylvia Fine | ... | words and music |
| Vic Schoen | ... | conductor (as Victor Schoen) / music scored by (as Victor Schoen) |
| Gerard Carbonara | ... | composer: stock music (uncredited) |
| Van Cleave | ... | composer: title music (uncredited) |
| Franz Waxman | ... | composer: stock music (uncredited) |
| Victor Young | ... | composer: stock music (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Dorothy Yutzi | ... | script clerk (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| D.R.O. Hatswell | ... | technical advisor |
| Hal C. Kern | ... | assistant to the producers |
| James Starbuck | ... | choreographer |
| Bea Allen | ... | dance assistant (uncredited) |
| Robert Alton | ... | choreographer (uncredited) |
| Elmer Bernstein | ... | dance rehearsal pianist (uncredited) |
| Wilda Bieber | ... | dance instructor (uncredited) |
| Patricia Casy | ... | dance rehearsal: ballet dancer (uncredited) |
| George Chakiris | ... | dance instructor (uncredited) |
| Ralph Faulkner | ... | fight choreographer (uncredited) |
| Alex Goudovitch | ... | dance assistant (uncredited) |
| Sam Ledner | ... | dance assistant (uncredited) |
| Gregor Marijan | ... | dance rehearsal: ballet dancer (uncredited) |
| Joe Marino | ... | dance rehearsal pianist (uncredited) |
| Bob McElwaine | ... | publicist (uncredited) |
| Tim Taylor | ... | double: Danny Kaye (uncredited) |
Production Companies
- Dena Enterprises (presents)
Distributors
- Paramount Pictures (1956) (United States) (theatrical) (as A Paramount Release)
- Les Films Paramount (1956) (France) (theatrical)
- Paramount British Pictures (1956) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Paramount Films (1956) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- Paramount Pictures (1956) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- Film AB Paramount (1956) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Paramount Pictures (1956) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Paramount Pictures (1963) (United States) (theatrical) (reissue)
- Paramount Home Entertainment (1983) (United States) (VHS)
- Paramount Home Entertainment (2002) (United States) (VHS)
- Paramount Home Entertainment (2003) (United States) (DVD)
- Paramount Home Entertainment (2007) (Germany) (DVD)
- Warner Archive Collection (2013) (United States) (DVD) (Danny Kaye Double Feature)
- Swashbuckler Films (2017) (France) (theatrical) (re-release) (restored version)
- Paramount Channel (2020) (France) (tv)
- Paramount Home Entertainment (2021) (Germany) (Blu-ray)
Special Effects
Other Companies
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
The throne of rightful King of England, the small baby with the purple pimpernel birthmark, has been usurped by the evil King Roderick I (Cecil Parker). Only the Black Fox (Edward Ashley) can restore the true King to the throne - and all he needs is the King's key to a secret tunnel. And while he's trying to steal it, someone has to change the King's diapers. The task falls to Hubert Hawkins (Danny Kaye), the gentlest member of the Fox's band. The Fox's Lieutenant, Maid Jean (Glynis Johns), guards Hawkins and the baby while they travel, but when they meet the King's new jester on the road, they decide to initiate a daring plan for Hawkins to replace him, become an intimate at the court, and steal the key. So, humble Hawkins becomes Giacomo: the King of jesters and jester to the King. But things begin to get zany when the King's daughter falls for Giacomo, the King falls for Jean, people randomly sing what are supposed to be recognition codes, and a witch with very effective spells (and poison pellets) begins to interfere. Written by Kathy Li |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | The Musical Romantic Adventure Of This Or Any Year! See more » |
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| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $4,000,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | Features Basil Rathbone's final sword fight on film. See more » |
| Goofs | When Hubert and Maid Jean are nearing King Roderick's castle, Sir Ravenhurst and Sir Locksley watch their arrival through telescopes, an invention of the 17th century. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Danny Kaye (1971). See more » |
| Soundtracks | The Maladjusted Jester See more » |
| Crazy Credits | The opening credits are a musical number where Hawkins dances around the credits as they appear. This is also the manner of a medieval theatre where an actor serves as a prologue to introduce the story. See more » |
| Quotes |
Hawkins:
I've got it! I've got it! The pellet with the poison's in the vessel with the pestle; the chalice from the palace has the brew that is true! Right? Griselda: Right. But there's been a change: they broke the chalice from the palace! Hawkins: They *broke* the chalice from the palace? Griselda: And replaced it with a flagon. Hawkins: A flagon...? Griselda: With the figure of a dragon. Hawkins: Flagon with a dragon. Griselda: Right. Hawkins: But did you put the pellet with the poison in the vessel with the pestle? Griselda: No! The pellet with the poison's in the flagon with the dragon! The vessel with the pestle has the brew that is true! Hawkins: The pellet with the poison's in the flagon with the dragon; the vessel with the pestle has the brew that is true. Griselda: Just remember that. See more » |