Director: Norman Panama, Melvin Frank
Cast: Danny Kaye, Glynis Johns, Basil Rathbone, Angela Lansbury
Have I Seen It Before: Never. After years now of helping to host the White Christmas (1954) sing-a-longs at Circle Cinema, the warm embrace of Danny Kaye* has always been off there in the distance. This year, as I ease myself back into the occasionally bewildering world of the Columbia Inn, I’m using this film to ease myself back into the swing of things.
Did I Like It: Last year, I picked Holiday Inn (1942) to ease me back into things. It seemed like the logical choice, as White Christmas is ultimately a loose remake of that earlier film, but it also turned out to be a horrifying relic of its time.
Seriously, do not watch Holiday Inn, if you know what’s good for you. I did, so you don’t have to.
The Court Jester fares quite a bit better. It’s a light sword and castle fantasy, it doesn’t ask too much of us as an audience. The cast is pretty great, with Basil Rathbone plays the role in his repertoire other than Sherlock Holmes with aplomb, and it’s hard not to be delighted by the presence of either Glynis Johns (you’re thinking of her as the slightly dotty grandmother in While You Were Sleeping (1995), while I’m thinking of her more as Shelley Long’s mother on Cheers) or Angela Lansbury. What’s more, the amount of funny mugging versus sweeping musical numbers favors the prior. Big musical fans might be disappointed, but without Gene Kelly involved (see the previous footnote) that’s probably the ratio I prefer.
I was so delighted by The Court Jester that I think I might be ready to make a bold proclamation.
Do you promise to not blow up my spot if I say this?
Okay.
Bing holds Danny back.
All right. Now I’m ready for Christmas again.
*I always wished the second banana had been played by Donald O’Connor, but that may owe itself largely to how much I prefer Singin’ in the Rain (1952). Shh. Don’t tell anyone. I’ve got a reputation to keep up.