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Danny Kaye: 1913-1987
Hubert Hawkins: - Hawkins is the carnival-trained entertainer of the men who follow The Black Fox. Putting his talents to work, he ends up impersonating the European court jester, Giacomo (most recently of the Italian Courts. . . "what greater place to court Italians."). The movie ends with Hawkins having the major role in returning England to its rightful heir.
Considered one of his greatest performances, he shared his success with his wife, Sylvia Fine who wrote most of the tongue-twisting songs and routines which he performed.
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Glynis Johns: 1923-
Jean: - Jean is the captain of the Black Fox's troops. She is also aparently a successful actress. Paired with Hawkins, Jean becomes "Maid Jean" when she is selected to escourt the King. She is instrumental in keeping the rightful infant King safe and returned to the throne.
Johns was touted as one of the most beautiful women in all of Hollywood but is probably best remembered for her supporting role in Mary Poppins. |
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Basil Rathbone: 1892-1967
Lord Ravenhurst: - Ravenhurst is the aide-de-campe to the King. The similarities of this character to that of Guy of Gisbourne (The Adventures of Robin Hood) are obvious. Towards the end of the movie there is a complex fencing scene between Ravenhurst and Hawkins in which Hawkins slices through the candles with his sword ala the same scine in The Mark of Zorro between Rathbone's character and Tyrone Power's.
Ralph Faulkner, (the Fight Choreographer & Uncredited Fencing Double), supposedly stepped in for 64-year-old Rathbone. In his autobiography, Rathbone talks of Danny Kaye's quick learning of fencing, "his exceptional talents have always made a deep impression on me."
"After a couple of weeks of instruction Danny Kaye could completely outfight me! Danny's reflexes were incredibly fast, and nothing had to be shown or explained to him a second time."
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Angela Lansbury: 1925-
Princess Gwendolyn: -Typical spoiled royal brat, Gwendolyn, as princess, expects a fairy tale life. Her ambition to be taken from the castle in romantic fashion blinds her from anything else going on around her. Then comes Hawkins as Giacomo and with a snap of the fingers, he's just the prince she's been waiting for.
Celebrating her 31st birthday during filming, Angela was a beautiful woman and rivaled Glynis Johns for sex appeal. Known for her Disney movies and for her hit television program Murder, She Wrote fans often are stunned by how "hot" she looked in The Court Jester.
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Cecil Parker: 1897-1971
King Roderick I: - Roderick the Tyrant is the scared, paranoid King who sees revolt in every shadow. Being he usurped his crown via the massacre of the royal family of England, he is forever on edge and trusts no one, not even his daughter.
Parker was often found in the somewhat droll films of Sir Alec Guiness but by the late 1950s he found himself in many comedies. |
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Mildred Natwick: 1905-1994
Griselda: - Information goes here. |
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Robert Middleton: 1911-1977
Sir Griswold: - Information goes here. |
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Michael Pate: 1920-2008
Sir Locksley: - Information goes here. |
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Herbert Rudley: 1911-2006
Captain of the Guard: - Information goes here. |
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Noel Drayton: 1913-1981
Fergus: - Information goes here. |
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John Carradine: 1906-1988
Giacomo: - Information goes here. |
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Edward Ashley: 1904-2000
The Black Fox: - Information goes here. |
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Alan Napier: 1903-1988
Sir Brockhurst: - Information goes here. |
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Lewis Martin: 1894-1969
Sir Finsdale: - Information goes here. |
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Patrick Aherne: 1901-1970
Sir Pertwee: - Information goes here. |
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Richard Kean: 1881-1959
Archbishop: - Information goes here. |
