Perhaps the most familiar jester is Will Sommers, who served three successive British monarchs, most notably Henry VIII. “If you were a big shot and used to being able to scare the hell out of people, wouldn’t you have respect for some funny chap who wasn’t scared of you and didn’t mind saying what he thought you ought to hear even if you didn’t like it?” “I can assign no reason for these pieces of deformity,” wrote Lady Mary Montague, a well-traveled, 17 th century aristocrat, “but ‘tis the opinion all absolute princes have, that ’tis below them to converse with the rest of mankind and, not to be quite alone, they are forced to seek their companions amongst the refuse of human nature – these creatures being the only part of their court privileged to talk freely to them.”īeatrice Otto, author of Fools Are Everywhere: The Court Jester Around the World, takes a different view. He told the formidable Queen Elizabeth I “more of her faults than most of her chaplains.” And yet she adored him. Actor-fencing master-playwright Richard Tarlton had been a swineherd before being brought to the English court, where his “happy unhappy answers” made him a favorite. Jesters almost always hailed from the lower classes, which gave them a different perspective and often, a vital detachment. Some were keepers of secrets not safely committed to paper, others gatekeepers between a monarch and his supplicants, still others were trusted envoys.
Many held positions of privilege and considerable influence, accompanying sovereigns on war campaigns, to treaty negotiations and weddings. Though they were often referred to as “royal fools” the jester’s role was far more complex than that of a prancing dwarf or hunchback (being physically “challenged,” though not all were, was considered a jester attribute) decked out in a silly cap and jangling bells.
#Buy the court jester movie#
However, these issues notwithstanding, the DVD is still a good, very watchable copy of an amazing film and well worth (and should be required) adding to any movie collection.For centuries, jesters were a common sight in the courts of emperors, kings, sultans, dukes, caliphs, Tzars, the occasional Kaiser, Cardinal and Archbishop, various 19 th century nobles, and at least one Pope. And though it is recorded in Dolby Digital, it is monophonic and not in surround sound so the audio quality is lackluster. So the transfer copy is not especially vivid or clear. The not so good, the DVD is not in high def, nor is the film available in blu ray at least as of 02/19.
If you have never seen it, you owe it to yourself to do so! It now carries a 96% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoe s. However once it became a regular television matinee offering, it gained classic status and critical raves for being the gem that it is.
Though the most expensive comedy films made for its time, it was a box office and critical failure upon initial release, recovering only half of its $4,000,000 budget. Every aspect of this film is five star, from the story line, to the script, the casting, the performances, the music and lyrics and it even has a remarkably clever opening scene featuring Kaye singing a song elaborating on the credits. It features Danny Kaye in one of his best performances. One of the best and most classic musical comedies ever made, this movie is spectacularly shot in vibrant Technicolor with gorgeous sets and costumes.
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