The Court Jester (1955)
This episode delves into the cinematic exploration of "The Court Jester," a film that, despite its shortcomings, has earned a cherished place in the hearts of its admirers. We engage in a discourse regarding the film's narrative, which follows a hapless carnival performer as he masquerades as a court jester to thwart an evil ruler. Throughout our conversation, we reflect on the film's comedic elements, particularly the physical comedy exemplified by Danny Kaye's performance, which elicits both laughter and contemplation regarding its overall merit. Our analysis encompasses the film's historical context, showcasing how it straddles the line between musical and comedy, often leaving viewers questioning its true genre. Ultimately, we arrive at a consensus, acknowledging the film's ability to entertain despite its flaws, sparking a nuanced discussion on what constitutes a "good" film in the realm of entertainment.
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Transcript
And I did laugh a lot too.
Speaker A:And like, the.
Speaker A:The get it, got it good.
Speaker A:I was like, oh, that's where this.
Speaker A:That kid.
Speaker A:Because I say that all the time as well, but I never knew that that's where this.
Speaker A:That this is where that originated from.
Speaker A:Like, I had no idea, but I was like, oh.
Speaker A:So I learned something in the watching of it as well.
Speaker A:Welcome to the what's a ver Podcast, where we fashion ourselves cinematic judge and Jerry.
Speaker A:My name is JJ Carter.
Speaker A:I'm here with my co host, Alec Burgess.
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Speaker A:So we're in week two of Hidden Gems.
Speaker A:Still on Alex, Hidden Gems this week.
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Speaker A:All right, let's get into this movie.
Speaker A:It's the court jester.
Speaker A: ,: Speaker A:Sorry, I was about to a little.
Speaker B:Bit older than that.
Speaker A: J.J. yeah,: Speaker A:It was written by Norman Panama and Melvin Frank.
Speaker A:Is directed by Norman Panama and Melvin Frank.
Speaker A:It stars Danny K, Glynis Johns, Basil Rathbone, Angela Lansbury, Cecil Parker, Mildred Natwick, Robert Middletown, Michael Pate, Herbert Rudley, Noel Drayton.
Speaker A:And I could keep going and going,.
Speaker B:But John, nobody knows any of those names.
Speaker A:J.J. edward Ashley.
Speaker A:I knew a couple until we got too far down and then I'm like, I don't know.
Speaker A:But it's about a hapless carnival performer who masquerades as the court gesture as a part of a plot against an evil ruler has overthrown the rightful king.
Speaker A:It works.
Speaker A:It works.
Speaker A:As said Week two of Hidden Gems Movies.
Speaker A:And this is Alex Pick.
Speaker A:So I'm gonna let him talk about why he picked this movie outside of to with me because that's, I swear,.
Speaker B:The top reason this is my favorite movie of all time.
Speaker A:JJ Jesus Christ.
Speaker B:It is the top pick that I will force people to watch with me on many such occasions because I love is objectively not that great of a movie.
Speaker B:Well, let's get that out of the way.
Speaker B:It is definitely not good if you have never watched old movies before because this is a timepiece of Hollywood.
Speaker B: It was good in: Speaker B:But it is my favorite movie.
Speaker B:And one of the biggest reasons is Danny K is one of, in my opinion, like one of the most underrated actors in Hollywood all time.
Speaker B:And he does such a great job in this as a performance.
Speaker B:So it's like that.
Speaker B:So number one reason is actually because my favorite movie.
Speaker B:Secondly, I knew you'd hate it because it is nowhere near your type of cinematic.
Speaker A:Least.
Speaker B:No, not.
Speaker B:Not anywhere close.
Speaker B:It's.
Speaker B:It's a musical that's not really a musical.
Speaker B:It's a little bit of action with not enough action.
Speaker B: t, especially if you consider: Speaker A:Sure, that's fair.
Speaker B:But that's why it's my favorite movie.
Speaker B:And I've been trying, I've tried a couple times to get on the podcast and finally succeeded on this.
Speaker B:This one.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:You did it.
Speaker B:I did.
Speaker A:I'm so good and I hate you for it, but you did it.
Speaker B:So what about you.
Speaker B:Jj, had you ever seen this movie before?
Speaker A:No, not even remotely.
Speaker A:Listen.
Speaker A:No, I hadn't seen it.
Speaker A:I am hit and miss with old movies, right?
Speaker A:Like, we've talked about this many times, right?
Speaker A:I. I didn't know.
Speaker A:So two things that stuck out to me as I watched this one.
Speaker A:I do like Danny K, but I have only ever seen Danny K in two other things, right?
