In medieval England, there is a struggle to restore the throne to the rightful heir who is an infant with a distinguishing purple pimpernel birthmark. "The Black Fox" and his band of ragtag rebels, reminiscent of Robin Hood and his merry band of men, seek to return the throne to the rightful king. The story follows Hubert Hawkings (Danny Kaye), a buffoon and lowly member of the Black Fox's band, in his escapades involving palace intrigue, a romance with a princess, and a daring plot. He navigates all manner of silly situations and spoofs which lampoon the swashbuckling, knighthood, derring-do movie genre. His adventure is complicated by sorcerery, by the villainous Lord Ravenhurst (Basil Rathbone), mistaken identity, and all manner of humorous missteps. The story is abundant with slap-stick comedy and comedic exchanges such as "I'd like to get in, get on with it, get it over with, and get out. Get it?" "Got it." "Good!"; and the classic vessel-pestle tongue-twister: "The pellet with the poison's in the vessel with the pestle; the chalice from the palace has the brew that is true!"