Seeing an opportunity, Hawkins takes Giacomo’s place to gain entry to the castle. Along the way, though, they encounter Giacomo, the King of the Jesters, on his way to King Roderick’s castle. Ex-carnival entertainer Hubert Hawkins yearns for adventure, but is assigned, alongside Captain Jean, to transport the baby to safety. The sweetness continues into the film proper, where we find the imposter King Roderick on the throne of England, while the true king, far too young to rule, is protected by the Black Fox and his merry band. Star Danny Kaye sings “Life Could Not Better Be” while conducting and commenting on the credits, especially when it comes to Basil Rathbone’s creepy credit. Nobody’s perfect!)įrom the opening credits, it becomes very clear that The Court Jester is a remarkably good-hearted, winking comedy. (Well, it does lack a soundtrack completely composed of ‘70s songs. Therefore, we can only conclude that The Court Jester appeared to me in a very good dream, because it’s the only other film I’ve seen that satisfies the same itch A Knight’s Tale does. I distinctly remember it being an AV Club Watch This recommendation inspired by Galavant, but I’m only turning up a Scenic Routes column about the “the pellet with the poison’s in the vessel with the pestle” scene. I just glanced back at my copious notes to figure out where I stumbled across The Court Jester. (Oh, no, what a hardship.) It’s a microniche that endlessly delights me, but emphasis must be placed on its micro nature.

(Although it’s adorable that it’s occasionally dinged for having a lady blacksmith-despite the fact that she’s a widow who took over the family business, like a lot of women in the Middle Ages.) I have often searched in vain for films that do the same (this is why I watched Virgin Territory), usually after I watch A Knight’s Tale, but I usually just put in A Knight’s Tale again after giving up.

It’s a medieval(ish)-set romp that uses its setting more as an excuse to play merrily with anachronism for comedic effect than any attempts to mimic historical truth. Alone among my favorite movies, A Knight’s Tale occupies a unique niche.

The court jester fight scene