Speaker A:So I've seen.
Speaker A:Now I've seen this.
Speaker A:I saw episodes of, like, clips from the Danny K show, right?
Speaker A:When.
Speaker A:Because you're not wrong.
Speaker A:Like, he's considered a phenomenal performer, and he does.
Speaker A:And so he got his own show and it was.
Speaker A:He had funny moments, right?
Speaker A:But I've only seen clips of it.
Speaker A:And then the third thing was the original.
Speaker A:Is it Walter Midi?
Speaker A:Because they.
Speaker B:Well, then there's four things, because White Christmas.
Speaker A:Ah, that's fair.
Speaker A:That's.
Speaker A:But I never, like, he.
Speaker A:Yeah, it's just kind of whatever and white.
Speaker A:Like, I never really think about.
Speaker A:Yeah, that's fair.
Speaker A:So four things, but no, like, the Secret Life of Walter Mitty.
Speaker A:They re.
Speaker A:They.
Speaker A:What's.
Speaker A:His face.
Speaker A:Redid it, and it was fine.
Speaker A:But it.
Speaker A:Again, like.
Speaker B:Was it Steve Carell?
Speaker A:No, no.
Speaker A:The other one that I can't stand, actually, I like Steve Crowe.
Speaker A:What's the.
Speaker A:Meet the Fockers and Ben Stiller.
Speaker B:Ben Stiller.
Speaker A:Ben Stiller did the Secret Life of Walter Mitty, and I don't.
Speaker A:I can't stand Ben Stiller.
Speaker A:So it set it up for failure on top of the fact that the original's so good, in my opinion.
Speaker A:So I was like.
Speaker A:And I'm tired of Hollywood remaking old Hollywood stuff because it was never meant to be made this time anyway.
Speaker A:That's a whole different discussion that we should have sometime.
Speaker A:So I kind of didn't know what, like.
Speaker A:And I was like, why.
Speaker A:What the Am I watching here?
Speaker A:And then the longer the movie went, the more I was asking, what the Am I watching here?
Speaker A:Like, this movie is so weird.
Speaker A:And, like, I love that you said the Teemu.
Speaker A:Robin Hood.
Speaker A:Because, like, the opening song of, like, the Black Fox.
Speaker A:And I was just like, what is this?
Speaker A:And then there's, like, the whole.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:So, like, they hit you with the whole, gosh, what am I trying to say?
Speaker A:Like, I don't even know how to explain this, but I just didn't know what to do with it, most of it.
Speaker A:And then there was like.
Speaker A:But there were parts that I was laughing my ass off, like, and having a good time with it, so I can't Completely poo poo on it.
Speaker A:Other than like, it just made no sense to me and then.
Speaker A:But there were parts that I was just giggling my ass off.
Speaker B:So.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:So this, this is why I say it's like a, a timepiece that does really well for when it was made.
Speaker B:Because I could tell you right away when people lose interest is five seconds in where he's singing over the credits.
Speaker A:Sure.
Speaker B:That's something that doesn't happen.
Speaker B:And so people don't even like, listen to actual song because the song's funny.
Speaker B:As he's sure telling.
Speaker B:Giving you all the lore that's just made up about how they, you know, discovered the story that they're putting on the.
Speaker B:So I crack up, but that's where people just tune out.
Speaker A:Sure.
Speaker B:If I try and show them this.
Speaker B:And then you follow that up with, you know, never out.
Speaker B:Fox.
Speaker B:Fox.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker B:So you follow up with that musical number, which again, I find hilarious because it's so funny.
Speaker B:But people have already tuned out by this point, so you throw them with that one.
Speaker B:So that's why I said, because it's like 20 minutes in is where you really kind of start to get what I think is the, the good portion of this, which is Danny K as an old man.
Speaker B:Just the.
Speaker B:But senile old man.
Speaker B:You're just fine.
Speaker A:Yeah, right.
Speaker B:I'm down with it.
Speaker B:So that stuff is so great.
Speaker B:But for me as well, it's, it's a tricky one because you take like the golden age of Hollywood, right?
Speaker B:1920S,'30s kind of era, and you have a lot of generalization with your actors, right.
Speaker B:Everybody had to be able to, to sit a horse, had a ride.
Speaker B:They had to, you know, had to be able to fence and sword fight and you had to be able to, you know, do all these different things.
Speaker B:And then when we get to this era, you have a little bit more specialization, right?
Speaker B:So you have, you have like, if you needed a dancer, you're getting Gene Kelly for your movie, right?
Speaker B:And Gene Kelly can dance.
