Take Two is a series from movie buffs Isabelle Curtis and Fritz Freudenberger to review entertainment options in the region. In honor of April Fool’s Day, this month’s pick is 1955’s “The Court Jester,” directed by Norman Panama and Melvin Frank, and starring Danny Kaye, Glynis Johns and Basil Rathbone. The film is free on Hoopla through Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library or free on YouTube (with ads).

Fritz: “The Court Jester” follows the hapless but good-natured Danny Kaye through a series of misadventures in a fictional medieval court. Kaye plays a performer who runs away from the circus to join revolutionaries fighting a villainous usurper-king. Along the way, he finds himself playing the king's jester as he gets wrapped up in a plot to restore the rightful ruler to the throne.

In line with comparable movies of the time, it’s largely a vehicle for bits and sprawling song and dance numbers. It's not much on plot, character development, or depth. However, that's not to say it's a bad movie.

Like the songs sprinkled throughout, it hits some high notes. I enjoyed the old Hollywood charm and fun of it. Sprawling choreography lit up the screen, and the costumes, hand-painted sets and color palettes were captivating. It’s refreshing to see such vibrancy, especially knowing it was crafted by human hands. The script is also clever, and wonderfully spotlights Kaye’s magnetic charisma. As expected of any jester, there were enough witty bits to make me chuckle, even 70 years later. However, the act occasionally kept going after the joke was wrung dry, which became tiresome.

Overall, I enjoyed the movie but wouldn't give it high marks for most viewers. It's charming, but perhaps best as a backdrop while you catch up on folding the laundry. One caveat: I think it would be good for children. I fondly remember enjoying the silliness and physical comedy as a kid and think it could be fun for the family to watch together.

3 lutes (3.5 if you’re watching with your elementary schoolers).

Is: Modern Hollywood has a desaturation problem. Just compare the technicolor wonderland of the original “Wizard of Oz” to Jon Chu’s recent washed-out reimagining, “Wicked,” and you’ll catch my meaning. There are explanations for this: filmmakers prioritizing realism over stylization, flat lighting being easier to deal with in post-production, and the technological differences of shooting on digital cameras. Whatever the reason, I’m not a fan.

Imagine my delight when presented with the visual buffet that is “The Court Jester.” The colors popped so far off the screen, I felt like I could grab them. The costumes were also magnificent. While the historical accuracy of the medieval garb is loose at best, the costuming department obviously went to the theatrical school of shaping perception on a budget. You don’t need real chainmail for the guardsmen when metallic fabric leads the mind’s eye just as well.

Angela Lansbury’s outfits were especially a favorite of mine. Playing the role of the lovesick princess, she exuded royal stateliness in gowns of icy blue and girlish pink—complete with capes, veils and long, flowing sleeves (sometimes all three, at once) that billowed dramatically whenever Lansbury swept from the room: a perfect punctuation for her adamant declarations.

The plot is a classic comedy of errors filled with mistaken identities, romantic shenanigans and lots of wordplay. It got its fair share of laughs out of me, although I agree with Fritz that some jokes overstayed their welcome. Overall, a charming watch if you’re in the mood for some “Robin Hood: Men in Tights”-type fare.

3.5 lutes