Lady Appreciation Post: Maid Jean
Going to an ooooold movie for this one. But a good one. The Court Jester, starring Danny Kaye, is one of my most favorite comedies ever. And today's lady is a good part of the reason why.
"I am a woman. And I do have feelings."
--Maid Jean, The Court Jester
Who'd have thought old fifties comedies could be surprisingly progressive when it came to portraying female characters? The Court Jester boasts three main females. The primary one of these is Maid Jean, part of the Black Fox's heroic rabble in the forest protecting the child who is the true king of England. Though she does play the Love Interest to Danny Kaye's loveable dork of a protagonist Hawkins (the titular court jester), Jean is given a lot of characterization and agency outside of her relationship.
For starters, our introduction to her is her swinging down and delivering a report to the Black Fox, all business.
And looking fabulous in her forest ranger outfit.
Jean continues to be all-business as she and Hawkins go on a mission to deliver the infant child to a monastery where he'll be safe. She's clearly of higher rank in the resistance than him, always giving the orders and thinking out the plans when things go awry or opportunities present themselves.
Lookit how nonchalantly badass she is, driving the wagon there.
She's also pretty bold and forward about her romantic desires, and has no qualms about coming on to Hawkins.
"Move over, I want a cuddle."
But romance always takes a backseat to their mission. Jean is super-serious about that.
And she's damn smart too. Her clever mind is always planning around obstacles that spring up, threatening to derail the mission. She is the one that comes up with the plan for Hawkins to take the place of Giacomo the jester, to gain access to the King's chambers and retrieve a key to a secret passage into the castle that could help their rebels break in. When she's waylaid by the king's men and brought to the castle she doesn't panic, just contacts their insider. Upon learning Hawkins hasn't arrived yet she determines, "Something must've happened. You take the child. I'll have to get the key myself." She sneaks around expertly, smuggling notes and keys and babies in hand-baskets.
"I have no time for nookie dammit! I am planning our heroic overthrow of the dictatorship!"
Since her father apparently wanted her to be a boy, he taught Jean to "love freedom and hate injustice", to ride and hunt and fight. Jean puts those skills to good use. She is especially fond of cracking people over the head with clubs.
Jean is also a devious little girl. Having previously won the favor of the false King Roderick, she enters his chambers, convinces him to send the pages away, and steals the key to the secret passage away from him while distracting him with flattery and grooming. When he starts getting a little too, ahem, touchy-feely, she quickly thinks up a very casual way to bring up a topic of conversation that turns him off desiring her almost completely and turns the tables on him.
"You have heard of Breckenridger's Scourge yes? I'm told it's similar to shingles."
Whatever she's doing, you can bet that she's in the thick of things, being daring and bold and brave, smart and sensible, and all around a kickass lady who takes names like no other.
And that's exactly why I love her.
"I am a woman. And I do have feelings."
--Maid Jean, The Court Jester
Who'd have thought old fifties comedies could be surprisingly progressive when it came to portraying female characters? The Court Jester boasts three main females. The primary one of these is Maid Jean, part of the Black Fox's heroic rabble in the forest protecting the child who is the true king of England. Though she does play the Love Interest to Danny Kaye's loveable dork of a protagonist Hawkins (the titular court jester), Jean is given a lot of characterization and agency outside of her relationship.
For starters, our introduction to her is her swinging down and delivering a report to the Black Fox, all business.
And looking fabulous in her forest ranger outfit.
Jean continues to be all-business as she and Hawkins go on a mission to deliver the infant child to a monastery where he'll be safe. She's clearly of higher rank in the resistance than him, always giving the orders and thinking out the plans when things go awry or opportunities present themselves.
Lookit how nonchalantly badass she is, driving the wagon there.
She's also pretty bold and forward about her romantic desires, and has no qualms about coming on to Hawkins.
"Move over, I want a cuddle."
But romance always takes a backseat to their mission. Jean is super-serious about that.
And she's damn smart too. Her clever mind is always planning around obstacles that spring up, threatening to derail the mission. She is the one that comes up with the plan for Hawkins to take the place of Giacomo the jester, to gain access to the King's chambers and retrieve a key to a secret passage into the castle that could help their rebels break in. When she's waylaid by the king's men and brought to the castle she doesn't panic, just contacts their insider. Upon learning Hawkins hasn't arrived yet she determines, "Something must've happened. You take the child. I'll have to get the key myself." She sneaks around expertly, smuggling notes and keys and babies in hand-baskets.
"I have no time for nookie dammit! I am planning our heroic overthrow of the dictatorship!"
Since her father apparently wanted her to be a boy, he taught Jean to "love freedom and hate injustice", to ride and hunt and fight. Jean puts those skills to good use. She is especially fond of cracking people over the head with clubs.
Jean is also a devious little girl. Having previously won the favor of the false King Roderick, she enters his chambers, convinces him to send the pages away, and steals the key to the secret passage away from him while distracting him with flattery and grooming. When he starts getting a little too, ahem, touchy-feely, she quickly thinks up a very casual way to bring up a topic of conversation that turns him off desiring her almost completely and turns the tables on him.
"You have heard of Breckenridger's Scourge yes? I'm told it's similar to shingles."
Whatever she's doing, you can bet that she's in the thick of things, being daring and bold and brave, smart and sensible, and all around a kickass lady who takes names like no other.
And that's exactly why I love her.