Speaker B:Gene Kelly can also sing, but he's, he's known for his dancing.
Speaker B:You need a dancer, get him to dance.
Speaker B:And so you have Danny Kay, who's like the ultimate generalist in a specialist era.
Speaker B:And so he can, he can sing.
Speaker B:He can't sing as good as someone like Bing Crosby or someone, as someone else in that role.
Speaker B:He can dance.
Speaker B:He's not as good as Gene Kelly or Donald o'.
Speaker B:Connor.
Speaker B:So he's this, you know, he's great at physical comedy, but he's not as good as like a chaplain was when Chaplin was doing physical comedy.
Speaker B:And so he's this, this awkward little middle piece that you can stick in anywhere.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:You can do a good job, but he's never going to be your, your ultimate specialist.
Speaker B:And so this movie jumps around a bit for me because he's just doing everything that's Danny K. And I love it because I love him.
Speaker A:Sure.
Speaker B:But it is, it is so jarring and like trying to show this to people and be like, wait, okay, now we gotta go back.
Speaker B:Because you weren't paying attention.
Speaker A:Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker B:You have to, you have to listen to almost every single line of dialogue.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:And actually be processing it when it's happening to really get the most out of this movie.
Speaker B:And it's unfortunate.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker B:But that's, that's how movies used to be.
Speaker B:And this one really leans into it to where even the little snippets of narration, you have to pay attention to them because that's where you're getting information coming from.
Speaker B:Is so.
Speaker B:It's so easy when I'm telling people like the first time I showed this to Oshi, it was, it was a lot of, nope, we're going back because you missed it.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:Now watch and watch.
Speaker B:And she, she ended up liking it at.
Speaker B:To a certain point because there's so much that you can quote with this.
Speaker B:And so whenever I'm telling her something it's.
Speaker B:Get it.
Speaker B:Got it.
Speaker B:Got it.
Speaker B:Good.
Speaker B:That whole running bit is so funny to me.
Speaker B:And it just kind of keeps on going from there that there's so many moments that are just like.
Speaker B:Oh, that just like ah, put it in a time capsule kind of a thing.
Speaker B:Down to the fact that, you know, got to see Basil Wrathbone and sword fight again.
Speaker B:He hadn't fought on stage or on screen in like 15 years at this point.
Speaker B:Old man trying to fence.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:No kidding.
Speaker B:But it was, it's one of those scenes where it's, it sticks with me and every single time I watch it, I enjoy it.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:And I just giggle and laugh and have a good time watching it because like ah, funny.
Speaker B:But it's.
Speaker B:I don't know, man.
Speaker B:It's one of those things where I know objectively speaking is not a good movie.
Speaker A:Sure.
Speaker B:Whenever someone's like, hey, what's your favorite movie?
Speaker B:It's.
Speaker B:It's Court Jester.
Speaker B:I'll send you a link to it.
Speaker A:That's crazy.
Speaker A:I mean, I love it.
Speaker A:Good.
Speaker A:I, I think it's great because I.
Speaker A:Like I said, I think it's Good.
Speaker A:When you have some obscure stuff.
Speaker A:And I did laugh a lot too.
Speaker A:And like the.
Speaker A:The.
Speaker A:Get it.
Speaker A:Got it good.
Speaker A:I was like, oh, that's where this.
Speaker A:That kid.
Speaker A:Because I say that all the time as well.
Speaker A:But I never knew that that's where this.
Speaker A:That this is where that originated from.
Speaker A:Like, I had no idea.
Speaker A:But I was like, oh.
Speaker A:So I learned something in the watching of it as well.
Speaker A:I will say to your point.
Speaker A:Like, I had to get up.
Speaker A:Like, I was working while I was watching.
Speaker A:So when I was watching the movie and I had to get up for something and leave the room and I was like, okay, I'm gonna be gone for two seconds.
Speaker A:I'll be fine.
Speaker A:So I get up and then I come back and he.
Speaker A:I missed the first hypnotization piece.
Speaker A:So when I leave, he's all frail, goofy.
Speaker A:And then all of a sudden he's like standing in front of these guys, like, yeah, I'm gonna do this and I'm gonna get.
Speaker A:And he's like on point.
Speaker A:And I'm like, what the happened here?
Speaker A:Like, this is a complete.
Speaker A:Like, he wasn't supposed to interact with these guys.
Speaker A:Like, he doesn't.
Speaker A:He wasn't supposed to like, remember the plan.
Speaker A:He didn't know right what this jester was gonna do.
Speaker A:So then I had to go, now I gotta rewind it because I missed something here.
Speaker A:So I laugh when you say that.
Speaker A:You go, I gotta go back because you missed something.
Speaker A:Because I did.
Speaker A:There was like.
Speaker A:And then I was like, it's that kind of movie that I can't.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:And then it became one of my favorite parts, was every time he got like hypnotized.
Speaker A:Like at the end when the sword fight, when he snaps himself out of it, like three times, I was cackling because that shit's hilarious.
Speaker A:And then the.
Speaker A:But there's some parts where I was like, what is happening too?
Speaker A:Like early on when.
Speaker A:When all the.
Speaker A:The dwarves come in and they're like, part of it.
Speaker A:I thought that was cool.
Speaker A:And then they started singing it and I was like, why do they sound like children?
Speaker A:Like, it's not O day.
Speaker A:Like these are grown ass people and you can see it.
Speaker A:But they look like chill.
Speaker A:They sound like children singing.
Speaker A:I was like, oh, it's the 50s, man.
Speaker A:It's the 50s.
Speaker A:So I had to let it go.
Speaker A:But like, it was hysterical.
Speaker A:But I love that they bring them back and they're all like whooping people's asses and.
Speaker A:And they're like bouncing them up the stairs.
Speaker A:I Was like, what am I watching?
Speaker A:Like, I.
Speaker A:It was, it was such a dichotomy for me with this movie because I was laughing and enjoying parts that I was like, this is really clever.
Speaker A:Then I was watching it going, this went off the rails for like five minutes because what the am I watching now?
Speaker A:Like, this is not entertainment.
Speaker A:This is terrible.
Speaker B:I love that because it's like they're leg pressing people up the stairs.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:I'm like, these are full ass sized people and they're little people bouncing them up the stairs like they're made.
Speaker A:And their body, like, the way their body was laying, like, didn't make sense.
Speaker A:I was like, this is weird.
Speaker A:And then the one that they hook up to the rope and he's swinging him around and flopping people on the head.
Speaker A:I was like, oh, my God, what is this that I am watching right now?
Speaker A:But it just is like for every.
Speaker A:I had this moment where I was like, for every really good part of this movie, there was an equally terrible part either before or after it, or both.
Speaker A:And I was like, what?
Speaker A:I'm getting whiplash here on how good or how bad this movie is.
Speaker A:Like, it can't figure out what it wants to be in a lot of ways, and yet it knows exactly what it wants to be.
Speaker A:Which was like.
Speaker A:It was quite the conundrum for me.
Speaker A:Like, as I'm watching this, I'm like found myself confused and then like laughing and going, why am I laughing?
Speaker A:I shouldn't be laughing at this.
Speaker A:But I can't help myself.
Speaker A:So it was a really weird watch for me.
Speaker B:Extremely.
Speaker B:Because the, the sword fight sequence is like my favorite sword fight sequence ever.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:And it's part of.
Speaker B:That's because it's Basil Rathbone.
Speaker B:But the other part of it is Danny Kaden had a fence prior to this and so he learned for this.
Speaker B:And then he's just doing the back and forth, right.
Speaker B:Snap and mouth or getting snapped into back and forth of being the greatest swordsman ever.
Speaker B:And yeah, the court jester who's just flailing around.
Speaker B:And so to be able to pull that off while having like, learned how to actually fence the previous week and then fencing with Basil Rathbone, who was actually a fencer, like, that's what he was known for.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:Is so cool.
Speaker B:But yeah, you're sandwiched in between like the leg pressing people up the stairs to the catapult and fling them off the walls on one side of it and then on the other side, you really.
Speaker B:Just.
Speaker B:The greatest tournament ever.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:Kind of sequence, which had its moments.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker B:Like, I still.
Speaker B:I. I will use the pellet with the poisons, the vessel with the pestle flag with the dragon.
Speaker B:That's brew that is true all the time.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:Because it.
Speaker B:At the most inappropriate times.
Speaker B:But it's just funny.
Speaker B:Little tongue twister.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:That shouldn't be funny.
Speaker B:But the fact that you have Danny K up there just botching it, but botching it.
Speaker B:You know, and then you have the other guy, he's going with the guy who plays Chris.
Speaker B:Waldo's getting involved with it too.
Speaker B:And they're just.
Speaker B:They're going up and then they start mixing each other up with what they're saying.
Speaker A:Yeah, fantastic.
Speaker B:So it's so great, but it's also so corny.
Speaker B:And so you have two corny scenes that are pretty much sandwiching a really, really good piece of movie making with the sword fight where you have, you know, one character knows what he's doing and the other character who's going between knowing what he's doing and not knowing what he's doing.
Speaker B:But I. I love the.
Speaker B:The gag throughout the entire movie of snapping in and out.
Speaker A:Oh, yeah.
Speaker B:And then just like the.
Speaker B:The first time it really happens where he's in with the princess.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker B:And it's just out of the curtain.
Speaker B:In the curtain.
Speaker B:Out of the curtain, into the curtain.
Speaker B:And Danny Kay is so good with his expressions.
Speaker B:So his, you know, flipping between being terrified and just being, you know, the Casanova.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:Of people is just so.
Speaker B:So enjoyable.
Speaker B:That's happening.
Speaker B:But it's just.
Speaker B:It's one of those things where, like, you kind of said, I cackle throughout.
Speaker B:Pretty much most of it.
Speaker B:Because at this point, I've embraced the corny for the most part.
Speaker B:And so now it's just all fun and games and cackling of.
Speaker A:Yeah, yeah, yeah, It's.
Speaker A:It's something.
Speaker B:I get that horse and put it back under that idiot.
Speaker A:Yeah, well.
Speaker A:And the.
Speaker A:The lightning strike is so random with the magnetized suit of armor.
Speaker A:I'm like, that thing would be so super heated and, like, melted in spots.
Speaker A:But, like, okay, sure, it's magnetized.
Speaker A:That was hilarious.
Speaker A:And then what the.
Speaker A:Is Angela Lansbury doing in this movie?
Speaker B:Like, it's before she was famous.
Speaker A:I know, but, like, all I remember.
Speaker A:All I know Angela Lansbury from.
Speaker A:Is like, Murder She Wrote.
Speaker A:See, and I. I knew her voice in Mrs. Potts, but I was young enough or I'm old enough.
Speaker A:I should say that I remember when she was on a TV show called Murder, She Wrote, which Was really cool.
Speaker A:It was like a murder mystery show, but instead of like Matlock or, you know, whatever, she was an author that wrote murder mystery novels and so she would help solve these crimes.
Speaker A:It's really terrible premise when I say it out loud, but it was a really good show because Angela Bansbury is amazing.
Speaker A:But like, I saw her in this and I saw her name in the credits and I'm like, she's gotta have like a bit part or something.
Speaker A:You know what I mean?
Speaker A:And then I was like, oh, no, she's the princess.
Speaker A:Like, this is no joke.
Speaker A:And then she's like full on involved in this.
Speaker A:So I was like, okay.
Speaker A:But it's.
Speaker A:I mean, it's.
Speaker A:That's the other thing.
Speaker A: Like, if you know: Speaker A:I. I should say there are a lot of people that were on the cusp, right?
Speaker A:There's like three or four that were big, and then there's like some that were right there on the edge that were always.
Speaker A:We would call them B listers to our A listers or low level A listers nowadays.
Speaker A:But, like, it was interesting to see them all kind of there.
Speaker A:And I'm like, I've seen all of these actors in really great movies.
Speaker A:And then there's this, the Court Jester, the.
Speaker A:Am I watching right now?
Speaker A:And I think I asked probably out loud like four or five times, like, you got me watching Alec.
Speaker A:Jesus Christ.
Speaker B:I love that.
Speaker B:Because it's funny because a lot of them got picked up for Disney.
Speaker A:Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker B:Like.
Speaker B:Cause you got Cecil Parker, who played in a couple Disney films.
Speaker B:Angela Lansbury was Mrs. Potts, but she's also been up some broodsticks and I think a couple other projects.
Speaker B:And then Glynis Johns, who biggest one is Mary Poppins.
Speaker B:But those three at least all went on to Disney movies.
Speaker A:Yeah, right.
Speaker B:Or have a career in several of the Disney movies.
Speaker B:And so it's like, there you go.
Speaker B:And then you have Basil Rathbone, who this is.
Speaker B:This is the twilight of his career.
Speaker B:But he was huge in the 30s.
Speaker A:Sure.
Speaker B:Starring in just about every single Errol Flynn movie.
Speaker B:And then Danny Kaye, who again, just like kind of pops up everywhere.
Speaker B:And this is one of his only real, like, leading roles where he's playing the actual lead and not a.
Speaker B:A side lead, I'll say.
Speaker B:Or joint lead, where it's kind of just all on him.
Speaker B:And so, yeah, it's like, you got a good cast, right?
Speaker B:It's good.
Speaker B:And I wouldn't go as far as say that it's phenomenal or great, but it's definitely good.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:And so that's where you kind of mentioned it.
Speaker B:Like this movie doesn't know exactly what it wants to be because it's in the era of musical, say through.
Speaker B:In musical numbers.
Speaker B:But it's not a true musical.
Speaker B:And then you've got dramatic parts, but not really dramatic film.
Speaker B:Then you got comedy, but it's not fully leaning to the comedy.
Speaker B:And so it's a.
Speaker B:It's a little bit of almost like a ville show.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:It's the best way to kind of put it.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:It's all over the place.
Speaker A:Like it.
Speaker A:That's.
Speaker A:That's a good way to put it because it feels like I'm sitting in a.
Speaker A:Like a.
Speaker A:Almost like a.
Speaker A:An ad lib type theater.
Speaker A:Like where it's like, here's your someone scream out a plot.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker A:Like.
Speaker A:And we're like, oh, it's Robin Hood change.
Speaker A:Yeah, exactly.
Speaker A:Exactly.
Speaker A:And in the middle of it we'll be like, well, let's make it a heist movie.
Speaker A:You know what I mean?
Speaker A:Heist comedy and an action.
Speaker A:You're just like the.
Speaker A:Is going on right now.
Speaker A:And.
Speaker A:But here's the ultimate weird part of the movie that I. I have to get out before we finish it.
Speaker A:Whatever, whenever we finish.
Speaker A:But like it works in a way that I don't want to admit and doesn't make sense to me.
Speaker A:Like I can sit here and say, it's because I'm with you.
Speaker A:It's objectively not a good movie.
Speaker A:But there are very entertaining pieces to the movie, much to my chagrin.
Speaker A:And like I said, even though it doesn't know it.
Speaker A:What it feels like.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker A:Like what it wants to be, it still comes together for the most part.
Speaker A:Like there's a couple of parts where I'm like, shouldn't have done that, like.
Speaker A:Or that was unnecessary.
Speaker A:And I'm trying to think of like an example off top.
Speaker B:I got you the knighting ceremony.
Speaker A:Oh yeah.
Speaker A:That's the one that's long.
Speaker B:As to me because it is way too long.
Speaker B:It's weird because you go through this really funny bit where it's, you know, night.
Speaker B:The nincompoop before noon.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker B:So you go through these night tasks.
Speaker A:Yes.
Speaker B:And just every single one is very funny.
Speaker B:Very funny.
Speaker A:Big one about.
Speaker A:I about fell out of my chair.
Speaker A:I was laughing so hard.
Speaker B:Y.
Speaker B:It's just so funny with that.
Speaker B:But also the bird where it's like.
Speaker A:Yeah, it just falls at his feet.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:The bird comes through.
Speaker B:Someone's always shot.
Speaker B:It's.
Speaker B:I didn't even fire.
Speaker B:And so you have that.
Speaker B:But then you get to this sequence where it's just weird.
Speaker B:And this is 50s, sure, 50s film where you go through this whole nighting thing.
Speaker B:And the only thing that gets funny about it is watching Danny K. Be like this.
Speaker B:I mean, he's clueless throughout the entire thing, but exceptionally clueless to the whole ceremony while he's participating in it.
Speaker B:And so that's.
Speaker B:That's like, what's the funny bit?
Speaker B:But you don't need it.
Speaker A:Yeah, you.
Speaker B:You can speed that up or change it or adjust it because there's far too much of the fast marching where they sped up the film.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:Going back and forth and over.
Speaker B:And it's.
Speaker B:It's funny when you're actually seeing him try and go through everybody because it's him.
Speaker B:But there's too many, like, wide angle shots of back and forth and back and forth.
Speaker B:And so that's.
Speaker B:That's one part of the movie where I'm like, get rid of it.
Speaker B:Like, I don't need to watch this.
Speaker B:It doesn't bring anything to the overall film.
Speaker B:There had to have been something that they were kind of showcasing some sort of shot or technology that was popular or they thought was gonna be revolutionary at the time or something along those lines to put it in because there's.
Speaker B:There's way too much of that.
Speaker B:And so that's one.
Speaker A:Yeah, that's a good point.
Speaker A:When he cut it and like, he said, I. I'm okay with the lead up to it or like, the different challenges he has to complete, because that made me laugh.
Speaker A:But the whole marching around, stomping that, I was like, what is going.
Speaker A:In fact, I was like, I'd switch over and start working a little bit.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:Because I could still hear the.
Speaker A:I'm like, that.
Speaker A:Okay, I don't need to see this.
Speaker A:Like, you could literally cut that entire piece out and I'd be okay.
Speaker A:In fact, I think it would be an improvement because it added no value whatsoever to the movie.
Speaker B:Yeah, 100.
Speaker B:I. I'm with you on that.
Speaker B:That's my least favorite part of this because it doesn't.
Speaker B:That.
Speaker B:That's one thing that did not translate for me.
Speaker B:And a lot of this, that doesn't translate for other people translates for me.
Speaker A:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker B:That was one sequence.
Speaker B:No, sorry.
Speaker A:Yeah, no, no, I get it.
Speaker A:I get it.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:It's an interesting.
Speaker A:I don't know, like, I still, I'm still not a hundred percent sure on how I fully feel about it.
Speaker B:Watch it a couple more times.
Speaker A:I don't know if I can do that.
Speaker A:That's a big commitment, dude.
Speaker B:And the, the thing is you could find like all the good bits like we talk about in other films where you could like clip it on YouTube.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:You could watch this in clips and be completely fine because you can get the, the best parts, which are in my opinion anyway.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker B:The pellet with the poison, that whole sequence, phenomenal.
Speaker B:You got the night tasks, you got the sword fight and you've got the old man, Danny K. That's really like the best parts for me.
Speaker B:And you can find all that on YouTube.
Speaker B:You don't have to watch it all the way through.
Speaker B:But I also get a kick out of just watching Danny K on screen.
Speaker A:Sure.
Speaker B:Especially with the dichotomy of being absolutely clueless to what's going on while all the big parts of the story are happening.
Speaker B:Like the assassinations that he supposedly, you know.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:He's like, yeah.
Speaker A:Whoa.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:Oh.
Speaker B:But.
Speaker B:So there's enough there for me that I keep going back time and time and time again.
Speaker B:But it is definitely a movie that you can watch the best parts in clip form and you're not missing out on anything really story related or for that.
Speaker A:I do think they missed an opportunity.
Speaker A:And then that I was like, watch it.
Speaker A:So during the sword fight at the end when he goes in and he pours himself the wine, like it would have been funny.
Speaker A:As if in the middle of that somebody snapped and he looked at the wine and went, is there a dragon on this?
Speaker A:That would have been hysterical.
Speaker A:What a joke.
Speaker A:And then immediately snapping back into the guy that doesn't know that piece and his black, you know, the badass.
Speaker A:But like, I was sitting there going, oh, that would have been hysterical.
Speaker B:That would have been perfect.
Speaker A:Like if he had like, yeah, they just snap him and he looks at the wine and the flag and he's.
Speaker A:Is there a dragon on that?
Speaker A:Or he's like, what are you doing?
Speaker A:Looking for a dragon.
Speaker A:Would have been great.
Speaker A:And what a great callback that would have been.
Speaker A:But that was like, I had this moment of like, I'm more into this movie than I care to be in the moment.
Speaker A:Because I was thinking through, you were connected.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:I was like, oh, they missed an opportunity there with that great series of jokes.
Speaker A:And then to bring that back and make you giggle about it again in the middle of this serious moment.
Speaker A:Like, great.
Speaker A:So, yeah, should we rate it.
Speaker B:Let's do it.
Speaker A:All right, brother, you're up.
Speaker B:My movie.
Speaker B:This is.
Speaker B:This.
Speaker B:This is rough for me because it is my favorite movie.
Speaker B:But I also, like I've said before, I know in a way it's not great.
Speaker B:It's one of those where if.
Speaker B:Because it's.
Speaker A:It's.
Speaker B:It's weird if.
Speaker B:If you're taking a film course and you want to impress your film teacher, tell them you love the Court Jester.
Speaker B:They're all about that.
Speaker A:Sure.
Speaker B:But it is.
Speaker B:I'm gonna give it a three, and that's already probably higher than I should give it, but I'm gonna give it a three, and I. I will watch this movie again.
Speaker B:100.
Speaker B:It is one that I.
Speaker B:Again, I own.
Speaker B:Yeah, of course, probably against, you know, better judgment, but it's.
Speaker B:It's one that I revisit probably once every couple months and just laughing.
Speaker A:Nice.
Speaker B:Have a good time.
Speaker B:So, yeah, three for me.
Speaker A:I was hoping you'd take a little longer.
Speaker A:I'm gonna give it a two and a half, and that's higher than I want to give it.
Speaker A:But, like, I have to keep in mind that it was entertaining.
Speaker A:Like, no matter how much I was like, this is bad in a lot of ways, I was still entertained.
Speaker A:And I came away, like, at the end of it, I went, God damn it, Alec.
Speaker A:Like, I hate that I watch this, but I hate even more that I enjoyed it.
Speaker A:Like, yeah, exactly.
Speaker A:Like, I was entertained.
Speaker A:And we talk so much about, like, I on movies because it's not entertaining, no matter how good it might be.
Speaker A:If I'm not entertained, I on it.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker A:But I also give a lot of praise to movies that objectively are not great, but they entertain me.
Speaker A:And we've done that a few times over the last few months.
Speaker A:And this is one of those movies where I watch it and go, this is bad.
Speaker B:But I laugh.
Speaker A:I hear freaking maximus in my head going, are you not entertained?
Speaker A:And I'm like, God damn it, I am entertained.
Speaker A:And I was laughing more than I care to.
Speaker A:And a couple of points where like.
Speaker A:Like belly laughs, like, having a hard time breathing.
Speaker A:I was laughing so hard, and so I was like, God damn it.
Speaker A:So I have to give it higher than I want to.
Speaker A:So two and a half.
Speaker A:So it is.
Speaker A:I won't watch this again purposefully.
Speaker A:I don't think I may watch pieces of it.
Speaker A:Like, I might YouTube clips like you were talking about, but I don't think I would go back.
Speaker A:And I'm going to watch the Court Jester front to back.
Speaker A:But I also wouldn't say no outright.
Speaker A:You know what I mean?
Speaker A:Like, somebody could say, hey, I've never seen the court gesture.
Speaker A:Will you watch it with me?
Speaker A:Like, I wouldn't be like, no.
Speaker A:There are a lot of movies we've done that.
Speaker A:I'd be like, no, you're on your own.
Speaker A:This one, I'd be like, I'll sit down and watch it with you.
Speaker B:Re.
Speaker B:Watch it stoned, see if that improves it for you.
Speaker A:That's fair.
Speaker A:I can see that.
Speaker A:That, that's a challenge I would accept because, yeah, everything's better when I'm baked.
Speaker A:So, yeah, I could see where that would help because I could let go of the goofy and anyway, yeah, so.
Speaker B:Much fun with the vessel with the pestle.
Speaker A:Oh God, that.
Speaker A:Huh?
Speaker A:I just.
Speaker A:What?
Speaker B:Love it.
Speaker A:Oh, yeah.
Speaker A:So there it is.
Speaker A:Two and a half.
Speaker A:I want to curse you for making me watch that, but I can't.
Speaker A:Not fully anyway.
Speaker A:So tell everybody where they can find us, Alec.
Speaker A:When they were not learning how to fence.
Speaker B:Happy to.
Speaker B:Best place to find us is on YouTube where you see our happy faces, sad faces, glad faces, mad faces, bad faces, and JJ's annoyed face whenever I make him watch something that he does not want to watch.
Speaker B:Aside from that, the best place to get involved with the content on for the podcast is on Patreon at what's our verdict?
Speaker B:Reviews, where you can participate in votes for monthly topics and as well for movies that go within those topics.
Speaker B:We have actual consequences for these.
Speaker B:Right now I think I gotta change up whose list is up because I'm pretty sure it's mine.
Speaker B:So we have lists of movies that neither one of us wants to watch at the other made forum and those are available if you lose a month.
Speaker B:And I lost this month even though I still got a little stab in there on jj.
Speaker B:So Patreon is the best place to get involved.
Speaker B:It is absolutely 100% free to vote.
Speaker B:However, behind a little bit of a paywall, there is upwards of 700 plus bonus episodes.
Speaker B:Everything from bloopers and outtakes all the way up to full length movies that nobody should watch.
Speaker B:But we did for you with that.
Speaker B:A special thanks to our current patrons, Rich and cb.
Speaker B:You guys are amazing and thank you to CB for suggesting this topic.
Speaker B:I think it was.
Speaker B:And from there, don't forget 10 off your W GG order with the code.
Speaker B:Our verdict.
Speaker B:Go get you some green coffee bean extract based energy powder.
Speaker B:Boom.
Speaker A:You did it.
Speaker A:GG's my friend.
Speaker B:And with that, let's kick it back to the Maharajah of mash the Mauling Monarch.
Speaker B:A JJ yes, sir.
Speaker A:Appreciate it.
Speaker A:You have no idea how hard it was to not make your green bean coffee be extract the cold open for our current episode.
Speaker A:But there was much funnier line in there earlier, so we used that one.
Speaker A:With that.
Speaker A:As always, we appreciate you tuning in.
Speaker A:We'll catch you on the next one.
Speaker B:Hasta la vista, baby.
Speaker A:Cinematic out.
